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Researching Culinary Schools
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous culinary arts schools in the Corona area and across the United States, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to assess as well. So below are some crucial areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking college you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and obtained 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 cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a broad network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Corona home, unless you can relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary school located in another state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary school you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get limited personal attention from the teachers. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you select offers class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Corona NY due to your job schedule, check that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary program has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of family, work or other commitments.
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