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Comparing 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 public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary arts schools in the Cherry Hill area and within the Country, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, such as cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, such as reputation and accreditation that you must assess as well. So below are some key areas that you should research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality 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 generally 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 develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a large network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Cherry Hill residence, unless you have decided to move. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts school located in a different state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited personal attention from the instructors. The best means to evaluate the interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you pick has available class scheduling that will fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Cherry Hill NJ due to your job schedule, check that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary arts institute has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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