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Researching Culinary Arts Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there are numerous culinary colleges in the Schertz area and within the United States, you need to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifications, including cost and location are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you must assess as well. So following are some crucial areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking institute you choose 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 recognized organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to acquire 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 On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of success and obtained one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their facilities and equipment. 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. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary institutes you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the course of study. 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 great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a broad network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking school that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Schertz residence, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to go to a particular culinary arts college located in a different state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to sit in on a few 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 get in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and determine what their teaching styles are along with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Schertz TX due to your job schedule, make sure that the school you pick offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary institute has a part-time option. 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 obligations.
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