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Comparing Culinary Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous cooking colleges in the Hazlet area and within the United States, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, such as cost and location are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for example reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate also. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking college you pick has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive evaluation pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally 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, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the training and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a broad network of professional associations. Watch out for any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Hazlet residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may consider attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have opted to attend a particular culinary school located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary school you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly receive minimal personal attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on several 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 in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that can fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Hazlet NJ due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking institute has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other responsibilities.
Learn More About Cooking Institutes in Hazlet