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Evaluating Cooking Colleges
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the El Paso area and across the United States, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, such as accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you should investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently 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 operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as a wide network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you attend must be within commuting distance of your El Paso residence, unless you can relocate. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary college located in another state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance 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 one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely receive little personal attention from the instructors. The best means to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near El Paso TX due to your work schedule, check that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary institute has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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