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Subjects to Ask Interior Designer Schools
After you have decided on the interior designer degree that you would like to earn, you can start the task of evaluating your school options. Location will be an important issue, particularly if the college needs to be within commuting distance from your Janesville WI home. Naturally if you have decided on attending a school online, or are able to relocate to attend classes, then location might not be a qualification. The expense for tuition will decrease your options also. But picking the cheapest school or the one that is closest to your residence are not the best ways to make your selection. There are other issues that you need to consider also, such as the accreditation and reputation of the school. Below are a list of questions that you may want to ask the schools you are reviewing to obtain those answers in addition to others in order to help you assess and subsequently select the appropriate degree program.
Is the Interior Designer Degree Program Accredited? It's essential to verify that the interior design program and school that you choose has earned accreditation from either a national or regional agency. One of the most highly regarded in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have gone through a demanding evaluation of their teachers and programs. Just make sure that both the degree program and the college have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Not only will it help confirm that the reputation of the school and the quality of the training are excellent, it might also help when applying for financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of Janesville WI employers will only employ graduates of accredited colleges for entry level jobs.
Does the School Prepare you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, several States do require that interior designers become licensed. This would necessitate a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination as well as a degree from an accredited college. And in several of those States mandating licensing, 2 or more years of work experience may be required as well. Therefore in addition to furnishing an excellent education, the Janesville WI college you enroll in should also provide the proper training to pass the NCIDQ exam and satisfy the minimum licensing requirements for Wisconsin or the State where you will be employed.
What is the College's Job Placement Rate? Once 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, find out what their job placement rates are. A high rate is a good sign that the school and its programs are highly esteemed within the interior design field and its graduates are sought after. It could also indicate that the college has a significant network of Janesville WI business contacts where they can place students to secure internships or jobs after graduation.
Is Financial Aid Available? Get in touch with the financial aid offices for the Janesville WI schools you are looking at and find out what type of assistance they offer. Many of interior designer schools offer financial aid to their new students. Some schools offer partial scholarships and others provide help in obtaining federal student loans or grants. Again it must be stressed that selecting an accredited school is important for qualification in most cases. Often a college that has a higher tuition may ultimately be less expensive than its counterparts because they offer more generous financial aid.
How Large are the Classes? Small classes are more intimate and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are larger, you probably will receive limited individual instruction from the teachers. Ask the Janesville WI colleges you are reviewing what their typical student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your Janesville home, go to the school and attend a couple of classes. Take the opportunity to talk with some students and ask what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching styles are and what their credentials are in interior design.
Are Classes Accessible that Fit your Schedule? Finally, make certain that the interior designer school you select offers classes the fit your active schedule. This is especially significant if you plan to continue working while attending school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Janesville WI, make certain that those classes are offered. If working full-time means you can only attend part-time, verify that is an option as well. Finally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of work, family or illness.