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Contrasting Cooking Institutes
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of culinary arts schools in the Concord area and within the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must review as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, 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 arts schools. And older, more renowned schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking college that you choose should be within driving distance of your Concord home, unless you can move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a specific culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that a number of schools focus their job placement 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 a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely get little individual attention from the teachers. The ideal way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend several 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 as well as the overall training. Also, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching approaches are as well as their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that will work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Concord NH due to your job schedule, check that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the cooking institute has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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