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Comparing Culinary Arts Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary schools in the Deer Park area and across the USA, you must create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifications, for instance cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, including accreditation and reputation that you should review also. So following are some crucial areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts program you pick 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 recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish 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 culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking school that you choose must be within driving distance of your Deer Park residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts school located in a different state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The best manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and determine what their teaching approaches are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select provides class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Deer Park NY because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary arts institute has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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