Need advise

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Hi,

I am an 18-year high school senior.
I love to cook and have a talent for it. I think I would
enjoy a career in a culinary field. I have a talent for
cooking but I have a hard time with academics. I do my best
but it's a struggle and I don't do very well on standardized
tests.

I would appreciate advice on the best schools, training
and job paths from those with experience.

There is a well respected community college near me with
a culinary arts curriculum that is designed for earning
a 2-year Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. It would be
the least expensive way to get some training at a school with
a good program. But there are other options too.
I have lots of qustions. Any input would be welcome.

- Should I go to school directly after high school or
work in the field for a year or two to get some experience?
(I have already worked at two restaurants but only part-time)
- Why did you want to want to become a chef ?
- Did you go to a community college or culinary school?
- How did you choose ?
- What were the costs ?
- What percentage of your class time was spent in actual
cooking or food preperation as oposed to academic classwork?
- How many hours a week did you spend in class and studying ?
- Did you hold a job while you were going to school?
- Do you know of any good resources to find information about
grants and scholarships ?

Also, if you know of any newsgroups or web sites that would be
helpful, please let me know.

Thank you very much in advance.

Brandon
Raleigh, NC

By Panini (Panini) on Sunday, December 12, 1999 - 11:07 pm: Edit

Brandon,
Does your local Community College have an acredited intern program with local certified chefs? This helps a great deal. Get paid a little to learn.
Panini

By Joey181 (Joey181) on Saturday, January 01, 2000 - 09:13 pm: Edit

Well, thats quite a list of question! I'm a graduate of the pastry arts program at the culinary institute of canada and although i'm not a chef...yet...i am returning to school to take the culinary program to reach my goal. I've had a first hand experience working with the chefs at the school and also with the culinary students so i think i can help you out. or at least i'll try :o)
~as to if you should go directly after high school thats really your choice i mean in my class there were people who had been in the food industry all thier lives and there were some who had never even baked a cake.
~ why did i want to become a chef? well from as far back as i can remember i've loved to cook and working in restuarants all my life i've grown a craving for it. mabey its the rush i don't know.
~ how did i choose my school? well as i said it's one of the best the chefs are from all over the world and in my opinion they are the best there is
~ the costs? well the culinary program works out to be roughly $16,000 for the two year program and the pastry program is about $9,000 for the one year. I thought they seemed high but for the expierence and the recognition of the school it's well worth it.
~ as for class time, the culinary program spends about 4 hours a day in the kitchen and about 1 hour or more for theory. There are also core courses you have to take (computers,accounting, business, santitation, math) they take up about an hour each but you usually only take 1 mabey 2 durring one term.
~ how many hours a week? well it does vary with your rotation. but say on average it would be 30 or so.
~ did i hold a job? i tried but to be honest it didn't work. There is a lot of work in the culinary and a lot of assigments.
~ as for grants or scholorships i'm afraid i wouldn't be any use to you.

I hope this information helps you and feel free to email me if you have any questions :o)
joey181@escoffier.net

By Daddyofcook (Daddyofcook) on Monday, June 26, 2000 - 09:17 pm: Edit

i have a similiar problem my daughter is choosing from paul smith, cia,jw,and indiana at pux.if any one has any input it would be greatly appreciated.if i was choosing i pick indiana,she is leaning towards paul smith

By Debord (Debord) on Tuesday, June 27, 2000 - 09:33 am: Edit

Daddyofcook the most important thing you can and must do for your daughter is get her the best education possible. A good sucessful chef is first a smart person, with knowledge in more areas than food alone!

If one day for what ever reasons life takes her away from cooking will she have the skills to obtain a job in an above min. wage job?