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Comparing Culinary Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and if you want to enroll in a public or private school. Since there a large number of culinary colleges in the Grand Chute area and across the USA, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. Some obvious qualifiers, such as cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the optimal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other criteria, for example accreditation and reputation that you must evaluate also. So below are some key areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary arts institute you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As mentioned previously, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized agency, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review regarding their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it can also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the benefit of having modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long history of success and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more reputable schools usually update their equipment and facilities. The valuable lesson is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking colleges you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are red flags that a number of students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional associations. Be skeptical of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you choose must be within driving distance of your Grand Chute residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have chosen to attend a particular culinary school located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are comfortable with the area and your future living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools target their job placement programs within their regional communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective method to learn how to cook is with a lot of personalized training. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely get minimal individual attention from the instructors. The ideal way to evaluate the communication and interaction between faculty and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the instructors and learn what their teaching philosophies are along with their histories and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a cooking institute if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Grand Chute WI because of your job schedule, verify that the school you select offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary school has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other commitments.
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