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Contrasting Cooking Institutions
By now you should have decided on the type of degree that you want to attain, and whether or not you want to enroll in a private or a public institution. Since there are numerous culinary institutions in the Stevens Point area and within the Country, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start narrowing down your options. A few obvious qualifications, including cost and location are an excellent place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the closest or the cheapest is not the ideal way to decide on your education. There are other considerations, for example accreditation and reputation that you should review as well. Therefore, below are some crucial areas that you will need to research for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's essential that the culinary college you choose has some form of accreditation from either a local or a national authority. As previously stated, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, for example the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a detailed review relating to their course of study, instructors and facilities. So not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also help in obtaining a student loan or financial aid which are generally not offered for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools often have the benefit of having 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, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take dependent 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 chosen school will have an excellent reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with newer equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary programs you are looking at. Low graduation rates are signs that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the schools or the programs and dropped out. They might also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Request that the schools supply their job placement rates as well. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help affirm that it has a great or excellent reputation within the cooking field, as well as a wide 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 Stevens Point residence, unless you can move. You may consider attending college online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, maybe you have opted to attend a particular culinary school located in another state because of its reputation and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your prospective living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make certain they are up to date and that the equipment is state of the art. Remember also that some schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary arts institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get limited personal attention from the instructors. The optimal manner in which to assess the interaction between teachers and students is to audit a few of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Find out if they are happy with the amount of attention they receive in class in addition to the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the instructors and find out what their teaching approaches are together with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking college if you will not be able to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you decide on has available class scheduling that can accommodate your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Stevens Point WI due to your work schedule, check that the school you select offers either weekend or night classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary arts school has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up policy is if you need to miss a class due to work, family or other obligations.
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