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Researching Culinary Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the Santa Fe area and within the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifications, for instance cost and location are a good place to start. But picking 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, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to assess as well. So below are some crucial areas that you should research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts institute you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help 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 operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Certainly 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 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. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They might also indicate 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 high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a large network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Santa Fe residence, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, maybe you have chosen to enroll in a specific culinary school located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that some schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get limited personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are together with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking college if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Santa Fe NM because of your work schedule, check that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the culinary program has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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