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Contrasting Culinary Programs
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Saginaw area and within the Country, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start limiting your options. Some obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, such as reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. Therefore, following are some crucial areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts program you select has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly update 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, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a broad network of professional associations. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary school that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Saginaw residence, unless you are willing to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have chosen to attend a particular culinary institute located in a different state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary program you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely get little personal attention from the teachers. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction and communication between instructors and students is to audit some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and determine what their teaching styles are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Saginaw TX due to your work schedule, check that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening 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 need to miss a class because of family, work or other commitments.
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