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Comparing Culinary Arts Colleges
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Onondaga area and across the USA, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, for instance cost and location are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to review as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts program you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed evaluation regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are assessing. Low graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and dropped out. They can also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Onondaga home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to go to a specific culinary arts institute located in another state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that a number of schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely get limited individual attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to audit a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Onondaga NY due to your job schedule, check that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary arts institute has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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