It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Culinary Arts Career Below!
Comparing Culinary Arts Programs
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Livingston area and within the Country, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifications, including cost and location are a good place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for instance reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Livingston residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a specific culinary college located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. 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 method to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly get little individual attention from the teachers. The best means to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to audit a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Livingston NJ because of your work schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary arts institute has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
Learn More About Culinary Colleges in Livingston