Vet going to the CIA looking for perspective...

(Originally posted by Jero)

whatsup fellas!iI'm new to the site but already dig the
topics and the comradery you guys seem to have.I've been in
industry for 10 years and am going to c.i.a. starting march
31 2003.I'M GETTIN ANXIOUS...I NEED A CHALLENGE!I need to
learn more!My wife and daughter are comin with me and i'm
footin the bill w/a little help from uncle sammy.I hope this
gives me as much as i plan to put into it! Anyways,hope to
talk with some of you soon,and any current cia students hit
me up!I'd love to get some perspective on what to expect!

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Friday, November 22, 2002 - 10:33 am: Edit

Expect the 1st weeks of school to be from 1030pm-530am. and then on to the Beer/wine appreciation(sp?) that's all i know. My buddy is in oregon and this is what he tells me... "It's great. I'm having a blast despite the hard work."

By George (George) on Friday, November 22, 2002 - 11:45 am: Edit

"Expect the 1st weeks of school to be from 1030pm-530am" ??

It might have changed but the first "Blocks" of school were either in AM or PM time segments.

A and B blocks are all in the classroom and are where most students wash out.

Here is a link to the Culinary Arts Curricula

There is more knowledge there than you can possibly assimiliate. It's up to you to get it, the school's emphasis is getting you through the program.

A lot of the learning comes outside of the class room. Class is only a half day. There a lots of opportunitese to participate in outside projects like helping with Continuind Ed and various events.

TTFN

G

By Ladycake (Ladycake) on Friday, November 22, 2002 - 12:20 pm: Edit

I went to the CCA in the '80s (when it was still worth going to) and the CIA came around with a team to get ideas on changing their curriculum and grading system.

They adopted some policies and rejected others. They obviously did a much better job of adapting to the changing face of the needs of the culinary world than the CCA did.

The outside-the-classroom activities are as important (or more so) in the learning process than the classroom was, in my experience. I was sorry that I had to work at the same time and was unable to participate in many extracurricular activities. My loss!!!

By Jero (Jero) on Friday, November 22, 2002 - 02:43 pm: Edit

I know that the current curriculum is divided into am and pm classes.am starts at 6:00 sharp!pm is 4:00.I will have to work part to full time as well,but intend to involve myself in the various clubs and organizations that the school has. I have been through two semesters of basic and advanced culinary skills as well as sanitation/safety and purchasing.....all with a 4.0 gpa.Of course,this is at the local community college,not cia,although all my instructors are cia alums,all very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching.They had led past teams to gold medals in southeast culinary competitions against j&w and various other schools back when the state(n.c.)would fund such activities.So,with that said,i hope i have a little of an edge going into intro.I've also read "mastering the heat"the year in the life of a cia student book-o.k.,informative but the author,a journalist, remains still just that,and reminds himself(and the reader)of it constantly.So thanks for the replies so fast and thank you George,hope to learn a little from you as well over the next three years!!