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Researching Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of cooking institutions in the Fresh Meadows area and within the USA, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, such as reputation and accreditation that you should review as well. So following are some key areas that you will need to research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts program you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner 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 Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally 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 important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding 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 reviewing. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and quit before graduating. They may also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, as well as a broad network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Fresh Meadows home, unless you have decided to move. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to go to a specific culinary arts school located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive little individual attention from the instructors. The ideal means to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Fresh Meadows NY due to your job schedule, check that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary arts college has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
Learn More About Cooking Institutes in Fresh Meadows