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Comparing Culinary Arts Institutions
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 institution. Since there a large number of cooking colleges in the Mercedes area and within the United States, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, for example cost and location are an excellent place to start. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to review as well. So following are some key areas that you need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example 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 establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indicators that many students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and quit before graduating. They may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply 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 culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional connections. Be wary of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Mercedes home, unless you can move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to enroll in a specific culinary school located in a different state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern 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 most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal personal attention from the teachers. The optimal means to evaluate the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and learn what their teaching philosophies are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select provides class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Mercedes TX due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the cooking program has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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