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Contrasting Cooking Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Bay Shore area and across the Country, you must create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to start. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for instance reputation and accreditation that you must assess also. Therefore, following are some key areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you select 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 acknowledged organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indications that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking school that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Bay Shore home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about 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 arts college located in a different state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to evaluate the interaction between instructors and students is to audit several 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 as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you choose has available class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Bay Shore NY due to your job schedule, check that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary institute has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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