It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Culinary Arts Career Below!
Comparing Cooking Institutes
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there are numerous culinary institutions in the Brooklyn area and across the Country, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifications, including cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for example reputation and accreditation that you should review as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you should research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training 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 as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, as well as a wide network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Brooklyn residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary arts institute located in another 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 satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that some schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive minimal personal attention from the teachers. The best means to evaluate the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Brooklyn NY because of your work schedule, confirm that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary arts school has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
Find Out More About Culinary Institutes in Brooklyn