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Researching Culinary Colleges
At this point 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 arts institutions in the Fond Du Lac area and within the USA, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are an excellent place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best 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 must research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts college you pick has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough review regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts institutes you are examining. Lower graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the training and dropped out. They might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary field, as well as a broad network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts college that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Fond Du Lac residence, unless you can move. You may look into attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to attend a specific culinary college located in a different state due to its ranking and programs offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities personally to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that some schools concentrate their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary arts school you enroll in has bigger classes, you will most likely receive little individual attention from the teachers. The best way to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to audit several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their teaching approaches are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick offers class scheduling that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on weekends near Fond Du Lac WI due to your job schedule, make certain that the school you select offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary college has a part-time offering. Also, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you must miss a class because of work, family or other obligations.
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