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Comparing Culinary Arts Institutions
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there are numerous culinary arts colleges in the Bayonne area and within the Country, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, for instance 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 decide on your education. There are other considerations, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary institute you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are assessing. 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 teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a broad network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you attend must be within driving distance of your Bayonne home, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary arts school located in another state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to assess the interaction between faculty 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 overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you choose provides class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Bayonne NJ due to your job schedule, confirm that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary arts school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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