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Researching Culinary Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there are numerous cooking programs in the Sierra Vista area and within the United States, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. A few obvious qualifications, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, for instance reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you must research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more 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 cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a large network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking school that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Sierra Vista home, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary arts college located in another state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Sierra Vista AZ because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary school has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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