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Researching Culinary Arts Schools
By now 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 college. Since there are numerous cooking institutions in the Halfmoon area and across the Country, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must assess as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary college you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As aforementioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often 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 cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were unhappy with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the cooking field, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you attend should be within driving distance of your Halfmoon home, unless you can move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to go to a particular culinary institute located in another state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get little individual attention from the instructors. The optimal means to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and determine what their teaching styles are as well as their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you select offers class scheduling that can fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Halfmoon NY due to your work schedule, verify that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the cooking institute has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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