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Researching Cooking Colleges
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 public or private school. Since there a large number of cooking schools in the Keller area and across the United States, you need to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifications, including location and cost are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should assess also. Therefore, following are some crucial areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking program you pick has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates 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 renowned schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking school that you attend must be within driving distance of your Keller residence, unless you are willing to move. You may look into attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have opted to go to a specific culinary school located in another state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the cooking program you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely receive little individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to evaluate the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching approaches are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick provides class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Keller TX because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other commitments.
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