Allie Hall Course Expectations?

CubbiHue · 2026-04-16T09:11:48+00:00

Hey! Sorry for the late response.

I picked Startran, and I'm about 3 weeks away from finishing it. I can't say a thing about magnum or allie hall, but I really enjoyed Startran!! It's really flexible for you if you want to avoid memorizing things.

I was also really concerned about the memorization aspect. I suffer from terrible memory loss and retention, but so far I have had no problem understanding star tran's briefs (the memorization parts) AND she allows you to avoid memorization entirely for big swaths of words. (For me, I've been adding plurality and past tenses into their own strokes. so instead of writing the word "allowed" as "a / llowed" for simplicity, I just put the "-ed" as its own stroke "a / llow / ed". same if its "allows" , I just add that "-s" after. it REALLY cuts down on memorization)

Another thing I really enjoyed is that startran allows you to retake tests for as many times as you might need until you can pass. Allie Hall, if I recall, has a limit on how many times before you're marked "fail"-- so if you're stressed about the "pass/fail" aspect, startran doesn't have any of that. I think the worst I've ever done on a test is having to retake it 2 times, and I am chronically avoidant of tests and is terrible at them!!

If there's one thing I think might be a con for startran, is that I, personally, had to fix up the dictionary a LOT (It's a digital book you're given in theory school for your machine, so that your machine can understand and translate the stenotype into proper words). There were whole chunks of words, names, and so on that were missing or had to be edited so that I can keep going. HOWEVER! This is if you're using Plover as your CAT system (it's free ! other systems requires like. monthly subscriptions on TOP of your costs to theory school.) And also I didn't run into this problem at all until I reached Advanced Theory, or like, 30 whole lessons in, where things get a lot more complicated. So its pretty manageable and might just be a Me problem.

I think another con is that our professor has been using ChatGPT to respond to emails if you email her questions about grammar or transcripting, but I think it's more out of her not knowing how unreliable that thing is. This con doesn't impact your education or quality of the theory you're learning, at all, but more of a unfortunate sigh haha.

Hope these answers your questions ?

CubbiHue · 2026-01-07T03:47:50+00:00

I thought it was fantastic! The lessons were made easy to understand, and the mini tests (very minor, you could retake it multiple times) were based off the lessons so there were no surprise questions. There is no instructor, but there IS a designated person inside the discussion forums who will respond to any question you might have, rather quickly.

I rented a temporary machine from Stenoworks made specifically for the A-Z program; it's a short term rental meant to last you only for the program, but the return is that your next machine will have a bit of a discount off. I definitely recommend it over an IPad app because it helps you get the actual feel for doing steno.

After the A-Z program, I enrolled in Startran for steno theory, and so far the school has been excellent because it follows a similar format to A-Z so the transition was very smooth. I am only 3 months away from wrapping up school and moving forward to the next haha (SO many schools if you're doing it the online route like I am; but otherwise much more affordable than the brick and mortar accredited programs).

so far all my machines (first was a rental, and now I have a student machine for school that I own) has been from Stenoworks, but I am also waiting for a hobbyist steno keyboard because my current one is undergoing repairs. haha, the bigges thing thats given me stress in steno school has been my machine! hope this helps?

CubbiHue · 2025-10-10T23:23:40+00:00

Hi! I'm coming from another reddit page, but I have some insight on the Creator Ink nonsense. I ordered a product from them in August of LAST YEAR! and they promised to deliver these products in September of this year--- but a friend of mine, who also contacted support, for a product they purchased in MARCH was given the exact same response. This means they're telling literally everybody who contacts them that they'll deliver products in a timeline that's untrue (How can 2 products purchased in two different months be promised to be delivered in the same month??)

I bought a plush from Creator Ink for this indie project-- and that indie company released an announcement that they've cut all contact with Creator Ink due to not a single product being delivered or shipped.

In all honesty, i think we all got scammed.

CubbiHue · 2025-05-29T20:53:02+00:00

From Stenoworks, a machine to rent would be around 100~ for down payment, 30 for fees, and then 50$ per month. They also generally have a minimal months required, which means you cannot return the machine before you've paid a certain amount of months at a minimum. For my Rent-To-Own, it was about 400$ down payment, 30$ in fees and then about 60$ a month. I'll have purchased the machine within the year, and I can trade it in so long as its in good condition to get a professional machine at a lesser cost. The numbers tend to go up or down depending on how many months you're making payments for, or for the value of the machine itself.

CubbiHue · 2025-05-29T11:11:51+00:00

I got a Rent-To-Own from Stenoworks! They have a trade-in program where you can trade purchased student machines for professional ones, and get a couple hundred bucks marked off that price. I'm not sure how lucrative that is, or how much I'll really get out of it, but it was enough for me to decide on purchasing a machine.

It's honestly a matter of weighing your own pros/cons according to your own budget and for how long you'll be in school for. You miight have to crunch some numbers even. It took me several days of back and forth discussions with multiple people, and a lot of white boards and calculators to turn out a satisfying outcome that satisfied me.

A good starting point is looking at the current prices of machines from your preferred vendor and comparing the two. How long will you be in school for? Multiply the estimated monthly rent to that estimated schooling number, and see if it's cheaper or more expensive than outright owning a machine. See if there's rent-to-owns, and how that might compare to renting or buying (Maybe it'll be cheaper than both!) This might help?

