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Researching Culinary Institutions
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there a large number of cooking institutions in the Mission Bend area and across the United States, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for example accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate as well. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking school you pick has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are examining. Low graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and dropped out. They can also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend should be within commuting distance of your Mission Bend home, unless you can relocate. 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 chosen to enroll in a specific culinary institute located in a different state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal individual attention from the teachers. The optimal way to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to audit some 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 get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the teachers and determine what their teaching philosophies are together with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you select provides class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Mission Bend TX because of your job schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary arts college has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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