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Evaluating Culinary Arts Colleges
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Seguin area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But picking a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for instance accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate also. So below are some key areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary program you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established 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 establish a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, 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 typically modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a wide network of professional connections. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Seguin residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to go to a particular culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that some schools focus their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably get minimal personal attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the interaction and communication between faculty and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are together with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Seguin TX due to your work schedule, check that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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