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Evaluating Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary institutions in the Grapevine area and across the United States, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are a good place to start. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, including accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you should investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate 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 received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary community, as well as a wide network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Grapevine residence, unless you are able to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary college located in another state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to 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 modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking school you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive little individual attention from the instructors. The ideal means to evaluate the interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and determine what their teaching approaches are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Grapevine TX because of your work schedule, confirm that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary arts institute has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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