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Comparing Culinary Arts Schools
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 arts schools in the Brownsville area and across the Country, you need to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, including accreditation and reputation that you need to assess also. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you must research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary institute you pick has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally 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 open 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 excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutions you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They can also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, as well as a large network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary college that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Brownsville home, unless you have decided to move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to go to a specific culinary arts school located in a different 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. Look over the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the cooking college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably get minimal personal attention from the instructors. The best means to evaluate the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you select provides class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Brownsville TX due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other commitments.
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