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Comparing Culinary Institutions
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to earn, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there a large number of culinary arts schools in the Menasha area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can start limiting your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the optimal way to decide on your education. There are other criteria, for example accreditation and reputation that you should assess as well. So following are some key areas that you need to investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the culinary arts college you pick has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized authority, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive assessment relating to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive exceptional training, but it may also help in acquiring a student loan or financial aid which are often not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to establish a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated 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 alumni 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 update their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking schools you are examining. Low graduation rates are indicators that many students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They can also suggest that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Request that the schools provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts field, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Watch out for any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary arts institute that you choose should be within driving distance of your Menasha residence, unless you are willing to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have decided to enroll in a particular culinary school located in a different state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job placement programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will be happy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one instruction. If the cooking college you enroll in has large classes, you will undoubtedly receive little personal attention from the teachers. The optimal way to assess the interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on some of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the level of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are along with their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no point in enrolling in a cooking school if you will not be able to attend the classes. So confirm that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Menasha WI because of your job schedule, verify that the school you decide on offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the culinary arts college has a part-time offering. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class as a result of family, work or other responsibilities.
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