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Evaluating Cooking Colleges
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous cooking colleges in the Rotterdam area and within the Country, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, for example 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 ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, including accreditation and reputation that you must assess as well. Therefore, following 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 arts college you pick has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner 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 On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, 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 arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are examining. Low graduation rates are indicators that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the training and dropped out. They might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend should be within driving distance of your Rotterdam residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to go to a specific culinary arts college located in another state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive minimal personal attention from the instructors. The ideal means to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are together with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Rotterdam NY due to your work schedule, check that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the cooking program has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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