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Comparing Cooking Institutions
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 cooking schools in the Victoria area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your options. A few obvious qualifications, such as location and cost are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other factors, such as accreditation and reputation that you should evaluate also. So below are some crucial areas that you need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary institute you select has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive exceptional 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 often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to establish a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and earned one or more accreditations.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 operated, the more alumni 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 highly regarded schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are looking at. Low graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They can also suggest that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or exceptional reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a wide network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you choose should be within driving distance of your Victoria home, unless you have decided to relocate. You may consider attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Conversely, perhaps you have decided to go to a particular culinary college located in a different state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the cooking institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get limited personal attention from the instructors. The ideal way to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and determine what their teaching styles are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you select offers class scheduling that will accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Victoria TX due to your work schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the culinary college has a part-time option. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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