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Evaluating Cooking Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there are numerous culinary programs in the Franklin Square area and across the United States, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, for instance reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary program you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway 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 newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are looking at. Low graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or excellent reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you choose should be within driving distance of your Franklin Square residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts school located in a different state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the cooking college you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get limited personal attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Franklin Square NY due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the cooking institute has a part-time option. 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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