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Comparing Cooking Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous culinary schools in the Hicksville area and within the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must assess as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary school you pick has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing 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. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional 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 culinary programs you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you choose should be within driving distance of your Hicksville home, unless you can relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to go to a specific culinary arts school located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools focus their job placement programs within their regional 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 one-on-one training. If the cooking program you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited individual attention from the teachers. The ideal means to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you pick has available class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Hicksville NY due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary program has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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