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Comparing Culinary Arts Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Kiryas Joel area and across the Country, you must create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifications, including cost and location are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, such as reputation and accreditation that you must review as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts school you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are indications that numerous students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Kiryas Joel home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary institute located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the cooking institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The ideal manner in which to evaluate the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Kiryas Joel NY due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the cooking institute has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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