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Contrasting 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 want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the Bergenfield area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, including 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 make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example accreditation and reputation that you must review also. So following are some critical areas that you should research for every school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They can also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a large network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose must be within commuting distance of your Bergenfield home, unless you are able to move. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary institute located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive 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 some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select 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 Bergenfield NJ due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts institute has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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