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Evaluating Cooking Schools
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous cooking colleges in the Shirley area and within the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, including reputation and accreditation that you need to review also. So following are some critical areas that you should investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer 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 dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. 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. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as 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 driving distance of your Shirley residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to go to a particular culinary arts institute located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that a number of schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get little individual attention from the instructors. The best way to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you choose provides class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Shirley NY because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary arts college has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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