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Evaluating Culinary Arts Schools
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the Guilderland area and across the USA, you must develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, including reputation and accreditation that you should review as well. So following are some critical areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and obtained one or more accreditations.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 assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a large network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Guilderland residence, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have opted to go to a particular culinary college located in a different state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely receive minimal individual attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching approaches are together with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you select has available class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Guilderland NY due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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