Back to Culinary School: Choosing the Right Option for You

Going Back To Culinary School

Each week, I get emails from visitors interested in going to culinary school and asking how they should choose a good one. So, I wrote this article and wanted to share it with you.

Also, I have posted a good article called, So You Want to Become A Chef that you should read and will enjoy.

Have you ever considered returning to school to become a better home cook? Or you may have aspirations of becoming a professional chef. Based on the number of culinary schools out there, many of you must have the same idea.

I just read an article in our local Philadelphia paper about the growth in local culinary schools, and the numbers surprised me. It appears that many supermarkets, gourmet stores, local restaurants, colleges, ex-chefs, and just about anyone else who has the room and expertise is putting on an apron and opening a school, and I think it's great.

These schools are designed not only for home cooks who want to learn the basics but also for those who have experience and want to build on those skills. Besides, it's a great way to get out of the house, meet new people with interests, and taste great food.

But what about the individual who wants to make cooking their career and go back to school for a degree in culinary education?

Lucky for them, there are now more than 500 vocational, college, and university programs scattered around the country, with more schools opening each year that offer first-rate educational degrees in this field. The bigger question is how to choose the best culinary school for you.

Here are a few steps you may want to take to help you narrow down your decision:

Step 1 - Figure out what you want to do after you graduate.

Do you want to start a catering company, make pastries and fancy desserts, or how about managing a restaurant? Once you know what it is you would like to specialize in, you can limit your search to only those schools that offer the necessary classes.

Step 2 - Determine what's most important to you in a school.

Some of the areas you may want to think about before choosing a school are:

Location
Entry requirements
Length of program and class schedule
Costs and financial aid
Class size
Classroom facilities
School's faculty and reputation
Degrees and accreditation
Location and Housing
School contacts, job placement, internships

Step 3 - Create a list of schools to contact for more information

This is a good place to start, but it is by no means complete, or you can fill out the short form to the right and get started in finding a school near you.

If you don't find a school nearby or if it strikes your fancy, try searching the Internet. Just type in "cooking schools" or "culinary schools," and you will find hundreds of leads to schools worldwide. Type in culinary schools with a city or state" will narrow the field even more.

Once you find a few promising schools, fill out the information form for more information. Typically, someone will call you within a day or two to answer your questions, provide you with additional information, and offer to send you some brochures and an application.

Be sure to have a list of questions you want answered when you speak with a school representative. You might also ask for a list of current students and graduates to contact for their assessment of the school.

This is also a good time to ask about scholarships and what the school offers. If financing is going to be an issue, it's better to find out about alternatives now rather than wait until you have been accepted.

Remember, the school representatives are there to help, and I've found that they don't push too hard, although it is their job to sell you on the school.

Step 4 - Narrow down the field.

Once you look over what the schools have to offer and have spoken with the representatives, start eliminating those that just don't fit in with your needs. Maybe a school is too far, too costly, or doesn't offer the courses you want to take.

Step 5 - Visit the schools that fit best

In my opinion, this is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your happiness at any cooking school. You want to see the actual classrooms you will be attending, see some of the teachers and students in action, and get a feel for the surroundings to make sure you will fit in.

I once made the mistake of taking a new job on Wall Street with a competitor without ever seeing the offices where I would be working. Sure, the money was better, and I thought I would make faster advancement, but when I arrived for my first day of work, I couldn't believe the conditions I would be working in. The office space was old, dirty and outdated compared to where I was working. I was horrified.

So, make sure the school in which you are thinking of investing your time and money is as good, if not better, than the brochure they send you.

Step 6 - Apply to your top picks

After you visit, narrow down the field to your top choices and prepare the applications you were sent. Be sure to be neat and complete and provide them with everything they ask you for. If you have any questions about the application, pick up the phone right away and get answers. You don't want to be sending in incomplete forms.

Step 7 - Choose your school

Once notified by the schools of your acceptance, you can decide which school works best for you. This final choice should be easy because you did your homework and followed the steps above.

Be sure to inform the school of your choice that you will be attending and find out what steps are required to get you enrolled and what you will need to start school.

Although this article was written for those interested in going to culinary school, you can follow the same procedures to choose any continuing education degree. If you think about it, it's just like getting everything prepped and ready to go (mise en place) before starting to prepare a meal.