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Contrasting Culinary Arts Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the Oyster Bay area and across the USA, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to review also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you should investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking program you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered 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 earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking colleges you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you choose must be within driving distance of your Oyster Bay home, unless you can move. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to attend a particular culinary arts institute located in a different state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area 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 some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get little personal attention from the instructors. The ideal manner in which to evaluate the interaction between instructors and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some 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 entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are together with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary college if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Oyster Bay NY because of your work schedule, check that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking program has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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