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Contrasting Culinary Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary colleges in the Round Rock area and across the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing down your options. A few obvious qualifications, for example location and cost are a good place to start. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, including accreditation and reputation that you should assess also. So below are some key areas that you will need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary arts college you pick has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni 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 renowned schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are red flags that many students were unhappy with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary field, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Round Rock home, unless you can relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have decided to attend a specific culinary arts school located in another state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select 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 cooking college you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably get little individual attention from the instructors. The best way to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers 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 satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are along with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you choose provides class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Round Rock TX due to your work schedule, make certain that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary institute has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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