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Comparing Culinary Institutes
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Fair Lawn area and within the Country, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for example accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit 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, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer 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 cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and dropped out. They may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you choose must be within commuting distance of your Fair Lawn residence, unless you are able to move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have opted to attend a specific culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive little personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are along with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you select provides class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Fair Lawn NJ because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary arts college has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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