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Researching Culinary Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there are numerous culinary institutions in the Socorro area and within the United States, you must develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate also. So following are some critical areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary college you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough evaluation pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are examining. Lower graduation rates are indicators that numerous students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a large network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Socorro home, unless you have decided to move. You may think about attending college online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, perhaps you have opted to go to a particular culinary arts college located in a different state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the location and your potential living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The ideal way to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are as well as their histories and qualifications.
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 certain that the school you pick provides class scheduling that can work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Socorro TX because of your job schedule, check that the school you decide on offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking college has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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