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Researching Culinary Arts Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there are numerous cooking schools in the Bernards area and within the USA, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, including accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established 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 business, the more graduates 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 arts schools. And older, more renowned schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts programs you are examining. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They can also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a large network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Bernards residence, unless you can relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary arts institute located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best way 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 undoubtedly receive little individual attention from the teachers. The optimal means to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask some 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, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Bernards NJ because of your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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