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Contrasting Culinary Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous cooking programs in the Alamo area and across the United States, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, including location and cost are an excellent place to start. But deciding on 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 factors, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to assess as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking program you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize 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 modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are examining. Low graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Alamo home, unless you are able to move. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, maybe you have opted to attend a particular culinary arts school located in another state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the cooking institute you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly get limited individual attention from the teachers. The optimal way to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some 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, talk with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are along with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that will fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Alamo TX due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary program has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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