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Evaluating Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Riverhead area and across the United States, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are an excellent place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, including reputation and accreditation that you must assess as well. So following are some key areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established 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 cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They can also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Riverhead residence, unless you can relocate. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have opted to go to a specific culinary arts institute located in another state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary program you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The ideal manner in which to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their teaching approaches are together with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Riverhead NY due to your job schedule, make sure that the school you select 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 offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other responsibilities.
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