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Evaluating Cooking Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private school. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the De Pere area and across the Country, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other variables, for instance accreditation and reputation that you must assess also. Therefore, following are some crucial areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough assessment relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner 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 On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are evaluating. Low graduation rates are red flags that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They can also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a large network of professional contacts. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking school that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your De Pere home, unless you can relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have opted to enroll in a specific culinary institute located in another state because of its prominence and programs offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that a number of schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the culinary college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to assess 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. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a couple of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are together with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary program if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you select has available class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near De Pere WI because of your job schedule, verify that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts institute has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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