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Comparing Cooking Institutes
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of cooking programs in the Maplewood area and within the United States, you need to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, including 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 best way to decide on your education. There are other variables, such as reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. So following are some critical areas that you need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary program you pick has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Maplewood home, unless you are able to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to go to a particular culinary school located in another state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive minimal personal attention from the teachers. The best means to evaluate the interaction between instructors and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and determine what their teaching approaches are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you select provides class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Maplewood NJ due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the culinary arts college has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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