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Researching Culinary Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Germantown area and across the USA, you will want to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to start. But picking a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other factors, such as accreditation and reputation that you must assess as well. So below are some crucial areas that you need to research for every school as you compare them and make your final selection.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts program you choose has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed assessment pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of success and acquired 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. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more renowned schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The important 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 newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, find out what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are assessing. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and dropped out. They might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to furnish their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the cooking community, as well as a broad network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The cooking school that you enroll in must be within driving distance of your Germantown home, unless you are willing to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to go to a particular culinary arts school located in another state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that some schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so select a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal way to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized instruction. If the cooking institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably receive little personal attention from the teachers. The best manner in which to assess the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to audit 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 in addition to the overall training. Also, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their teaching styles are together with their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you select provides class scheduling that will fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near Germantown WI due to your work schedule, make sure that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the culinary program has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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