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Researching Culinary Institutes
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of culinary arts institutions in the San Angelo area and across the United States, you need to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, including reputation and accreditation that you should assess as well. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you will need to research for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established 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 cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts schools you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are indicators that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, as well as a large network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you choose must be within driving distance of your San Angelo residence, unless you have decided to move. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to go to a particular culinary arts college 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 prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive little personal attention from the instructors. The optimal means to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to audit a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their teaching styles are along with 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. So make sure that the school you select provides class scheduling that will fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near San Angelo TX because of your job schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the culinary college has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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