Posts Tagged ‘trade schools’

5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vocational Technical School For You

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Looking into a vocational technical school? There’s a lot of them out there, so how do you find the best school for you? My College Guide has tips to help you find the perfect fit!

Vocational Technical School Tips

Vocational Technical School Tips

Class Size – How big are the classes and the classrooms? If large lecture halls aren’t your thing, make sure that the vocational technical school that you pick includes plenty of hands-on class time than book time.

Hands-On – The key to a successful vocational technical school experience is that ever-critical hands-on learning! How does your potential college compare? Check out the kitchen or the garage and see if the field you are interested in is complete. There’s no better way to learn the skills you need than actually getting in there and doing it for yourself!

It’s All in the Details

Retention Rate – Find out the percentage of students that continue on in their education. A high drop-out rate could mean that the program isn’t up to par. Students may be dropping out because the course just didn’t meet their expectations. Do your research and see what you can find. Your potential vocational technical school can supply you with this information.

Accreditation – My College Guide has said it before and we’ll say it again: Make sure your school is accredited! An accredited school can be your key to financial aid. Not only that, but choosing an accredited vocational technical school can mean that your degree will be taken seriously—and that the program is well-developed to help ensure your future success!

Modern and Tidy – As an adult going back to school, you need to make a visit! If you are interested in mechanics, check out the garage. Want to be a chef? Browse the kitchen! Is everything taken care of and in good shape? Does it look up to date and modern? You should expect a little wear and tear if the vocational technical school has a lot of hands-on class time (as it should) but in general, it should feel well-kept, welcoming, and modern! An outdated facility could be a big, giant sign that you may not necessarily receive the education you are paying for.

Image Courtesy of Flickr, ssibara.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students discover the best college degree and career for them. Get information on things like vocational technical school and other questions to find the right career for you!

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The Many Faces of Continuing Education

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

What does the phrase “continuing education” mean to you? Do you picture a room full of senior citizens learning to use the computer? Or a room full of doctors learning about the latest surgery technique?

The many faces of continuing education.

The many faces of continuing education.

Neither definition would be wrong. In fact, “continuing education” is a fairly generic term meant to encompass every single form of post secondary education.

However, it’s most commonly used to describe the following three types of education.

Continuing Education for Adult Learners

Nontraditional students returning to school are often said to be taking part in continuing education. People in this category could be pursuing a four-year college degree, learning new skills at a vocational school, or even taking post-graduate classes.

If you fall in this category of learners, your goal is to learn a new set of skills that will propel your career in a new direction!

Continuing Education for Dabblers

Some people are simply perpetual students at heart. They probably already have a bachelor’s degree (or three), but never tire of learning. If you usually take classes based on your interests—and not concrete career goals—you’re most likely a dabbler. You can even elect to audit classes—meaning you won’t collect college credit for them (and don’t have to worry about your grades)!

Continuing Education for Professionals

Some industries require practitioners to take a certain number of continuing education credits to stay licensed. For instance, if you work in the health services industry as a doctor, nurse or other medical professional, you will have annual continuing education requirements.

You can also expect to have to take continuing education classes in the fields of law, accounting, engineering, massage therapy—even hair styling!

Continuing Education the Online Way

No matter which category of continuing education aficionado you fall into, chances are you can fulfill your needs online. There are thousands of colleges and technical schools offering online degree programs—and many will allow you to cherry pick classes if you don’t want to pursue a formal degree!

People seeking professional continuing education credits can also find what they’re looking for online. Whether that’s through a series of webcast seminars, or taking an online class, there are plenty of opportunities for distance learning. Just check with your state licensing board to see what the requirements are!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, robynejay.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on continuing education to get you on the road to the right career for you!

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What is a Vocational School?

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Have you been asking yourself, “What is a vocational school?” Well, My College Guide has the answer! Read on for the details about this type of higher education option to see if it fits into your future plans.

What is a vocational school?

What is a vocational school?

What is a Vocational School?

A vocational school is different from a four year college (online or off). Instead of taking four years of your life to get that degree, a vocational school will let you get it done in two!

It’s not so much about building you up to fit a bunch of different careers but more like providing you with specific skills to do a particular type of job, like construction or massage therapy.

A Rose by Any Other Name

What is a vocational school and how does it relate to trade schools or career schools? No matter what it is called, a vocational school is the same as a trade or career school. They describe the same thing, much like how the terms “college” and “higher education” are used.

Selective Skills

Still wondering what is a vocational school? Are you great at fixing motorcycles or want to be a chef? Then you you might want to look into a vocational school! Do you want a way in to the heating and air conditioning industry or service and repair marine engines? A vocational school could be the perfect option for you!

What is vocational school? When you know what you want but just need a way to get there, vocational schools are the answer! Earn your degree in less time (and usually a lot less money) than your typical four year college while learning skills in the specific field that you want! It’s hands-on and, in many cases, in-demand!

Vocational School Coursework

A vocational school is hands-on!

A vocational school is hands-on!

While students at four year schools have a varied list of core subjects to complete before college graduation, vocational schools are highly specialized. What is a vocational school? Two words: hands on!

In vocational school, you won’t just read out of your college textbook, you’ll get in there and get dirty! Depending on your career path, you’ll take classes that reflect your field. Need an example?

You won’t only learn how to read and understand blueprints and schematics but learn how to apply them in real life. Interested in becoming a chef? You won’t just study what happens to milk when it is heated, you’ll learn how to make sauces and gourmet meals.

Tools of the Trade

Vocational school students frequently leave their colleges not only with a degree and a firm background in their field, but they often leave with tools of the trade. Those mechanically inclined may have the cost of name-brand tools as part of their tuition. Likewise, a future chef will usually exit the doors of the school with a snazzy set of sharp knives.

Image #1 Courtesy of Flickr, quimby / quimby.
Image #2 Courtesy of Flickr, Michael W. May / Michael May.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students discover the best college degree and career for them. Get information on things like what is a vocational school and other questions to find the right career for you!

Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

The Big List Part Three: 50 More Colleges and Universities Who Twitter

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Even with all the Google Buzz to-do, Twitter seems to be hanging in there just fine, thank you very much.  To celebrate, we bring you the ever-anticipated Twitter list: 50 MORE Colleges and Universities who Twitter!

Click on the name of your favorite college or university to land directly on their Twitter page!  Can’t decide?  Follow them all using My College Guide’s Complete List of Colleges Who Tweet right on Twitter.  It doesn’t get any easier!

Don’t forget to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the Big List to find your favorite tweeting colleges and universities!  Feel free to retweet our list to your followers – and add anyone we may have missed to the comments section below — to be included in Part 4!

Agnes Scott College Oklahoma City Community College
Butler University Pacific Lutheran University
Canisius College Park University
Colorado College Rockhurst University
Columbus State University Roger Williams University
Delaware Tech Terry Seattle University
Delta College St Mary’s University
Ferris State St Norbert College
Florida International University Texas Christian University
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College/R.A. Meyers Library Trinity University
Henderson Community College Utah State University
Kalamazoo College University of Alabama
Linfield College University of Alaska Southeast
Maryville College University of Arizona
Millsaps College University of California Irvine
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities University of Chicago
Montana State University University of Florida
Morehead State University University of Hawaii Manoa
New School University of Missouri Columbia
Northampton Community College University of Missouri Kansas City
North Carolina State University University of Oklahoma
North Central College University of Texas-Pan America
North Dakota State University University of Wisconsin Madison
Ocean County College Wichita State University
Ohio Northern University Wisconsin Tech College