I have been looking for a school in NYC or the Long Island area. There seem to to be a decent amount of them. Could anyone please help with the decission of which school to pick.

Thanks,
robert

I am also looking to go to culinary school. I've heard that CIA, The Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, is really good.

Choosing schools is like choosing your home or car (it's a major decision and it's a personal one too). You have to research the choices and learn about each one to make a good decision. Ask for your parents help. They care most about you making a good choice so they will be the best people to help, plus they know you.

As far as reputations...that's a question you can ask strangers. The CIA is probably the best known and most "prestigious" school in the States to go to. It does not mean they are the best at educating YOU. It does not mean you will get the best job from going there.

We have talked and talked about this issue too many times at this site to say anything new. Read all the posts, there are tons of opinions posted here about schools!

No school is perfect (they are institutions for the massses). There will be topics they will not cover completely or even at all. I think most of us (professionals) have agreed that the best chefs are the people who ACTIVELY participate in their education, either in a school setting or a mentoring system.