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Comparing Culinary Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Kingston area and across the USA, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, including accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate as well. So below are some critical areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking college you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were unhappy with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Kingston residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary arts college located in a different state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. 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 approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably get minimal personal attention from the teachers. The optimal means to evaluate the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Kingston NY due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary arts college has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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