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Comparing Culinary Arts Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Alamogordo area and within the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, for instance cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, including accreditation and reputation that you need to assess also. Therefore, following are some key areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts school you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive evaluation pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice 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 cooking institutes you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indications that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a large network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Alamogordo residence, unless you are willing to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to go to a specific culinary college located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts school you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get limited personal attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Alamogordo NM because of your job schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary arts program has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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