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Comparing Culinary Arts Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the Jackson area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for instance cost and location are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance reputation and accreditation that you need to review as well. So below are some key areas that you must research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary institute you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking colleges you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are signs that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Jackson home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to enroll in a specific culinary arts college located in a different 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 satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive minimal personal attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Jackson NJ due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the cooking program has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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