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Researching Culinary Arts Schools
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the Beloit area and within the Country, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, for example cost and location are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to assess as well. So below are some crucial areas that you will need to investigate for each school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts program you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As aforementioned, 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 detailed assessment pertaining to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are generally not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the advantage of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop 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 On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained track record of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in operation, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job assistance program. Certainly there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway 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, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the programs and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts field, in addition to a wide network of professional contacts. Be wary of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Beloit residence, unless you are willing to relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have decided to go to a specific culinary institute located in a different state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Keep in mind also that many schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The best approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will probably receive little personal attention from the instructors. The optimal way to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on several of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the amount of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and determine what their teaching styles are together with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make sure that the school you pick offers class scheduling that can fit in with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Beloit WI due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you choose offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend part-time, verify that the culinary college has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class as a result of work, family or other commitments.
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