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Contrasting Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Oswego area and within the Country, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your options. A few obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you should review as well. So below are some critical areas that you should research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates 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 typically update their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and dropped out. They may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary field, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Oswego residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have chosen to attend a particular culinary arts college located in another state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly get little individual attention from the instructors. The optimal way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and determine what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Oswego NY due to your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary arts college has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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