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Comparing Cooking Schools
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 public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary schools in the Gallup area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, 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 ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, including accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you must research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking college you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a wide network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking school that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Gallup home, unless you can move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to attend a particular culinary arts college located in another state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely get minimal individual attention from the teachers. The ideal way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to attend a few 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 receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and find out what their teaching styles are along with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Gallup NM because of your job schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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