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Comparing Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Parsippany area and within the USA, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are an excellent place to start. 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 criteria, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to review also. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking institute you choose 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 recognized authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indications that numerous 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 curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Parsippany home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary institute located in a different state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that some 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 plenty of one-on-one training. If the culinary college you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The ideal manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as 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. Therefore make certain that the school you choose has available class scheduling that will fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Parsippany NJ because of your job schedule, check that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts college has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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