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Researching Cooking Schools
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Katy area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing down your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, such as cost and location are a good place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to review as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you should investigate for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed evaluation pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. 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 On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and received one or more accreditations.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 assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indications that many students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Katy residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to go to a particular culinary arts institute 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 area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their regional 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 personalized instruction. If the culinary school you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited individual attention from the instructors. The optimal means to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are along with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you choose offers class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Katy TX due to your job schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm 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 due to work, family or other obligations.
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