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Contrasting Cooking Colleges
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary arts programs in the Plainview area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for instance reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate also. So following are some crucial areas that you must research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough evaluation pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional 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 having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They can also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a broad network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Plainview residence, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to attend a particular culinary arts institute located in another state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the teachers. The optimal manner in which to assess the interaction and communication 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 amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and determine what their teaching styles are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Plainview TX because of your job schedule, confirm that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the cooking school has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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