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Researching Culinary Arts Schools
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the Utica area and across the Country, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start limiting your options. A few obvious qualifications, for instance cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, including reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate also. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts college 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 acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more 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 based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the cooking community, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Utica home, unless you are able to move. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to go to a specific culinary arts college located in another state because of its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Look over 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 focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the cooking college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to audit a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking college if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Utica NY due to your work schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary college has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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