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Evaluating Culinary Arts Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous culinary programs in the Portsmouth area and within the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other factors, including accreditation and reputation that you must review as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary college you select has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often 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. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They might also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Portsmouth residence, unless you can move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary arts institute located in another state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary school you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get limited personal attention from the instructors. The ideal manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are along with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Portsmouth NH due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary college has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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