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Comparing Culinary Arts Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there a large number of culinary schools in the Paragould area and across the United States, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you must assess as well. Therefore, following are some crucial areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation pertaining 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 often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, 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 culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway 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. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are examining. Lower graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They can also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a large network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Paragould residence, unless you can relocate. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary institute located in a different state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of 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 culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you choose has available class scheduling that will work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Paragould AR because of your work schedule, make sure that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the cooking school has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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