I am currently a 2nd year student at the University of Iowa. I am moving to California next summer and want to get into a good culinary school. I love to cook and do it all of the time. I have worked in restaurants for the last 4 years but have never worked in back of house. I have always been a server or bartender. Do I have any chance to get into a good school without any real experience?

If you needed a glowing resume to go to college very few people could attend. I'm sure if you made it into the University there you'd be accepted almost anywhere else. Working in the front of the house makes you well rounded and will contribute to your knowledge of the back.

If you fear having no experience you still have time to get a job in the kitchen before next summer. Where have you worked? My step daughter has been at Mondos for several years now. I think they would be a good place to start because they do a nice volume and their quality is consistantly very good. The owner is a very, very sharp guy....maybe if you showed some interest you could gain some advice from him???