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Comparing Cooking Colleges
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of cooking schools in the Leander area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Certain obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, including reputation and accreditation that you should review also. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you should investigate for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking institute you select has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts programs you are looking at. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the training and dropped out. They may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional associations. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary school that you attend must be within driving distance of your Leander home, unless you can relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have opted to go to a specific culinary arts college located in another state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely get minimal personal attention from the teachers. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to sit in on a few 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 in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are together with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Leander TX due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary arts school has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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