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Researching Culinary Schools
By now 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 institution. Since there are numerous culinary schools in the Orange area and across the United States, you must develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your choices. Some obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, including accreditation and reputation that you must review also. So below are some key areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking school you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive evaluation regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a wide network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Orange residence, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to go to a specific culinary school located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The best way to evaluate the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some 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 entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick has available class scheduling that will work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Orange NJ because of your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the cooking program 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 responsibilities.
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