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Researching 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 public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Bethpage area and across the United States, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, including reputation and accreditation that you should review as well. So following are some crucial areas that you must research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed evaluation regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They can also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, as well as a broad network of professional associations. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Bethpage residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have 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 due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get minimal individual attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Bethpage NY because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you pick 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, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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