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Contrasting Culinary Arts Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there are numerous culinary programs in the Taylor area and across the Country, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate as well. So following are some critical areas that you should investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts institute you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni 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 renowned schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking colleges you are looking at. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, as well as a broad network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend must be within driving distance of your Taylor residence, unless you are willing to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to attend a specific culinary college located in another state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The ideal way to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a couple of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary college if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Taylor TX because of your job schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the cooking school has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to family, work or other responsibilities.
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