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Comparing Culinary Institutions
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the New York City area and across the Country, you need to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, such as cost and location are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. So following are some critical areas that you must research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking program you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally 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 important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They can also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you attend must be within driving distance of your New York City home, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary school located in another state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get limited individual attention from the instructors. The best manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between faculty 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 amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and determine what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary 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 busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near New York City NY because of your work schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking program has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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