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Researching Cooking Schools
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the Monsey area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your choices. Some obvious qualifications, including cost and location are a good place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, including reputation and accreditation that you should assess also. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking college you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, 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 cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the training and quit before graduating. They might also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend should be within driving distance of your Monsey home, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts college located in another state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect 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 concentrate their job placement 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 plenty of personalized instruction. If the cooking college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly get little personal attention from the instructors. The best way to evaluate the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you select offers class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Monsey NY due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the cooking school has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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