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Comparing Cooking Institutes
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the Little Rock area and within the Country, you need to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, including reputation and accreditation that you should assess also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary college you pick has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed evaluation regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They can also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a wide network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary college that you choose must be within driving distance of your Little Rock residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a specific culinary school located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The ideal means to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to audit a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are together with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you choose provides class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Little Rock AR due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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