You found a school that offers the program you want, and he is eager to sign up. But before you apply and throw down your hard-earned money, get answers to these fundamental questions.
1. What is the status of accreditation of the school?
If you want your degree to be recognized, it is in your interest to earn a higher education institution. Accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution or program that meets or exceeds predetermined criteria ofquality of education. It is also required for eligibility for federal financial aid. And before you apply, you must find out who is the accreditation of the school to ensure that the organization is trustworthy. Check with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org) or the U.S. Department of Education (http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation) for a list of accreditation bodies recognized.
2. What options of financial aid are available?
If you can not pay for their higher education in your pocket (and who can?)Ensure that the school is able to offer federal financial aid, including Pell grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans, Federal Work-Study, Perkins Loans, and Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity. Better yet, before you apply, learn about scholarships available. What is the percentage of students receive financial aid from the federal government, and what percentage receive grants or scholarships?
3. What are the requirements of the program?
Before applying, understand exactly whatentering in terms of timing and budget. If you have not satisfied the program requirements, you may need to register for another semester or two, it is a problem if you have not budgeted for the additional credits. If you are looking for a degree online, know in advance whether the program includes a component of the campus, which may conflict with your work program.
4. What kind of professional help is available?
You can get the best education around, but if you can notturn knowledge into skills that pay the bills, there will be a very unhappy consumer of higher education. Before applying, ask the school's career placement rate for new graduates. There are the practical components of the laboratory, field visits, or educational experience that is more suited to the preparation of career? The school also provides assistance after graduation?
5. Can I speak to students and graduates of the program?
Speaking with incomerepresentatives is like reading the prospectus of the school and talk with students and students visit the campus is like you. School employees can only say a lot. When talking with students and alumni, we get the inside scoop on how a program actually works. Ask about the school's strengths and weaknesses to make sure you get the picture. Probably will not find perfection, but you will find what you need to know to succeed in higher educationeffort.
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