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Contrasting Culinary Arts Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Valley Stream area and across the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are a good place to start. But picking 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, for example reputation and accreditation that you should assess also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you will need to research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking school you pick has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed evaluation relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They can also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional associations. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary college that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Valley Stream residence, unless you are willing to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary arts school located in another state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the cooking college you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get minimal personal attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to sit in on some 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, speak with several of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you select has available class scheduling that will fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Valley Stream NY because of your work schedule, make certain that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the culinary arts program has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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