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Comparing Cooking Institutes
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there are numerous culinary arts colleges in the Bayside area and across the USA, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Some obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you must assess as well. So below are some critical areas that you should research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts program you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As aforementioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are signs that numerous students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Bayside home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a specific culinary arts institute located in a different state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that some schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary school you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and determine what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select provides class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Bayside NY due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking institute has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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