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Comparing Culinary Arts Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary colleges in the Lindenhurst area and across the United States, you must create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your choices. A few obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are a good place to start. But selecting 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 criteria, including reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate 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 selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. 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 acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the cooking field, as well as a large network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Lindenhurst residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to attend a particular culinary arts school located in a different state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of 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 method to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely get minimal personal attention from the instructors. The best manner in which to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend 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 get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Lindenhurst NY due to your work schedule, make certain that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the cooking college has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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