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Comparing Cooking Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary arts schools in the Kings Park area and within the USA, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start limiting your options. Some obvious qualifications, for instance cost and location are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate also. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking college you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Kings Park home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have opted to attend a specific culinary arts school located in another state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that a number of schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick 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 instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely get limited individual attention from the instructors. The ideal manner in which 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 pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Kings Park NY due to your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the cooking program has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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