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Comparing Culinary Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of cooking programs in the Clarkstown area and within the United States, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, including location and cost are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other factors, such as accreditation and reputation that you must review as well. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed evaluation regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and obtained one or more accreditations.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 dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are examining. Lower graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They can also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a broad network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose must be within driving distance of your Clarkstown residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary arts college located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose 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 training. If the culinary arts school you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get little individual attention from the teachers. The optimal means to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are together with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you select provides class scheduling that can accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Clarkstown NY because of your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary arts school has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other commitments.
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