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Comparing Culinary Arts Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Marlboro area and across the USA, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, including accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. So following are some key areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts institute you select has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding 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 reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indicators that many students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the training and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Marlboro home, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to attend a specific culinary arts school located in another state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary institute you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The optimal manner in which to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to sit in on 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 receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and determine what their teaching styles are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking program if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Marlboro NJ due to your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary college has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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