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Researching Cooking Colleges
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Cedar Park area and within the United States, you must create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary institute you pick has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive assessment pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit 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 usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the courses and dropped out. They can also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Cedar Park home, unless you are able to move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have opted to go to a specific culinary school located in a different state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job placement programs within their local 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 one-on-one training. If the culinary program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Cedar Park TX due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary arts institute has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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