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What to Ask Interior Designer Schools

Now that you have decided on the interior designer degree that you want to earn, you can begin the task of reviewing your school options. Location will be a critical issue, particularly if the college must be within commuting distance from your Highland CA home. Of course if you have decided on attending a school online, or are able to move to attend classes, then location may not be a qualification. The cost of tuition will decrease your options as well. But picking the cheapest school or the one that is nearest to your house are not the optimal ways to make your decision. There are other factors that you should consider as well, such as the accreditation and reputation of the college. Following are a list of concerns that you may want to ask the schools you are looking at to get those answers in addition to others to help you compare and subsequently choose the ideal degree program.

Is the Interior Design Degree Program Accredited? It's imperative to confirm that the interior designer school and program 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 earning accreditation from the NASAD have gone through an extensive assessment of their instructors 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 verify that the reputation of the college and the quality of the training are outstanding, it may also help when applying for financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many Highland California employers will only hire graduates of accredited schools for entry level positions.

Does the College Prepare you for Licensing? As we mentioned earlier, several States do mandate 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 program. And in some of those States mandating licensing, two or more years of professional experience may be required also. So in addition to providing an excellent education, the Highland CA school you choose should also furnish the appropriate training to pass the NCIDQ examination and comply with the minimum licensing requirements for California or the State where you will be working.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? Once you have graduated and received your interior design certification, you will probably want some support in finding your first job. Ask the schools that you are looking at if they have a job placement program. If yes, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher rate is a good sign that the college and its programs are held in high esteem within the interior design profession and its students are sought after. It may also signify that the college has a substantial network of Highland CA business contacts where they can place students to secure internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? Get in touch with the financial aid departments for the Highland CA schools you are looking at and ask what type of aid they offer. A number of interior design schools offer financial aid to their new students. Various schools offer partial scholarships while others provide support in securing federal student loans or grants. It must be stressed again that enrolling in an accredited school is imperative for qualification in most cases. Sometimes a program that has a higher tuition may actually be cheaper than its counterparts because they offer more generous financial assistance.

How Large are the Classes? Small classes are more intimate and conducive to one on one instruction. If classes are large, you probably will receive limited individual instruction from the teachers. Ask the Highland CA colleges you are considering what their average teacher to student ratios are. If convenient from your Highland home, visit the campus and monitor a few classes. Take the opportunity to talk with a few students and find out what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching approaches are and what their experiences have been in interior design.

Are Classes Accessible that Accommodate your Schedule? Finally, verify that the interior designer program you choose offers classes the fit your active schedule. This is especially significant if you will continue working while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Highland CA, make certain that those classes are available. If working full-time means you can only enroll part-time, check that is an alternative as well. Finally, check what the procedure is for making up classes missed due to illness, work or family emergencies.