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Researching Culinary Arts Programs
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there a large number of culinary institutions in the La Crosse area and across the Country, you must develop a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin limiting your choices. A few obvious qualifications, including cost and location are an excellent place to start. But picking a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other factors, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should assess also. So following are some crucial areas that you should research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking program you decide on has some type of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive evaluation pertaining to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to earn an accreditation or to establish 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 earned one or more accreditations. Also, the longer 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 arts schools. And older, more renowned schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are examining. Lower graduation rates are indications that numerous students were unhappy with either the colleges or the training and quit before graduating. They might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a good or excellent reputation within the culinary arts community, in addition to a wide network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary college that you attend should be within driving distance of your La Crosse home, unless you have decided to move. You may consider attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. Alternatively, maybe you have opted to attend a specific culinary school located in another state because of its ranking and courses offered. It would be a good idea to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the location and your prospective living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools target their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the cooking college you enroll in has larger classes, you will undoubtedly get minimal personal attention from the instructors. The optimal 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. Ascertain if they are pleased with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with a few of the teachers and determine what their teaching approaches are as well as their backgrounds and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore confirm that the school you pick has available class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend at night or on Saturdays or Sundays near La Crosse WI due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you decide on offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, confirm that the culinary college has a part-time alternative. Also, check to see what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to family, work or other commitments.
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