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Researching Culinary Arts Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of cooking schools in the Laconia area and within the United States, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for instance cost and location are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, including accreditation and reputation that you must assess also. Therefore, following are some key areas that you should investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking program you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, 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 culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are assessing. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and dropped out. They may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Laconia home, unless you have decided to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts institute located in another 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 comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary school you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive little individual attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are together with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you choose provides class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Laconia NH because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the cooking institute has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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