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Contrasting Culinary Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there are numerous cooking programs in the Aberdeen area and across the United States, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, for example cost and location are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, including accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you should investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking school you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner 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 On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations.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 assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were unhappy with either the institutes or the training and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a large network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary school that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Aberdeen residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary institute located in a different state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the cooking institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get limited individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to audit a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak 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 benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Aberdeen NJ due to your job schedule, check that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts college has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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