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Contrasting Culinary Arts Programs
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Arlington area and across the Country, you must create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But picking a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate also. So below are some critical areas that you need to research for every school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary school you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation 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 On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are signs that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary community, as well as a broad network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you choose must be within driving distance of your Arlington residence, unless you can move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a specific culinary arts institute 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 comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the cooking school you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive little personal attention from the instructors. The ideal means to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and find out what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Arlington TX because of your work schedule, check that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of work, family or other obligations.
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