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Comparing Cooking Schools
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts institutions in the Duncanville area and within the United States, you must develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifications, such as cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must review as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you must research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update their facilities and equipment. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you choose must be within driving distance of your Duncanville residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary school 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 satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get limited individual attention from the teachers. The ideal means to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you choose offers class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Duncanville TX because of your job schedule, make certain that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the cooking college has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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