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Evaluating Culinary Colleges
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Terrell area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. Certain obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to start. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to evaluate as well. So below are some crucial areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the cooking school you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, 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 reputable schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The significant 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 institutions you are reviewing. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a broad network of professional relationships. Be wary of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you attend should be within driving distance of your Terrell residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have decided to attend a particular culinary arts school located in a different state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with lots of personalized instruction. If the cooking college you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely receive little individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to evaluate the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to attend some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and determine what their teaching approaches are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Terrell TX because of your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary arts program has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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