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Concerns to Ask Trade Schools
Once you have chosen the trade and type of degree or certificate that you wish to acquire, either online or on campus, you can start to decrease your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are many trade schools in the Janesville WI area and across the USA to pick from. That's why it is very important to have a list of important qualifiers when making school evaluations. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the first two variables you will look at. Following are several additional ones that you need to research before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Many Janesville WI area technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school's programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as HVAC technology. Confirm that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states require that the training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One indicator to help determine the quality of a trade school near Janesville WI is how long it has been in operation. A poorly ranked or a fly by night school typically will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. On the other hand, 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 tech 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 course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It's similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help students secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Janesville WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Janesville WI area companies in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Janesville WI company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in Wisconsin and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Janesville WI, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.