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Contrasting Culinary Arts Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of cooking institutions in the Bedford area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate also. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you must research for every school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts school you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. 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 successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating 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 Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. 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 modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are assessing. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and dropped out. They might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend should be within driving distance of your Bedford home, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary institute located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Inspect 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 focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal personal attention from the instructors. The ideal means to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you select provides class scheduling that can fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Bedford NY due to your job schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the cooking school has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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