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Evaluating Culinary Arts Institutions
At this point 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 institution. Since there are numerous cooking institutions in the Jacksonville area and within the United States, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for instance reputation and accreditation that you must review as well. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking program you pick has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable 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. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied 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. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a broad network of professional associations. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Jacksonville residence, unless you are willing to move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have opted to attend a particular culinary institute located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking program you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the teachers. The optimal means to assess the communication and interaction 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 pleased with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk 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 arts college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Jacksonville AR because of your work schedule, make sure that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the cooking school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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