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Contrasting Culinary Arts Programs
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary colleges in the Dover area and within the USA, you must create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, including reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate also. So following are some crucial areas that you should research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive assessment pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent 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 frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges 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 college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Dover home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts college located in a different state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary school you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the instructors. The best means to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak 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 sense in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Dover NH because of your work schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary program has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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