Important Questions to Ask when Choosing a Vocational School

Over the past 20 years the workplace demographics has shifted. While professionals such as Doctors and Attorneys have remained steady at around 20% of the workforce, and unskilled labor has declined considerably, the bulk of jobs, around 63%, are going to skilled workers such as technicians, assistants, specialists. This translates into hundreds of thousands of opportunities.

Based on the United States Department of Education statistics for 2001, enrollment for vocational or continuing education programs in California was 473,000. The demographics included mostly employed people between the ages of 25 to 44 with more females than males and primarily bi-lingual.

Yet, going back to school is a personal decision and is not be dictated by demographics. A client of mine who ran a vocational school locally, decided to get his Doctorate. He explained that he wasn't even going to put the diploma on the wall, that he didn't care if anyone knew he had it; the degree represented a personal sense of accomplishment and that was enough for him. He was an unusual case to be sure but it does bring up the question, why pursue a degree or certificate in the first place?

This is the first thing you must ask yourself if you are thinking about selecting a school for your continuing education. The answer is going to determine what kind of school you are looking for and what you can expect when you finish.

Randy Taylor of ICT College which offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Associate of Science Degree, goes further and says that each student must be prepared in their lives to handle the dedication and focus that it takes to go back to school. "Checking things out is important." he says and continues, "Most people are intimidated by the idea for many reasons, including having a background or a personal position that hasn't had a positive attitude towards continuing education."

Women are more likely to want to choose continuing their education and they often have the additional burden of a husband who may not be supportive or family obligations that seem overwhelming. Regardless of a persons situation the keys to successfully going back to school are motivation and desire. As mentioned in my last article, juggling a job and continuing education is never easy, it takes a lot of fortitude. But let's say that you have made up your mind and are dedicated to the process, there are all kinds of institutions to choose from including vocational schools, colleges and even university extensions. Your decision to pursue a particular skill or major will determine the programs or institutions you are looking for, now how do you find the one that is right for you?

I gathered information from local admissions personnel on what a majority of prospective students ask when considering enrollment and then I requested the administrators give their opinion as to what the most pertinent questions should be asked but aren't. According to Ciddy Fonteboa of Chase College, the most important thing on a prospective student's mind is cost. "Financial concerns are the focus of most first interviews." she says. Lindsey Russell from American Career College, concurred. "Tuition, financial assistance are questions that are invariably asked, along with; 'what future will I have if I attend your school?' and 'why should I go here?'"

While these questions are pertinent and important, deciding on a school based on financial criteria only is a mistake. There is an old saying that "you get what you pay for." Ciddy Fonteboa warns that a lot of prospective students come in with a sense of desperation, which may be a sign of the difficult economic times, but can effect a persons decision making capacity. While one school may be less expensive than the next there are other factors that come into play.
Invariably one of the most neglected questions, according to my admissions experts, is whether or not the school is accredited. An accredited school means that according to state guidelines, the courses, instructors, administration and curriculum meet acceptable standards and credits earned can be transferred from one accredited institution to another. Schools also have to adhere to placement guidelines for their graduating students and companies looking for new employees look for candidates who have degrees or certificates from accredited institutions. So, completing a program with a school that is not accredited means throwing money out the window.
Along with the accreditation is the placement issue. Asking if the school has a placement program becomes moot if they are accredited since it must be part of their program, and is usually a strong selling point by the admissions representatives.

Another important question that is usually not asked; "What is the curriculum?" My admissions experts all stress is the importance of this in deciding where you want to study. What courses and what level of courses are offered? Different people have different needs. If you choose a school and the curriculum is below your personal skill level you may become bored, if the courses are too difficult, frustration may set in, either way the chances of dropping out before completion are pretty high, and if the objective is to complete a certificate or degree for better opportunities you may become disillusioned.

Class size should also be considered. You don't want to get lost in a large class with limited personal time with the instructor. It is always good to take a tour of the school's facilities, "touch the bricks" as they say. While you roam their hallways, speak with students that are already enrolled and get a sense of whether or not this would be a place you would like to spend time learning. Environment is important, not just whether the bathrooms are clean, but the general attitude of those working and studying there.

In order to avoid being part of the near epidemic of students jumping from one program or school to the other, it is just as important to get in touch with what you want as it is to being thorough in your researching the institution that fits your needs. While we can't decide for you what your goals and needs are, we can at least leave you with some questions to ask during your search.

1. Why should I go here as opposed to another school?
2. What future will I have after completing my studies here?
3. Is the school Accredited?
4. What is the Cost?
5. Do they have student loans available or scholarships?
6. What is the curriculum and the size of their classes?
7. Do they have placement assistance?
8. Is this the kind of environment that I would like to spend time learning in?

Good Luck!