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Contrasting Culinary Programs
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary programs in the Salina area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, including location and cost are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, including accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough evaluation pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutions you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Salina 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 decided to enroll in a specific culinary school located in a different state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get limited personal attention from the instructors. The best means to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you choose provides class scheduling that can work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Salina NY due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary program has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class as a result of family, work or other obligations.
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