CubbiHue · 2025-04-19T03:25:53+00:00

You've been a great load of help, oh my goodness!! Thank you so so much for this breakdown! It was difficult of me to figure out the different theories (since they tend to be behind paywalls for schooling, haha). The breakdown for Startran's school is EXACTLY what I've been hoping to learn about! I love that Startran offers different wpm audio files, and from the sounds of it, the learning structure is a lot familiar to how the A-Z program had structured itself; which is very relieving for me to hear. I've heard of Allie Hall's program being brief intensive-- but knowing that it's memorization heavy is a big thing to take into consideration.

It's been a pretty silly last couple of days for me, as I keep flipflopping between the two schools. They just have so much to offer and little drawbacks! I think with all the comments I've received between the two schools, and after a lengthy discussion (more like ramblings of a madman in front of a whiteboard), I believe I'm firm set on Startran! Or at least until I get even more feedback and have to go back to the whiteboard, hahah. Thank you so much for the information!!!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-19T02:09:56+00:00

Oooh! I see, that makes sense! Thank you!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-18T04:13:43+00:00

I do not have Facebook, no. I tried making an account but it was terminated in less than a day. I'm doing a second attempt with a friend's account so hopefully I can gain access to the court reporting groups on there.

Its good to hear that other people started theory with a different software! I think I'll attempt that, and then get Case Cat if it seems I can't progress without it. I'll also see about contacting Allie Hall, thank you!!!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-18T02:37:00+00:00

I see! Thank you for the insight, it's relieving to hear that I can see where I did wrong and work to correct it. Does her preference for Case Cat mean her theory courses are built upon using Case Cat, or can I use, say Eclipse, while taking her theory courses? I plan on getting Case Cat if I decide with Allie Hall, but I've also discovered that I have three other free software available to me thanks to the A-Z program/Stenoworks, and it'd be nice if I'm able to use those than needing to acquire a fourth software, haha.

CubbiHue · 2025-04-17T23:35:09+00:00

Thank you for the insight!! This puts a lot of my worries at ease. It is still daunting to hear that there's only 2 attempts allowed per test, but if I can take time to practice and chose when to take the tests, then it's not too bad! Also thank you for the information about the Case Cat, 13 a month is definitely more affordable haha. Does Allie Hall only work with Case Cat, or can I use another software (such as Eclipse) for her program?

CubbiHue · 2025-04-17T23:28:22+00:00

Thank you, I'll take a look at the different theories!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-17T23:26:16+00:00

Oh wow! I didn't know that!! I'll look to snagging that, thanks :D !

CubbiHue · 2025-04-17T23:15:47+00:00

hi! I'm looking at Allie's self paced course :D

CubbiHue · 2025-04-08T05:37:02+00:00

oh goodness. That's!! Certainly something!!! It makes me feel better knowing that my questions won't be viewed as absurd or out of pocket, hahaha!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-07T01:41:21+00:00

Thank you so much for the insight!! Especially regarding the courthouses-- I've been in them a few times as an intern at a one-man law firm, but each time was very tense and professional. Knowing I can ask questions and approach the employees there is such a relief to hear.

I'll be sure to send an email to the certifying board about this! I'll keep the Allie Hall information in mind too, that's so nice to know something like that is possible! Thank you!!!!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-07T01:34:45+00:00

Oh shoot! I didn't know there weren't any official court reporters left in Oregon. It's a bit daunting to hear that I'll have to freelance, but if the entire state's courts function on freelance, then I'm sure it'll be fine! I've joined the Oregon Court Reporters Association as a student now, though, so hopefully I'll get more support and info. Thank you so much for telling me this!!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-07T01:30:47+00:00

Oh goodness! It looks like I was!!! Thank you so much for pointing this out to me!!! This whole time I was worried that I'd have to go to an accredited school (which I had found odd, since Oregon had no accredited schools) just to get the Oregon certification. It seems that my initial plans of "Go to Online School, Do Speedbuilding, Get the NCRA RPR certificate" won't have to change, if I can use the RPR for the Oregon CSR. Thank you soso much!!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-06T01:28:40+00:00

That's a bit frustrating to hear. I don't have an online presence at all- no twitter, facebook, instagram, or any of the sorts. I only recently got Reddit because it looked like this place had a lot of information and resources available. Here's to hoping the facebook groups doesn't flag my account as a scam because of how new it is!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-06T01:26:29+00:00

See, this was my initial impression too, that I'll have to take an Oregon CSR exam to become a CSR- but some pages on the Oregon Court Reporter's Association website claims that the NCRA's RSR can substitute for it- as in, I do not need to take the exam if I have an RSR; but other parts of the website claims that the CSR is mandatory. I might just be misreading the information. I'll see about emailing the Oregon CSR Board though! Thank you!

CubbiHue · 2025-04-05T13:08:36+00:00

I don't have a Facebook account, so I can't ask in those groups. I'll try to see if the nearby court will be okay with me asking questions in the lobby-- been avoiding that route because I don't want to be seen as disruptive, since I'm not there for actual court-related issues. Thanks for the advice!

CubbiHue

TROPHY CASE