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Contrasting Culinary Arts Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Fort Smith area and within the United States, you must create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifications, such as cost and location are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, such as reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop 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 acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are signs that numerous students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and dropped out. They can also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Fort Smith residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to attend a particular culinary school located in a different state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are along with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select offers class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Fort Smith AR because of your job schedule, make certain that the school you pick 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 alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other commitments.
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