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Contrasting Cooking Colleges
At this point you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public college. Since there are numerous cooking colleges in the Weslaco area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. Some obvious qualifications, for instance cost and location are a good place to start. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for example reputation and accreditation that you must evaluate also. Therefore, below are some key areas that you need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified authority, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive review relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more renowned schools usually update their facilities and equipment. The valuable lesson 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. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutes you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are indications that numerous students were unhappy with either the colleges or the programs and dropped out. They can also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates as well. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you choose should be within commuting distance of your Weslaco home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a specific culinary arts school located in a different state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools target their job placement programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably get minimal personal attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the interaction between instructors and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with several of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are along with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary school if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Weslaco TX because of your work schedule, verify that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, check that the culinary program has a part-time alternative. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of family, work or other commitments.
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