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Contrasting Cooking Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts institutions in the Fort Lee area and within the USA, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for instance accreditation and reputation that you need to review as well. So below are some crucial areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutions you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are signs that numerous students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They can also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary community, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Fort Lee residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts college located in another state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts school you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get little personal attention from the instructors. The best means to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Fort Lee NJ because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the cooking school has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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