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Comparing Cooking Programs
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there a large number of cooking schools in the Southlake area and across the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, such as location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other variables, such as reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate also. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you must research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking program you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and earned one or more accreditations.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 assistance program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were unhappy with either the institutes or the programs and dropped out. They may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you enroll in must be within commuting distance of your Southlake home, unless you are able to move. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, maybe you have decided to go to a particular culinary arts school located in another state due to its prominence and programs 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 future living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that a number of schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the culinary college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal personal attention from the instructors. The optimal manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you choose has available class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Southlake TX due to your job schedule, confirm that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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