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Contrasting Cooking Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the Elmira area and within the Country, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate also. So following are some key areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are examining. Lower graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a broad network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose should be within driving distance of your Elmira home, unless you can move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary arts institute located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the culinary program you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the teachers. The optimal means to assess the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and determine what their teaching styles are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you choose has available class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Elmira NY because of your work schedule, make certain that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the culinary arts college has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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