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Contrasting Cooking Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Bedford area and within the USA, you need to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should assess also. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you should investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open 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 sustained history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer 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 dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts programs you are examining. Lower graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the training and quit before graduating. They may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified 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 exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Bedford residence, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary arts school located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Bedford NH due to your job schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary program has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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