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Evaluating Culinary Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Keene area and within the Country, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. So below are some crucial areas that you must research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary school you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible 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 garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway 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. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They may also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Keene home, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary institute located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get limited individual attention from the teachers. The best means to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Keene NH due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts program has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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