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Researching Cooking Colleges
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there a large number of culinary colleges in the Copperas Cove area and across the United States, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you must review as well. So below are some crucial areas that you must research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking institute you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed assessment pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools frequently have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or excellent reputation within the cooking field, as well as a large network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Copperas Cove residence, unless you are able to move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, maybe you have opted to attend a specific culinary arts institute located in another state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the cooking program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly get limited individual attention from the instructors. The best means to assess the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are along with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking school if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Copperas Cove TX because of your work schedule, make certain that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts institute has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other obligations.
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