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Comparing Cooking Programs
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Schenectady area and within the USA, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. A few obvious qualifiers, for instance cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you should assess also. Therefore, following are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary institute you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are assessing. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They might also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you choose must be within driving distance of your Schenectady residence, unless you can relocate. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts school located in a different state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably get limited individual attention from the teachers. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors 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 satisfied with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and determine what their teaching approaches are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Schenectady NY due to your work schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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