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Evaluating Culinary Institutes
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Elizabeth area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you should review also. So below are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts school 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 certified organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. 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 sustained track record of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson 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. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutions you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indications that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, as well as a large network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend should be within driving distance of your Elizabeth residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, maybe you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary school located in another state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the cooking college you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely receive minimal personal attention from the teachers. The best means to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Elizabeth NJ due to your work schedule, check that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary program has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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