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Researching Cooking Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there are numerous culinary arts schools in the Midland area and across the United States, you need to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifications, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to begin. 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 considerations, such as reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate also. So following are some key areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary school you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are signs that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They might also indicate 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 validate that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a wide network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Midland home, unless you can move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary arts school located in a different state because of its prominence and courses offered. It would be a wise decision 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 modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive little personal attention from the teachers. The ideal means to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking program if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick provides class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Midland TX due to your job schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the culinary arts program has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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