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Comparing Culinary Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts schools in the East Patchogue area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to assess also. So following are some critical areas that you need to research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary institute you select has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer 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 based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The important 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. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a wide network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you choose should be within commuting distance of your East Patchogue home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to go to a specific culinary arts school located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably receive minimal individual attention from the instructors. The ideal means to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to attend several 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 in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select has available class scheduling that can work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near East Patchogue NY due to your job schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the cooking institute has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other responsibilities.
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