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Researching Culinary Arts Institutions
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and whether or not you would like to enroll in a public or private college. Since there are numerous culinary schools in the Laramie area and across the USA, you need to create a checklist of essential qualifications so that you can start limiting your options. Some obvious qualifiers, including cost and location are a good place to begin. But picking a school because it is the closest or the most affordable is not the best way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other factors, for instance reputation and accreditation that you need to evaluate as well. So below are some critical areas that you should research for each school as you compare them and make your final decision.
Accreditation. It's important that the cooking institute you choose has some type of accreditation from either a local or a national organization. As previously mentioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education recognized organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a thorough assessment regarding their course of study, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ensure that you will receive excellent training, but it may also assist in acquiring a student loan or financial assistance which are generally not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools generally have the advantage of possessing modern facilities and equipment. However, they may not have been open 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 long history of success and earned one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job placement program. Certainly there is some give and take based on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more reputable schools commonly modernize their facilities and equipment. The important lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an excellent 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 arts programs you are looking at. Low graduation rates are indications that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the training and quit before graduating. They may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a college has a higher job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a good or excellent reputation within the cooking community, as well as a wide network of professional connections. Be suspicious of any school that will not furnish this information.
Location. The culinary school that you choose should be within driving distance of your Laramie home, unless you are able to move. You may think about attending classes online, but you would still need to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to enroll in a particular culinary arts college located in a different state due to its prominence and programs offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your future living conditions. Check the training facilities in person to make sure they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Consider also that many schools concentrate their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal approach to learn how to cook is with a lot of one-on-one training. If the culinary institute you enroll in has large classes, you will probably get little personal attention from the instructors. The ideal way to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to sit in on several 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 as well as the entire course of training. Also, speak with several of the teachers and learn what their teaching styles are along with their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking school if you will be unable to attend the classes. Therefore make sure that the school you pick has available class scheduling that will work with your hectic lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Laramie WY due to your work schedule, confirm that the school you choose offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the culinary arts school has a part-time offering. Also, find out what the make-up policy is if you must miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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