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Researching Culinary Arts Colleges
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of cooking programs in the Forest Hills area and across the United States, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. So below are some critical areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking college you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more 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 based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are examining. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the training and dropped out. They might also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Forest Hills home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary institute located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit 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 sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the cooking program you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The ideal way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary program if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Forest Hills NY due to your work schedule, make certain that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary college has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other obligations.
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