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Researching Culinary Colleges
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts colleges in the Sevierville area and across the United States, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your options. A few obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, including reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you need to research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary college you pick has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered 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 establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer 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 based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The valuable 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 newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Sevierville home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have opted to attend a specific culinary arts school located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure 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 concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive little individual attention from the instructors. The best means to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that can fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Sevierville TN because of your work schedule, make sure that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the cooking college has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other commitments.
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