CHOOSING A PRIVATE CAREER COLLEGE OR INSTITUTION

This is one of the most important decisions an individual will ever make and great care should be taken to choose the right institution. In order to find out about the institutions that train for your chosen career, talk to your counselor for information about careers and institutions. Write to the institutions that sound interesting and ask for information about the courses, tuition costs, admission requirements, and placement rates. Visit the institution. See firsthand what the students do and what training is like in a trade and technical institution. Talk to the instructors and to students. Ask them about the training. If possible, talk to graduates of the institution and contact employers that hire the institution's graduates. Here are some questions that should be asked when considering any specific institution.

• What courses are offered? How long will it normally take to complete the course in which I am interested? What skills should I have when I finish?
   

• What equipment will I be able to use while attending the institution? Is this the kind of equipment I will use when I go to work? May I tour the campus and talk to enrolled students?
  
  
• Will the institution help me get a job? May I have a list of employers who have hired graduates from this institution?
  
• Is the institution accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting commission? Which one?
  
• What percentage of the students finish their programs? Are they employed in the field for which they studied?
  
• How much does it cost? How do I qualify for financial aid? What are my obligations if I receive this aid? What is the refund policy in case I cannot finish the program?

All VCCA member institutions should willingly answer these questions.

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