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Evaluating Culinary Arts Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary colleges in the Glenville area and within the USA, you must develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are a good place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, such as reputation and accreditation that you must review as well. So below are some crucial areas that you need to 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 type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough evaluation relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a large network of professional associations. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Glenville home, unless you have decided to move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary arts school located in a different state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the cooking school you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly get little individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out 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 instructors and determine what their teaching styles are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Glenville NY due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class as a result of family, work or other obligations.
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