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Researching Cooking Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of cooking programs in the Huntington area and within the USA, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to start. But choosing 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 considerations, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary program you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently 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. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are examining. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a college 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 wide network of professional associations. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Huntington home, unless you can relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to attend a specific culinary arts institute located in another state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the teachers. The ideal way 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. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking school if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Huntington NY because of your work schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the culinary arts school has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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