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Evaluating Cooking Institutes
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 college. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Washington area and within the United States, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, such as accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate also. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Certainly 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 school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are examining. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary field, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking school that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Washington residence, unless you are willing to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have opted to go to a specific culinary school located in a different state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary program you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive minimal personal attention from the instructors. The best means to evaluate the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the instructors and find out what their teaching styles are along with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Washington NJ because of your work schedule, confirm 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 program has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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