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Comparing Culinary Arts Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Surprise area and within the United States, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should assess as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary program you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly update their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutions you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and dropped out. They might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you attend should be within driving distance of your Surprise residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary school located in another state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably receive minimal individual attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary program if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that can fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Surprise AZ due to your job schedule, check that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the cooking school has a part-time alternative. Also, ask 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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