CHOOSING A SCHOOL Continued from page 39 What is the library like? It's likely that your education will consist of more than avionics laboratories and airplanes. A modern library will include more than stacks of books. The library should be an inviting place to study and conduct research. How is the connectivity? Unlike the old days, the Internet plays an important roll in education. Determine whether the prospective school has plenty of network connections or Wi-Fi zones. Does it have computer labs available? There are already some schools requiring students to purchase a laptop computer or tablet before attending classes. But a laptop or tablet may not fulfill all your computing needs. Learn what the ratio is of desktop computers available to students. It is rarely 1-to-1, but there should be enough for you to have a reasonable chance of getting time on a desktop when you need it. 40 avionics news * august 2014 How does it help students academically? Even the best students need help occasionally. Don't be shy about asking how the school can help you, if you need it. Who helps you choose and schedule classes? The answer to this question can vary widely. You might be on your own with a checklist to remind you which class to take and when. On the other end of the scale, you may have an advisor assigned. I've been in a variety of situations, both as a student and a professor. I've learned a student is better off getting advice from an official advisor before scheduling classes. Does it have a placement service? It is never too early to learn how a school's placement service works. You might have noticed that I assumed the school has a placement service. I would think twice about a college that does not. Does it have interesting extracurricular activities? After a few weeks of classes, you might believe that professors like me expect you to have no social lifehttp://freeflightsystems.com/avionicsnews