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Evaluating Cooking Schools
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the Niagara Falls area and within the Country, you need to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your options. A few obvious qualifications, including cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for example accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary college you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking colleges you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Niagara Falls residence, unless you are willing to move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to attend a specific culinary arts school located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the cooking institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely get little personal attention from the teachers. The ideal manner in which to evaluate the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive 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 experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Niagara Falls NY due to your work schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking institute has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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