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Comparing Culinary Arts Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary schools in the Bronx area and across the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. Some obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance reputation and accreditation that you need to assess also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni 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 highly regarded schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are examining. Low graduation rates are signs that many students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional associations. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Bronx home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to enroll in a specific culinary college located in a different state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that many schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the cooking school you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get little individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple 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 entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Bronx NY due to your job schedule, verify that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the cooking college has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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