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Researching Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of cooking institutions in the Scottsdale area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Some obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for instance accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary school you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive evaluation relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutions you are examining. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you attend must be within driving distance of your Scottsdale home, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary institute located in a different state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the teachers. The best way to evaluate the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and determine what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Scottsdale AZ due to your job schedule, check that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the cooking program has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other commitments.
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