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Comparing Cooking Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the Evans area and within the United States, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, such as reputation and accreditation that you must review also. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking institute you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you attend should be within driving distance of your Evans home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, maybe you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary school located in a different state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour 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 concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the cooking school you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly get limited individual attention from the instructors. The best means to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking school if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Evans NY due to your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the culinary arts school has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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