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Researching Cooking Colleges
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts institutions in the Glassboro area and across the United States, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. A few obvious qualifications, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, including reputation and accreditation that you need to review also. So following are some key areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary college you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are assessing. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Glassboro residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a specific culinary institute located in a different state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get limited personal attention from the instructors. The optimal manner in which to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Glassboro NJ due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the cooking program has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other commitments.
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