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Contrasting Culinary Arts Institutions
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of cooking institutions in the Brookhaven area and across the United States, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking program you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for instance 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 ensure that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. 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 On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations.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. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update 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 state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a wide network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you attend must be within driving distance of your Brookhaven residence, unless you are willing to move. You may look into attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, maybe you have chosen to go to a specific culinary college located in another state due to 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 location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching approaches are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Brookhaven NY due to your work schedule, make certain that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary school has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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