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Topics to Ask Interior Design Schools

Once you have selected the interior design degree that you would like to earn, you can begin the process of evaluating your college options. Location will be an important issue, especially if the school has to be within commuting distance from your Merced CA residence. Of course if you have decided on attending an online school, or are willing to move to attend classes, then location might not be a qualifier. The cost of tuition will limit your choices also. But picking the least expensive college or the one that is nearest to home are not the optimal ways to make your selection. There are other things that you need to look at as well, such as the accreditation and reputation of the program. Following are a list of questions that you may want to ask the colleges you are looking at to get those answers in addition to others in order to help you examine and ultimately select the appropriate degree program.

Is the Interior Design College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the interior design school and program that you select has earned accreditation from either a national or regional agency. One of the most respected in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Colleges obtaining accreditation from the NASAD have gone through an extensive assessment of their programs and instructors. Just make sure that both the degree program and the college have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Not only will it help verify that the reputation of the school and the quality of the education are exceptional, it might also help when requesting financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, a number of Merced California employers will only hire graduates of accredited programs for entry level positions.

Does the College Prepare you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, a number of States do require that interior designers get licensed. This would necessitate a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam in addition to a degree from an accredited program. And in several of those States requiring licensing, at least 2 years of work experience may be required also. Therefore besides furnishing an excellent education, the Merced CA college you select should also furnish the suitable instruction to pass the NCIDQ examination and satisfy the minimum licensing requirements for California or the State where you will be employed.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? Once you have graduated and received your interior design certification, you will probably need some help in finding your first position. Ask the programs that you are considering if they have a job assistance program. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher rate is a good sign that the college and its programs are highly regarded within the interior design profession and its graduates are sought after. It might also indicate that the school has a substantial network of Merced CA business relationships where they can refer students to obtain internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Aid Available? Contact the financial aid departments for the Merced CA schools you are reviewing and ask what kind of assistance they offer. A number of interior design colleges offer financial aid to their new students. Some colleges offer partial scholarships and others provide help in acquiring federal student loans or grants. It must be stressed again that selecting an accredited program is important for qualification in most cases. In some cases a college that has a higher tuition may actually be less expensive than its counterparts because they provide more generous financial assistance.

How Big are the Classrooms? Smaller classes are more intimate and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are larger, you probably will receive little individual instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Merced CA programs you are reviewing what their typical teacher to student ratios are. If practical from your Merced home, go to the campus and sit in on a couple of classes. While there speak with some 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 Fit your Schedule? Finally, make certain that the interior design program you select offers classes the fit your hectic schedule. This is particularly significant if you will continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Merced CA, make sure that those classes are available. If working full-time means you can only enroll part-time, confirm that is an option also. Finally, check what the process is for making up classes missed because of illness, work or family emergencies.