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Evaluating Culinary Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of cooking programs in the Bridgewater area and within the United States, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking institute you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive evaluation relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and dropped out. They may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking field, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Bridgewater residence, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to go to a specific culinary school located in a different state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The optimal means to evaluate the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are along with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Bridgewater NJ due to your work schedule, check that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking program has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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