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Researching Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institute. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Seagoville area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Certain obvious qualifications, such as cost and location are a good place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for example accreditation and reputation that you need to assess as well. So below are some key areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts institute you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage 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 Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary colleges you are examining. Low graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They can also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional associations. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking college that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Seagoville home, unless you are willing to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to go to a particular culinary school located in another state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that many 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 plenty of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably get limited individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to evaluate the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the teachers and determine what their teaching philosophies are along with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Seagoville TX due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary college has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other responsibilities.
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