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Evaluating Culinary Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary schools in the South Orange area and across the United States, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost 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 factors, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to assess as well. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive review pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The significant 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. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts programs you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your South Orange home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have decided to go to a specific culinary institute located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary arts school you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive little individual attention from the teachers. The ideal way to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are along with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near South Orange NJ because of your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary institute has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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