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Comparing Culinary Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there are numerous culinary schools in the Kerrville area and across the Country, you need to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. A few obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary college you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, 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 much more a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indications that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and dropped out. They might also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking field, in addition to a wide network of professional contacts. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Kerrville home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to attend a specific culinary arts institute located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities personally 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 placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers 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 satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and determine what their teaching styles are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Kerrville TX because of your work schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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