Culinary Arts Institutes
How to Find the Right One Near Tempe Arizona
You have made a great career choice to become a cook or chef by enrolling in a culinary college near Tempe AZ. You will not only learn how to create spectacular dishes or make fancy desserts, you'll also be able to make a nice income doing it. But exactly how do you set about picking a culinary college now that you've made your decision to enroll? What criteria should you research and compare among the contending culinary institutes before making your ultimate choice? In order to be successful in the restaurant and hospitality industry you must pick the ideal culinary program and degree. There are a wide range of options to select from, beginning with a certificate or diploma program and advancing to attaining an undergraduate as well as a graduate degree. You can enroll in a small baking college, an online training class, or enroll in a prestigious culinary institute that provides more advanced degree programs. The kind of credential and school you select will probably be dependent upon how much money and time you can afford to spend, as well as your ultimate career goal. Once you have determined what your main area of interest and budget are, you can begin evaluating the culinary arts programs that satisfy your initial qualifications. Depending upon the degree and type of culinary school you select, you may be working as a professional cook or chef in just six months. So before we delve more into the process of picking a school, let's speak a little bit more about the degree and culinary school choices that are available.
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Culinary Arts Schools
When you have made your decision regarding the type of training and degree that you wish to pursue, you can start your search for the culinary arts school, college or institute that offers it. As an example, if your desire is to become a chef specializing in Spanish cuisine, then of course you will focus on those schools that offer the appropriate training. Or you can choose an institute based on its reputation or other criteria (we'll cover a few of those later) and then select the best degree program available that is simpatico with your career goals in Tempe AZ. However you make your choice, culinary schools generally fit within 3 different categories:
- Cooking Schools. Certain cooking schools do offer degree programs, but usually they offer diplomas or certificates. Their courses tend to be more focused in nature, and they can last anywhere from 1 or 2 months to as long as three to four years.
- Community Colleges. Area community colleges tend to be more economical than the majority of private colleges and many have outstanding programs. They almost exclusively offer Associate's Degrees and are established and managed by either local or state governments.
- Culinary Schools and Institutes. The advanced degrees and training are furnished by culinary colleges and institutes. Several institutes provide the most respected as well as the highest standard of training in academia. But bear in mind, since they are private schools they often can be more expensive than their public counterparts, some a lot more.
Picking a culinary arts institute will not only be dependent on the kind of degree or program you wish to pursue, but also how much you have to spend on your education. If you decide to enroll in a public institution to minimize expenses, remember that out-of-state residents generally are required to pay a higher tuition than in-state residents. Also, numerous community colleges and regional public schools have lower tuition rates for area residents. So don't forget to explore the public options within Arizona and also within the Tempe AZ area to discover the most economical options.
Cooking Online Colleges
A number of prospective students may find that there are no cooking schools that are within commuting proximity of their Tempe AZ residence. One solution is to enroll in online classes within the convenience of one's home. The practicality and flexibility makes it the best solution for many students that are still working full time while attending college. In addition there are more schools online than ever before that are accredited. Keep in mind that a significant part of the training will be furnished through an externship. Externships are programs where students work with local chefs or other culinary professionals to ensure that they obtain hands-on training beyond the internet classroom. Just be sure that the online school you enroll in is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency (more on this later). So if you are dedicated enough to be able to participate in classes and study in this more independent fashion, earning a culinary degree online might be the ideal option for you.
Researching Culinary Arts Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there are numerous cooking colleges in the Tempe area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, for instance cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to assess as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you should investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking program you select has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking colleges you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose must be within commuting distance of your Tempe home, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to enroll in a specific culinary arts school located in another state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the cooking program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Tempe AZ because of your work schedule, verify that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary institute has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
Learn More About Culinary Schools in Tempe
Enroll in the Right Tempe Cooking School
A rewarding career in the hospitality and restaurant profession is dependent upon enrolling in the right cooking program. As we have covered, there are several things that you must consider when evaluating schools, for example their accreditation, reputations, and training facilities. As with any career decision, you must start by getting information, and the best way to do that is by contacting culinary arts schools directly, either face to face or over the phone. If you're not sure regarding which schools to consider, you may want to consider talking to chefs in your city about any cooking colleges they recommend. Afterwards go on the Web to check out these schools further before contacting them. By taking the time to thoroughly assess each of your education alternatives, you will be in a better position to make an educated decision. And when you select the right school, you will have a great start toward your aspiration of becoming a chef in Tempe Arizona.