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Researching Culinary Programs
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the San Juan area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking school you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history 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 placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable 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, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are signs that many students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the courses and quit before graduating. They might 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 school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking school that you choose must be within commuting distance of your San Juan residence, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have decided to attend a particular culinary school located in a different state due to its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has bigger classes, you will undoubtedly get limited individual attention from the teachers. The ideal means to evaluate the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near San Juan TX due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary program has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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