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Comparing Culinary Institutes
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts schools in the Scotch Plains area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other factors, including reputation and accreditation that you should review as well. So below are some critical areas that you should investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking 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 exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are looking at. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you attend must be within driving distance of your Scotch Plains residence, unless you have decided to move. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to enroll in a specific culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that some schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The best means to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level 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 styles are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you select has available class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Scotch Plains NJ due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain 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 work, family or other commitments.
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