<p>I will begin attending Miller-Motte College in just under a month at Jacksonville, NC. I will be entering the Medical Assisting associates degree program. I really don’t know how to go about finding out how good the school is. I do know they are accreditated. BUT, does that really mean much? What else do I need to know about the college? Do my teachers have to have any type of specific qualifications as well? I really don’t know how to go about this to make sure I am making an informed decision.</p>
<p>Their website does not list any accreditation for the Jacksonville campus. [Accreditation</a> | Miller-Motte Technical College - Miller-Motte College](<a href=“http://www.miller-motte.edu/about-us/accreditation]Accreditation”>http://www.miller-motte.edu/about-us/accreditation) You are wise to check them out thoroughly before you write them a check. I tend to be suspicious of “for profit” schools like this. Their website does list an accreditating agency whose website has a search engine to find accredited programs and it lists many community colleges in NC that might meet your needs. [Accredited</a> Program Search - CAAHEP](<a href=“http://www.caahep.org/Find-An-Accredited-Program/]Accredited”>http://www.caahep.org/Find-An-Accredited-Program/)</p>
<p>You need to talk with your own physician, and with your friend’s physicians to find out whether they know anyone who hires graduates of this program, or if they hire graduates from other programs. If the reputation is good, you will find out pretty quickly because the students are getting jobs.</p>
<p>You also need to talk with the placement office of this particular program, and any others that you would be considering. Ask them:
How many students graduated last year?
How many went directly to work?
How many got jobs within one month, three months, six months?
What are the names and contact information of five of the graduates from last year?
Is there a state or national certification exam that the students need to take for their jobs? If so, what percentage of the students in this program passed the exam on the first try?</p>
<p>If the institution can’t (or won’t) give you that information, it is no good. Good training institutions with good placement histories are proud of that, and are happy to give you all the information that you need.</p>
<p>Then call the five graduates. Ask them how long it took for them to get a job. Ask them whether or not they felt prepared for their new career. Ask them for more references of graduates, and call those people. When you are told that X works in Dr. Y’s practice, call that practice, and find out if X really does work there and if X really did train at this particular institution.</p>
<p>Don’t spend your money, or anyone else’s money, on a Med Tech program that won’t train you well enough that you can get a good job.</p>
<p>Schools such as this have come under extreme scrutiny because 1) their for profit nature entices them to admit as many as possible, regardless of potential for graduation, 2) this broad base of students tend to take out much more in loans than other college students, 3) this group of students tends to default (probably b/c the degrees are poorly viewed and/or the job skills are weak in the marketplace) on these loans at a much higher rate than other students.</p>
<p>Finally, know that EVERY communication you’ll receive from the school will have the goal to get you to enroll (and sign over that tuition check). What does that tell you?</p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Why did you choose Miller-Motte? Doesn’t Coastal Carolina CC offer a similar program? That website shows a number of programs in the medical field [Coastal</a> Carolina Community College - Degree Programs](<a href=“http://www.coastalcarolina.edu/degree_programs/degree_programs_home.htm#science]Coastal”>http://www.coastalcarolina.edu/degree_programs/degree_programs_home.htm#science)</p>