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Evaluating Culinary Programs
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary institutions in the Plattsburgh area and within the USA, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, including cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you must assess as well. So below are some critical areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts institute you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not offered 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 earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations.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. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are examining. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the training and dropped out. They can also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a broad network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Plattsburgh residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary arts institute located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The best means to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their teaching approaches are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Plattsburgh NY because of your job schedule, make certain that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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