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Researching Culinary Arts Institutes
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of cooking colleges in the Holtsville area and across the United States, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. A few obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are a good place to begin. 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 need to evaluate as well. So following are some key areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking school you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed evaluation relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history 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 cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are assessing. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. 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 excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking school that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Holtsville home, unless you have decided to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary arts institute located in a different state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable 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 many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the cooking college you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are along with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that can accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Holtsville NY because of your job schedule, confirm that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the cooking school has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of family, work or other commitments.
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