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Comparing Cooking Institutes
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there are numerous culinary programs in the Troy area and across the USA, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are a good place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you will need to research for each school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking school you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. 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 assessment pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the courses and dropped out. They may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to 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 cooking field, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Troy home, unless you can move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary school located in a different state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that a number of schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The optimal way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are along with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you select has available class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Troy NY because of your work schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the cooking program has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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