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Evaluating Culinary Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary schools in the Gainesville area and across the Country, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, for example cost and location are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, including reputation and accreditation that you should assess also. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent 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 often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable takeaway 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, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are looking at. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary college that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Gainesville home, unless you are willing to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have decided to enroll in a specific culinary arts college located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary school you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get little individual attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and determine what their teaching philosophies are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking program if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you select offers class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Gainesville TX due to your work schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary program has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other commitments.
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