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Evaluating Culinary Arts Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to earn, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private institution. Since there are numerous culinary arts programs in the Mount Pleasant area and across the Country, you will want to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can start limiting your options. Some obvious qualifications, for example cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But deciding on a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should review also. So following are some key areas that you must research for each school as you compare them and make your ultimate selection.
Accreditation. It's important that the culinary school you decide on has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national agency. As mentioned previously, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a thorough evaluation relating to their curriculum, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in obtaining a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools frequently have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open long enough to earn an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, more established schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a lengthy track record of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools usually modernize their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway 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 modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are red flags that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the training and dropped out. They can also indicate that the instructors were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help validate that it has a great or exceptional reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a wide network of professional relationships. Be skeptical of any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The culinary arts school that you attend must be within commuting distance of your Mount Pleasant residence, unless you have decided to relocate. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to go to a particular culinary school located in a different state due to its ranking and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to pay a visit to the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities personally to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that some schools target their job assistance programs within their local communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with lots of one-on-one training. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely receive limited personal attention from the teachers. The optimal way to assess the communication and interaction between teachers and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the level of attention they receive in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching philosophies are as well as their experiences and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you decide on offers class scheduling that will work with your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Mount Pleasant WI due to your work schedule, check that the school you choose offers either night or weekend classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, check that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you need to miss a class because of family, work or other obligations.
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