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Comparing Cooking Schools
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous culinary programs in the Paramus area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, for instance cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, including reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts school you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, 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 culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly 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 modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a wide network of professional contacts. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking school that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Paramus residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary college located in a different state because of its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary program you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get limited individual attention from the instructors. The optimal means to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and find out what their teaching approaches are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you select offers class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Paramus NJ due to your job schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary school has a part-time option. 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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