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Comparing Cooking Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous cooking programs in the Ogden area and across the Country, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, including reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. So following are some critical areas that you should research for every school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts program you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more 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 commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are looking at. Low graduation rates are signs that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you choose must be within driving distance of your Ogden residence, unless you are able to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary arts college located in another state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus 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. Remember also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get minimal personal attention from the instructors. The ideal means to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some 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, speak with several of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that can accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Ogden NY due to your job schedule, confirm that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the culinary arts college has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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