Questions Your Students Should Ask of Colleges
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April 2010, Issue N.2
Helping Students Select the Right College

With the many options available for a post-secondary education, it pays for students to carefully screen their college of choice. This large investment of money and time deserves extra research to avoid potential problems.

Primary concerns when choosing a college include ensuring that an institution is accredited, has a stellar reputation, has high academic standards and will place the student in courses that fit his or her skills and interests.

Here are some important questions a student should ask of any institution being considered:
Is the institution accredited by a reputable agency? See the U.S. Department of Education's list of accreditation agencies. Miami Dade College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a highly reputable organization that accredits all public colleges and universities in Florida.
Nowadays students should screen their college choices carefully.
Is it licensed by the state? In Florida, that would mean a license from the Florida Department of Education and/or the Commission for Independent Education.
Are the degrees or credentials widely recognized and respected? Who are the graduates? See MDC's alumni.
Are faculty members properly credentialed? At MDC, every instructor has at least a master's degree in the subject taught, or a master's degree and an additional 18 graduate credits in the subject taught.
Will the students develop skills they can use throughout their professional life? It is likely that a person will change jobs several times during his or her career. Make sure they are prepared for those changes. See MDC's learning outcomes.
Can students easily transfer credits to another institution? MDC credits are accepted by all Florida state universities and other top colleges around the country. Students can learn more about transferring credits at Collegeboard.com.
Are all tuition costs, fees and expenses clearly outlined? This must be in writing. Students considering private institutions should shop around because many public colleges offer the same program or major for less tuition. Degrees and courses at public institutions are equally recognized throughout Florida and the nation.
Does the financial aid offered cover at least a significant portion of costs? How much of the financial aid offered is really just a loan? You don't want your students to be left with a large debt. Again, get this in writing. Review it carefully.
Will the institution help the student find a job? Ask for the placement rate, which will show how many graduates find jobs with help from the program. The placement rate of MDC's Electronics Engineering Technology Program, for example, is more than 96 percent.
Can the student visit the campus? Advise him or her to sit in a class and talk to students or professors, while also looking at the quality of the facility and equipment.
Students should review all of the information and think it through carefully. There shouldn't be any doubts about an institution's reputation or the quality of its programs. After all, a considerable amount of money and precious time are at stake.

In the end, the choice should be clear. A college should provide a first-rate education to help students reach their career goals.

Learn what makes Miami Dade College the choice for thousands of students each year. The benefits of an MDC degree are many. Research the options at MDC and help students apply today!
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(L-R) Deborah Santiago, vice president of Policy and Research, Excelencia in Education; Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, president of Miami Dade College; Miami-Dade County School Board Member Marta Pérez and Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education.
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College officials, faculty, students, school board members, congressional aides, and community leaders gathered at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Wolfson Campus today for the release of Washington-based Excelencia in Education’s report, Florida Policy Options to Accelerate Latino Student Success in Higher Education. Making the announcement were MDC president, Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, Sarita Brown - president of Excelencia in Education, and Deborah Santiago – vice president of Policy and Research of Excelencia in Education and the comprehensive report’s author.

This report provides policy recommendations, based on recent research and discussions, to improve the educational attainment of Florida's workforce, with a focus on Latinos. Given that a large portion of the demographic growth in Florida through 2030 will be Hispanic, the state's economic competitiveness will be highly dependent on the educational attainment of this population. More...
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Source: College Board - Education Pays 2004 Study
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