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Contrasting Culinary Arts Colleges
At this point you should have decided on 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 a large number of culinary programs in the Manchester area and within the United States, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your choices. Some obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate as well. So below are some critical areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking school you select has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed evaluation regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer 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 update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you choose must be within driving distance of your Manchester residence, unless you are willing to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary school located in another state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to evaluate the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and determine what their teaching philosophies are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you select has available class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Manchester NJ due to your job schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary program has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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