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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 if you want to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts schools in the Bentonville area and within the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start limiting your options. A few obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, including accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate also. Therefore, following are some key areas that you need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking program you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly update their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the training and dropped out. They might also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking college that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Bentonville residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary arts school located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The optimal way to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick provides class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Bentonville AR because of your job schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary institute has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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