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Evaluating Cooking Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary colleges in the Monroe area and across the United States, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, including accreditation and reputation that you need to review also. Therefore, following are some crucial 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 cooking school you select has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive evaluation pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record 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 schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are looking at. Low graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary community, as well as a broad network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Monroe home, unless you can move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have opted to attend a particular culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably get limited personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to evaluate the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and determine what their teaching philosophies are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary school if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you select offers class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Monroe NJ due to your job schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the culinary arts program has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of family, work or other commitments.
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