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Researching Culinary Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Plainview area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your options. A few obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for instance accreditation and reputation that you need to assess as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary college you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed evaluation regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally 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 establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more 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 dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking school that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Plainview residence, unless you are able to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary college located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive minimal personal attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are together with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select offers class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Plainview NY because of your work schedule, check that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the cooking program has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other obligations.
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