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What to Ask Interior Design Colleges
After you have chosen the interior designer degree that you wish to earn, you can start the task of assessing your college options. Location will be a critical factor, especially if the campus needs to be within commuting distance from your Fuquay Varina NC residence. Of course if you are interested in attending a school online, or are willing to relocate to attend classes, then location might not be a qualification. The cost of tuition will decrease your options also. But picking the most affordable school or the one that is nearest to your residence are not the optimal ways to make your selection. There are other issues that you need to look at also, including the accreditation and reputation of the school. Below are a list of questions that you may want to ask the colleges you are looking at to obtain those answers in addition to others to help you assess and ultimately pick the right degree program.
Is the Interior Design School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the interior designer program and school that you enroll in has been accredited by either a regional or national agency. One of the most highly regarded in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges earning accreditation from the NASAD have gone through an extensive assessment of their instructors and programs. Just confirm that both the college and the degree program have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Not only will it help establish that the reputation of the school and the quality of the training are excellent, it might also help when obtaining financial assistance or a student loan. Often they are not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, a number of Fuquay Varina NC employers will only hire graduates of accredited programs for entry level positions.
Does the School Prep you for Licensing? As we mentioned earlier, some States do mandate that interior designers become licensed. This would require a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam in addition to a degree from an accredited school. And in several of those States requiring licensing, a minimum of 2 years of occupational experience may be required as well. So aside from providing an excellent education, the Fuquay Varina NC school you choose should also furnish the appropriate instruction to pass the NCIDQ exam and comply with the minimum licensing requirements for North Carolina or the State where you will be employed.
What is the School's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and obtained your interior design certification, you will undoubtedly want some support in finding your first position. Ask the programs that you are reviewing if they have a job placement program. If yes, ask what their job placement rates are. A high rate is a good sign that the college and its programs are highly esteemed within the interior design trade and its graduates are sought after. It could also indicate that the school has a significant network of Fuquay Varina NC business relationships where they can place students to obtain internships or jobs after graduation.
Is Financial Assistance Provided? Contact the financial aid departments for the Fuquay Varina NC colleges you are reviewing and find out what kind of assistance they offer. Many of interior design colleges offer financial aid to their incoming students. Various colleges offer partial scholarships and others provide help in obtaining grants or federal student loans. It must be stressed again that choosing an accredited school is imperative for qualification in most cases. Sometimes a college that has a higher tuition may effectively be less expensive than its competitors because they provide more generous financial assistance.
How Large are the Classrooms? Smaller classes are more intimate and conducive to one on one instruction. If classes are large, you probably will receive little individual instruction from the teachers. Ask the Fuquay Varina NC schools you are considering what their average student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your Fuquay Varina home, visit the college and monitor a couple of classes. Take the opportunity to speak with some students and find out what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching philosophies are and what their backgrounds are in interior design.
Are Classes Offered that Fit your Schedule? Finally, confirm that the interior designer college you enroll in offers classes the fit your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you will continue working while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Fuquay Varina NC, verify that those classes are offered. If working full-time means you can only attend part-time, check that is an option also. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.