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Contrasting Cooking Institutes
At this point you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you wish to attain, and if you would like to enroll in a private or a public school. Since there a large number of culinary programs in the Rock Springs area and across the Country, you need to develop a checklist of important qualifications so that you can begin narrowing down your options. A few obvious qualifiers, for example location and cost are a good place to begin. But selecting a school because it is the nearest or the cheapest is not the best way to decide on your education. There are other variables, such as accreditation and reputation that you need to assess also. So below are some crucial areas that you need to research for every school as you compare them and make your ultimate decision.
Accreditation. It's imperative that the cooking program you select has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national organization. As aforementioned, the accrediting agency should be a U.S. Department of Education certified organization, such as the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a detailed review pertaining to their curriculum, teachers and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help establish that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial aid which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Recently established schools often have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been operating long enough to garner an accreditation or to develop a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a sustained history of excellence and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has been in business, the more graduates the school can solicit for its job assistance program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the culinary schools. And older, more highly regarded schools commonly update their equipment and facilities. The significant lesson is that in the best case scenario, your chosen school will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. First off, find out what the graduation rates are for the cooking institutions you are looking at. Lower graduation rates are indicators that a number of students were unhappy with either the schools or the courses and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the course of study. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates as well. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help confirm that it has a good or outstanding reputation within the culinary community, in addition to a large network of professional connections. Watch out for any school that will not provide this information.
Location. The cooking college that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Rock Springs residence, unless you are able to relocate. You may think about attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship program. On the other hand, perhaps you have chosen to attend a specific culinary college located in a different state because of its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to check out the campus before enrolling, to make certain that you are comfortable with the area and your potential living conditions. Look over the training facilities in person to make sure they are up to date and that the equipment is contemporary. Remember also that many schools focus their job placement programs within their regional communities, so select a location where you will satisfied working.
Class Sizes. The best way to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the culinary school you enroll in has large classes, you will most likely receive limited personal attention from the instructors. The best way to evaluate the interaction between faculty and students is to attend several of the classes. Ask a couple of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are satisfied with the amount of attention they get in class in addition to the overall training. Also, speak with a few of the instructors and determine what their teaching philosophies are as well as their histories and qualifications.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no benefit to in enrolling in a cooking college if you will not be able to attend the classes. Therefore make certain that the school you pick provides class scheduling that can fit in with your busy lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Rock Springs WY because of your job schedule, verify that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the cooking college has a part-time option. Also, ask what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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