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Comparing Cooking Institutes
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the West Orange area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start limiting your choices. 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 optimal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate as well. So below are some key areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts institute you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can reach out to 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 typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indicators that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and quit before graduating. They may also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend should be within commuting distance of your West Orange residence, unless you can move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to attend a particular culinary arts college located in another state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that a number of schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are along with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you choose provides class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near West Orange NJ due to your work schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the cooking program has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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