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Researching Culinary Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the Mahwah area and across the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, for instance cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must review as well. So following are some key areas that you must research for each school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts institute you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are assessing. Low graduation rates are signs that many students were unhappy with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They may 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 higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a wide network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Mahwah residence, unless you are able to move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Look over 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 target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the cooking institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get limited individual attention from the instructors. The best way to evaluate the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are together with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Mahwah NJ due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking college has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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