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Comparing Culinary Programs
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous cooking institutions in the North Tonawanda area and across the United States, you must create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for instance reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate also. Therefore, following are some key areas that you will need to research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are examining. Lower graduation rates are indications that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you attend must be within driving distance of your North Tonawanda residence, unless you can relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary college located in another state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary arts school you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the teachers. The ideal means to evaluate the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on some 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 overall training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and determine what their teaching styles are along with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking program if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore 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 weekends near North Tonawanda NY due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking school has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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