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Contrasting Culinary Colleges
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous cooking colleges in the Fitchburg area and across the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifications, such as cost and location are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, including reputation and accreditation that you should evaluate also. So following are some key areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, 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 schools. And older, more highly regarded schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The valuable takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice 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 institutions you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you choose must be within commuting distance of your Fitchburg home, unless you are willing to relocate. You may consider attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have opted to enroll in a particular culinary arts college located in a different state because of its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that some schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The most effective way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized instruction. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The ideal way to evaluate the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their teaching styles are along with their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you select provides class scheduling that can fit in with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Fitchburg WI due to your work schedule, check that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the culinary arts school has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you have to miss a class because of work, family or other responsibilities.
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