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Contrasting Culinary Institutions
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Peekskill area and across the United States, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, such as cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, such as reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate as well. So below are some crucial areas that you must research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary institute you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly update 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 modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are examining. Lower graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and dropped out. They may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Peekskill home, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to attend a specific culinary arts college located in a different state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that a number of schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you choose provides class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Peekskill NY because of your work schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary program has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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