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Points to Ask Vocational Schools
As soon as you have decided on the vocation and type of degree or certificate that you desire to earn, either online or on campus, you can start to narrow down your list of schools. As you are probably aware, there are numerous vocational schools in the Stanford CA area and throughout the United States to select from. That's why it is very important to have a checklist of key qualifiers when making school evaluations. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the initial two aspects you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you should research before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. Numerous Stanford CA area trade 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 relates to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Verify that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One indicator to help assess the quality of a vocational school near Stanford CA is how long it has been in business. A poorly rated or a fly by night school usually will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the top schools had to start from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifications.
Completion Rates. Ask the trade schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It's also important that the schools have higher 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs in the Stanford CA area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Stanford CA area contractors in the trade. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Stanford CA company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in California and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Stanford CA, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.