The Edge

Can’t decide what you want to do with your life?
Don’t know what direction to go when it comes to furthering your education? Well, look no further! Edge 103.9 is bringing you our HIGHER LEARNING feature! Every month will help you make those tough decisions by giving you the info you need from financial aid and scholarships to spotlighting different colleges and the unique opportunities they may offer! Remember: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!

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Choosing a Career or Vocational School
Whether you're new to the job market or looking to enhance your skills, a private vocational or correspondence school can be an excellent starting point for furthering your career. These schools train students for a variety of skilled jobs, including automotive technician, medical assistant, hair stylist, interior designer, electronics technician, paralegal and truck driver. Some schools also help students identify prospective employers and apply for jobs.
While many private vocational and correspondence schools are reputable and teach the skills necessary to get a good job, others may not be as trustworthy. Their main objective may be to increase profits by increasing enrollment. They do this by promising more than they can deliver.
For example, they may mislead prospective students about the salary potential of certain jobs or the availability of jobs in certain fields. They also may overstate the extent of their job training programs, the qualifications of their teachers, the nature of their facilities and equipment, and their connections to certain businesses and industries.
It's not always easy to spot the false claims that some schools may make, but there are steps consumers can take to make sure that the school they enroll in is reputable and trustworthy.

Do Some Homework
Before enrolling in a vocational or correspondence school, do some homework. Here's how:
-Consider whether you need additional training or education to get the job you want. It's possible that the skills you'll need can be learned "on the job." Look at employment ads for positions that you're interested in and call the employer to learn what kind of experience is important for those positions.-Investigate training alternatives, like community colleges. The tuition may be less than at private schools. Also, some businesses offer education programs through apprenticeships or on-the-job training.
-Compare programs. Study the information from various schools to learn what is required to graduate. Ask what you'll get when you graduate — a certificate in your chosen field or eligibility for a clinical or other externship? Are licensing credits you earn at the school transferable? If you decide to pursue additional training and education, find out whether two- or four-year colleges accept credits from any vocational or correspondence school you're considering. If reputable schools and colleges say they don't, it may be a sign that the vocational school is not well regarded.
-Find out as much as you can about the school's facilities. Ask about the types of equipment — computers and tools, for example — that students use for training and supplies and tools that you, as a student, must provide. Visit the school; ask to see the classrooms and workshops.
-Ask about the instructors' qualifications and the size of classes. Sit in on a class. Are the students engaged? Is the teacher interesting?
-Get some idea of the program's success rate. Ask what percentage of students complete the program. A high dropout rate could mean that students don't like the program. How many graduates find jobs in their chosen field? What is the average starting salary?
-Ask for a list of recent graduates. Ask some about their experiences with the school.
-Find out how much the program is going to cost. Are books, equipment, uniforms and lab fees included in the overall fee or are they extra?