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Researching Culinary Institutes
At this point 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 culinary institutions in the Beaver Dam area and across the United States, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, including location and cost are an excellent place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you must assess as well. Therefore, below are some critical areas that you need to research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking college you select has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment regarding their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their equipment and facilities. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutions you are evaluating. Lower graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the programs and dropped out. They may 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 affirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary community, as well as a wide network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking institute that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Beaver Dam residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a particular culinary arts school located in another state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that many schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the culinary arts program you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get limited personal attention from the instructors. The optimal way to evaluate the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Beaver Dam WI due to your work schedule, check that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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