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Contrasting Cooking Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary programs in the Rogers area and across the Country, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for example reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate also. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you will need to research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and earned 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 assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson 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 off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They can also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you choose must be within commuting distance of your Rogers residence, unless you can 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 chosen to enroll in a specific culinary arts institute located in another state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that some schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary program you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the teachers. The optimal way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you select provides class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Rogers AR because of your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary college has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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