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Comparing Culinary Schools
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary arts schools in the Hyde Park area and within the Country, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate also. So below are some key areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire 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 On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent 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 institutions you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They can also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Hyde Park residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary arts school located in a different state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive minimal individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and determine what their teaching styles are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Hyde Park NY because of your job schedule, make certain that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts college has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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