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Comparing Culinary Arts Institutes
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private college. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Mansfield area and across the United States, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifications, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, for example accreditation and reputation that you must review also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking college you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway 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. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts programs you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a broad network of professional contacts. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary college that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Mansfield home, unless you can move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary school located in a different state because of its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure 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. Consider 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 best approach to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely receive limited individual attention from the teachers. The ideal means to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and find out 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 college if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Mansfield TX because of your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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