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Evaluating Culinary Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Lubbock area and across the USA, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to review also. So following are some critical areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking college you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As mentioned previously, 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 review regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding 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 cooking institutions you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Lubbock residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary school located in another state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one training. If the cooking program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the teachers. The ideal manner in which to evaluate the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with some of the teachers and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Lubbock TX due to your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary institute has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class as a result of family, work or other obligations.
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