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Comparing Culinary Institutes
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of culinary arts institutions in the Frisco area and across the Country, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for instance reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate also. So below are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are examining. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the cooking field, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Frisco home, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a specific culinary college located in another state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive limited individual attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to assess the interaction between faculty 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 get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you select provides class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Frisco TX because of your job schedule, verify that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary arts college has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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