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Comparing Culinary Arts Institutions
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Freeport area and within the United States, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are an excellent place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should review as well. So following are some key areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations.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 based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly modernize 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 state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutions you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indicators that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking school that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Freeport home, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a specific culinary school located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get minimal individual attention from the teachers. The optimal means to evaluate the interaction between teachers and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching approaches are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that can work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Freeport NY due to your job schedule, check that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary arts institute has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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