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Evaluating Cooking Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there are numerous culinary arts colleges in the The Bronx area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, including accreditation and reputation that you should assess as well. So below are some critical areas that you must research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary program you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations.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 cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary community, as well as a wide network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend should be within driving distance of your The Bronx home, unless you are willing to move. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to attend a specific culinary arts college located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive little individual attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near The Bronx NY because of your job schedule, check that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary arts school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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