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Researching Cooking Institutes
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary colleges in the New City area and within the Country, you need to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, such as reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. So below are some critical areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary program you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly update their facilities and equipment. 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, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your New City home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary institute located in a different state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive minimal personal attention from the teachers. The ideal manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask some 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 overall training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near New City NY because of your job schedule, check that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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