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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 if you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary institutions in the Belton area and within the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your options. A few obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to assess also. Therefore, following are some crucial areas that you will need to research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are assessing. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the cooking community, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend should be within driving distance of your Belton residence, unless you are able to move. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary school located in another state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely receive minimal personal attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend a few 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 get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are along with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Belton TX because of your work schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts program has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other obligations.
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