How to Choose the Right School

(continued from page 1)

Step 2: The Best School Within Your Type

Now that you've gotten a ballpark idea of your educational needs, you should narrow down your selections accordingly by researching schools within 2 or 3 school categories. Some questions you should ask each school:

1. What is the school's reputation in your desired job market?

When an IT employer is looking at your resume, chances are he/she is more focused on experience than anything. However, if you're going to invest in the degree or Certificate program from a school, that school's reputation can make a big difference in what that investment gains for you.

That doesn't mean you have to get a degree from MIT. As long as your desired industry recognizes your school as respected in the particular area you've chosen, you should feel comfortable choosing that school's program, whether online or traditional. And don't discount community colleges, especially if the job you seek is near the institution. Just be sure to research your job market to find out what makes a school respectable in a manager's point of view.

2. What is the school's value with regards to cost?

Sure, sporting Stanford on your resume would look great. But is it really worth the $300,000+ price tag and subsequent debt? In any investment, you want to pay the least for the best returns, and your education is no exception. And while reputation is important, it won't necessarily give you a dollar-for-dollar salary increase.

Look at the top schools in the IT industry, and you'll find that list peppered with public Universities and smaller schools having reputations as stellar as their ivy-league counterparts, but with much smaller price tags. The same is true in all other types of schools, including online, professional training, and even self-learning. Always consider the reputation/price balance, and you're sure to find the point where these measurements meet your needs.

3. What kind of learning experience will the school provide?

Because Information Technology is based on practical, applied skills, gaining and retaining these skills effectively is of paramount importance. Will your chosen school give you the experience you need to hit the ground running in the IT industry? Managers will have no patience for someone who knows all the buzzwords without the abilities to back them up with real-world results.

Assuming that you've answered your own questions about how you learn best, be sure to nail down which schools will provide the most effective learning experience for you. If you need one-to-one Instructor interaction, make sure coaching is available. If you need to learn by doing, be sure the tools are there for you to immerse yourself in whatever you're learning. If the school is unwilling or unable to accomodate your needs, or simply doesn't offer courses that suit your goals, then you need to look elsewhere.

4. How flexible is the school towards your lifestyle?

Even after meeting all the above criteria, if a school cannot fit into your life and all the chaos within it, it's automatically disqualified. Luckily, most schools are recognizing the need to accomodate adult learners' busy lifestyles with online components or flexible curriculum schedules. However, these convenient options should not take away from your requirements for effective learning.

For instance, does a school's online component simply constitute a web page of text, or does it retain the community and immersive aspects of learning within its brick-and-mortar counterparts? Do weekend classes skimp on instructor or peer interaction? Be sure to investigate your options thoroughly, and do not assume you will have to settle for less.

No matter what your goals, stage in life, lifestyle and budget, there is a school out there that is right for you. Education is never an unattainable dream, but an important part of your personal and professional growth. As long as you know what you want and how to look for it, you know you'll always have options.

Questions about how to choose the right school? Please contact us.

<< Step 1: The Right Type of School for You