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Evaluating Cooking Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Harlingen area and across the Country, you must create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, including reputation and accreditation that you need to assess also. So below are some crucial areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary school you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Harlingen residence, unless you are able to move. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have decided to attend a particular culinary school located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The best means to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask some 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 entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select offers class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Harlingen TX due to your job schedule, confirm 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 alternative. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of work, family or other responsibilities.
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