Going back to school for a business certificate is not a decision to make lightly. There are so many options out there, it can be very difficult to know for sure which program and which school is right for you. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to make this process easier and find the best college and program for your needs.
1. Do Your Research
Before you start looking at schools, first determine what you’d like to achieve. What do you envision as success when you’re done your business college journey? What is your ideal future job title and salary? How do you want to study—online or in person? Part-time or full-time? Answering these questions before you even start looking will put you on the right path, saving you the time and frustration of evaluating schools that don’t fit what you’re looking for.
2. Shop Around
Now that you have an idea of what you want, start looking at business colleges using your established search criteria. You shouldn’t always go with the first school you find; you should evaluate at least three options in detail. For your three potential choices, look at cost, program length, courses offered, and anything else that is important to you. It can be helpful to make a table to compare the offerings of each school to begin to narrow down your options to two schools.
3. Talk to Students
Once you have an idea of the offerings of a few business colleges, you should speak to some students who are currently attending. This can be a really eye-opening perspective into what going to school there would be like. Ask these current students what they like most and least about the college they attend. Also be sure to inquire about instructors, school management and classmates. These are all important parts of your school journey that make a big impact if they don’t line up with your wants and needs. This exercise should help you to focus from two schools, now to one.
4. Try it Out
Finally, since you’ve narrowed down your options, inquire about whether you can sit in as a student for a day to get a real-life feel for what going to that business college would be like. How is the commute, both in the morning and afternoon? How is the parking, and food options nearby? Most importantly, do you like the facilities and the teachers? You would be making a big commitment and should make sure that everything the college has to offer is up to your standards.
With these steps in mind, you can be sure that you’re making the right decision of what business college to attend. Before you sign any paperwork or pay any tuition, check off the four items above to be certain this college is the right choice for you. When you’re satisfied that you’ve evaluated everything, treat yourself with something new for the first day of college!