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Questions to Ask Trade Schools
Once you have decided on the vocation and type of degree or certificate that you desire to attain, either online or on campus, you can start to limit your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are numerous technical schools in the Claremont CA area and all over the Country to choose from. That's why it is extremely important to have a checklist of key qualifications when making school comparisons. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will probably be the first two aspects you will look at. Following are several additional ones that you need to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. Numerous Claremont CA area technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance HVAC technology. Confirm that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help assess the quality of a vocational school near Claremont CA is how long it has been in business. A poorly ranked or a fly by night school usually will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the best of schools had to start from their opening day of training, so use it as one of multiple qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the vocational schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It's also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help students secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Claremont CA area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Claremont CA area companies in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Claremont CA contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is in California and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Claremont CA, check that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.