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Evaluating Culinary Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous cooking programs in the Huntsville area and across the USA, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, for instance accreditation and reputation that you need to review as well. So following are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough review regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you attend must be within driving distance of your Huntsville home, unless you are willing to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to go to a particular culinary arts college located in a different state because of its prominence and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional 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 large classes, you will probably receive little individual attention from the instructors. The best means to assess the 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 pleased with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching approaches are along with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Huntsville TX because of your work schedule, confirm that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary program has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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