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Contrasting Culinary Programs
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary schools in the North Bergen area and within the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, such as cost and location are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, including reputation and accreditation that you need to review as well. So below 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 essential that the culinary institute you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more 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 cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts programs you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose should be within driving distance of your North Bergen home, unless you have decided to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to go to a specific culinary arts college located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary program you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the teachers. The ideal means to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are together with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you choose has available class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near North Bergen NJ because of your job schedule, make certain that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary college has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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