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Researching Culinary Institutes
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous culinary schools in the East Meadow area and within the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for instance reputation and accreditation that you should review also. Therefore, following are some crucial areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary institute you select 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 recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a broad network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your East Meadow residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to attend a particular culinary institute located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that some schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts school you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get limited personal attention from the instructors. The optimal means to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to audit several 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 in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you choose has available class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near East Meadow NY due to your job schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the cooking institute has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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