Points to Ask Trade Schools
Once you have chosen the trade and type of degree or certificate that you wish to attain, either on campus or online, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are numerous trade schools in the Greenfield MA area and all over the United States to choose from. That's why it is extremely important to have a list of relevant qualifiers when making school comparisons. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the first 2 aspects you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you need to research before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. A large number of Greenfield MA area trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Verify that the program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help measure the quality of a vocational school near Greenfield MA is how long it has been in operation. A poorly reviewed or a fly by night school typically will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. However, even the best of schools had to start from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the tech schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It's similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help graduates secure apprenticeships or employment in the Greenfield MA area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Greenfield MA area specialists in the field. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on 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 tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Greenfield MA contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, 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 higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is in Massachusetts and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Greenfield MA, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Find Out How to Pick a Technical Course near Greenfield MA