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Questions to Ask Trade School Programs
When you have decided on the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you wish to obtain, either on campus or online, you can begin to limit your list of schools. As you are probably aware, there are many technical schools in the Franklin WI area and throughout the United States to select from. That's why it is very important to have a checklist of important qualifications when making school evaluations. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the first two variables you will take into consideration. Following are some additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. A large number of Franklin WI area technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Verify that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One indicator to help determine the quality of a trade school near Franklin WI is how long it has been in business. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school typically will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the top schools had to begin from their first day of training, so consider it as one of multiple qualifications.
Completion Rates. Ask the trade schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It's similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs in the Franklin WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Franklin WI area professionals in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Franklin WI contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is in Wisconsin and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Franklin WI, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.