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Contrasting Culinary Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of cooking programs in the White Plains area and within the Country, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to review as well. So following are some key areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary institute you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating 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 On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They can also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you choose should be within driving distance of your White Plains residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary arts college located in a different state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary college if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near White Plains NY because of your work schedule, check that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary arts college has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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