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Contrasting Culinary Schools
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary colleges in the Newburgh area and across the United States, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for instance accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking program you select has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The important 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 newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are examining. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They can also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Newburgh home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary school located in another state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking school you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Newburgh NY due to your work schedule, check that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary program has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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