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Comparing Cooking Schools
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you plan to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there are numerous cooking programs in the Oak Creek area and across the Country, you must create a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing your choices. A few obvious qualifiers, such as cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for instance accreditation and reputation that you should assess also. Therefore, following are some critical areas that you need to research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary arts institute you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review relating to their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it can also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, outdated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has operated, the more alumni the school can reach out to for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically update their facilities and equipment. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your selected school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. Initially, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary schools you are assessing. Lower graduation rates are indications that many students were dissatisfied with either the institutes or the courses and dropped out. They can also signify that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the culinary field, in addition to a broad network of professional contacts. Be skeptical of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary institute that you attend must be within driving distance of your Oak Creek residence, unless you have decided to move. You may look into attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Alternatively, perhaps you have chosen to go to a particular culinary school located in a different state due to its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your future living conditions. Tour the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has bigger classes, you will probably receive little personal attention from the teachers. The ideal way to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend 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 as well as the entire course of training. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and determine what their teaching approaches are as well as their experiences and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts college if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you select offers class scheduling that can work with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Oak Creek WI because of your work schedule, confirm 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 institute has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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