Funding Your Education 1997-98

Education after High School

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As you get closer to graduating from high school, you've got a lot of decisions to make about your future. The most important decision you need to make is what college or career school to attend.

What should I find out about a school I'm considering?

Some of the questions you should ask when considering a college or career school follow:

• Does the school offer the courses and type of program I want?
  
  
• Do I meet the admissions requirements?
  
  
• Is the school accredited; that is, has an independent agency approved the school's policies and courses?
  
  
• Does the school offer a quality education at a reasonable price?
  
  
• Have many of the school's graduates had successful careers?
  
  
• Is federal student aid available at the school?
  
  
• Does the school offer services I need and the activities I'm interested in?
  
  
• What measures are taken to ensure the safety of the students?
  
  
• What is the school's dropout rate?
  

Most of this information is covered in the school's catalog or in an introductory brochure. Also, in the reference section of your local library, many books provide information about colleges and career schools. If you know someone who attends a school you're considering, ask that person how he or she likes the school.

Ask each school that you contact for a copy of its campus security report. The campus security report provides information on the school's campus crime statistics and campus security policies. If you contact a school and ask for admissions information, the school must inform you that its campus security report is available, must provide you with a summary of the report, and must tell you how to receive a copy of the report.

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