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Questions to Ask Interior Design Colleges

After you have decided on the interior designer degree that you wish to earn, you can start the process of reviewing your school options. Location will be an important issue, especially if the school must be within driving distance from your Waterbury CT home. Obviously if you have decided on attending an online school, or are willing to relocate to attend classes, then location may not be a qualification. The expense for tuition will decrease your choices as well. But selecting the cheapest college or the one that is closest to your residence are not the best ways to make your selection. There are other variables that you need to look at also, such as the accreditation and reputation of the college. Following are a list of questions that you may want to ask the schools you are looking at to obtain those answers as well as others in order to help you examine and ultimately pick the right degree program.

Is the Interior Design College Accredited? It's imperative to confirm that the interior design college and program that you choose has been accredited by either a national or regional organization. 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 a rigorous evaluation of their teachers and programs. Just make sure that both the college and the degree program have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Not only will it help establish that the reputation of the college and the quality of the training are outstanding, it may also help when requesting financial assistance or a student loan. Often they are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, a number of Waterbury Connecticut employers will only hire graduates of accredited schools for entry level positions.

Does the School Prepare you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, several States do mandate that interior designers get 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 college. And in several of those States requiring licensing, at least 2 years of work experience may be required as well. So besides providing an excellent education, the Waterbury CT college you select should also provide the suitable training to pass the NCIDQ examination and meet the minimum licensing requirements for Connecticut or the State where you will be working.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and earned your interior designer certification, you will no doubt need some assistance in finding your first job. Ask the programs that you are reviewing if they have a job placement program. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher rate is a good sign that the college and its programs are held in high regard within the interior design field and its students are in demand. It might also indicate that the school has a sizable network of Waterbury CT business connections where they can refer students to secure internships or employment after graduation.

Is Financial Aid Available? Get in touch with the financial assistance departments for the Waterbury CT schools you are reviewing and find out what type of aid they offer. Many of interior designer programs offer financial assistance to their new students. Certain schools offer partial scholarships while others provide help in securing grants or federal student loans. Again it must be stressed that selecting an accredited program is important for qualification in most cases. In some cases a school that has a higher tuition may ultimately be less expensive than its competitors because they provide more generous financial aid.

How Big are the Classes? Smaller classes are more intimate and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are large, you may receive limited individual instruction from the teachers. Ask the Waterbury CT schools you are looking at what their typical student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your Waterbury home, visit the campus and monitor a couple of classes. While there speak with a few students and ask what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching philosophies are and what their credentials are in interior design.

Are Classes Accessible that Fit your Schedule? Last, confirm that the interior designer program you select offers classes the fit your busy schedule. This is especially important if you will continue working while going to school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Waterbury CT, make sure that those classes are offered. If working full-time means you can only enroll part-time, verify that is an alternative as well. Finally, check what the process is for making up classes missed because of work, family or illness.