Questions to Ask Vocational Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhen you have chosen the trade and type of certificate or degree that you wish to attain, either on campus or online, you can start to narrow down your list of schools. As you are probably aware, there are a large number of vocational schools in the Dyer IN area and across the Country to choose from. That’s why it is extremely important to have a checklist of key qualifications when making school comparisons. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the initial two factors you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you should explore before enrolling in your school of choice.<\/p>\n
Accredited. <\/strong>A large number of Dyer IN area technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Make sure that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing where applicable.<\/p>\nHow Long in Operation?<\/strong> One clue to help measure the quality of a vocational school near Dyer IN is how long it has been in operation. A poorly 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 use it as one of several qualifiers.<\/p>\n Completion Rates. <\/strong>Ask the vocational schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and\/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist students secure apprenticeships or employment in the Dyer IN area.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>Numerous vocational 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 businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Dyer IN area companies in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local professional community.<\/p>\nModern Facilities. <\/strong>Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Dyer IN contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.<\/p>\nSmaller Classes. <\/strong>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 monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in Indiana and what degrees or certifications they have earned.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Dyer IN, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.<\/p>\n