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Comparing Cooking Institutes
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Bryan area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for instance cost and location are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, including accreditation and reputation that you need to assess as well. So following are some critical areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking school 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 organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed evaluation pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They can also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking school that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Bryan home, unless you are willing to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary college located in another state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary school you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get little individual attention from the instructors. The best way to assess the communication and interaction 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 satisfied with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their teaching styles are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you select offers class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Bryan TX because of your job schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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