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Contrasting Cooking Schools
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there a large number of culinary schools in the Merrimack area and within the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your choices. Some obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, such as reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate also. So following are some crucial areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking college you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are looking at. Low graduation rates are signs that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you choose must be within commuting distance of your Merrimack home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary school located in another state because of its prominence and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably get limited individual attention from the teachers. The optimal means to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
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 certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Merrimack NH due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary arts program has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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