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Points to Ask Trade School Programs
As soon as you have selected the vocation and type of degree or certificate that you would like to attain, either online or on campus, you can start to decrease your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are a large number of technical schools in the Green Bay WI area and across the USA to choose from. That's why it is extremely important to have a list of key qualifications when making school evaluations. As previously mentioned in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will probably be the first 2 aspects you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you will want to research before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Numerous Green Bay WI area trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school's programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as HVAC technology. Make sure that the program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One clue to help determine the quality of a vocational school near Green Bay WI is how long it has been in business. A negatively rated 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 start from their opening day of training, so consider 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It's also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help grads secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Green Bay WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Green Bay WI area contractors in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Green Bay WI company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable 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 a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in Wisconsin and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Green Bay WI, verify that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.