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Contrasting Culinary Programs
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there a large number of culinary arts colleges in the Waukesha area and across the USA, you need to create a checklist of important qualifiers so that you can begin narrowing your options. Certain obvious qualifiers, for example cost and location are a good place to start. But deciding on a school because it is the nearest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for example reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate as well. Therefore, following are some key areas that you must investigate for each school as you compare them and make your final choice.
Accreditation. It's very important that the culinary institute you pick has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national authority. As previously mentioned, the accrediting organization should be a U.S. Department of Education certified agency, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation regarding their curriculum, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help confirm that you will receive quality training, but it can also help in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of possessing modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to acquire an accreditation or to develop a reputation. On the other hand, older schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a long track record of excellence and acquired one or more accreditations. Also, the longer a school has been in business, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Naturally there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary arts schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The important takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an outstanding reputation, accreditation and a modern facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the culinary arts colleges you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are signs that a number of students were unhappy with either the colleges or the training and dropped out. They may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to supply their job placement rates also. If a school has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary arts community, as well as a wide network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The cooking college that you enroll in should be within commuting distance of your Waukesha residence, unless you are willing to move. You may think about attending school online, but you would still need to travel for your externship program. Conversely, maybe you have chosen to attend a specific culinary school located in another state because of its prominence and courses offered. It would be a good idea to check out the facility before enrolling, to make sure that you are satisfied with the location and your potential living conditions. Inspect the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that a number of schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their local communities, so pick a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The most effective approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one instruction. If the culinary institute you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. The ideal means to assess the interaction and communication between teachers and students is to audit several 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, speak with a couple of the teachers and find out what their teaching styles are along with their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a culinary arts school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you decide on provides class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on Saturdays or Sundays near Waukesha WI due to your work schedule, confirm 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, check to see what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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