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Comparing Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there are numerous culinary institutions in the Austin area and across the USA, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to review as well. So below are some key areas that you should research for every school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary program you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as 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 ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Austin residence, unless you can relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to go to a specific culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus 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 sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary program you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited personal attention from the instructors. The optimal way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Austin TX due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the culinary school has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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