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Comparing Culinary Institutions
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous cooking programs in the Bay City area and across the Country, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are a good place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you should research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded 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 newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are assessing. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They can also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a large network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you attend must be within driving distance of your Bay City home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary school located in a different state due to its prominence and programs 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 location and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that many schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking college you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and determine what their teaching approaches are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Bay City TX because of your job schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking program has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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