Question about culinary schools.....

[luvmy3]

My BIL went to the Culinary Institute of AMerica. It is a fantastic school, but definitely pricey! I think they have both 2 and 4 year programs. We live fairly close to Hyde Park, so have had the opportunity to eat at the CIA....I can tell ya the quality of the cuisine is incredible so I guess they are teaching them something!

I have been to parties that were catered by the students of CIA and the food is always spectacular.

OP, I just wanted to say that I have a relative who took Culinary Arts at a Community College and had no problem getting a job afterwords. I always go to her when I need help with my own cooking

 

[beautybelle]

We live in Virginia.

My friends son is wanting to work in the high end restaurants. He told me that he is very interested in cruiseship work. I told them today about J&W and I done a little research about it myself and if it were me I would definately be interested. Also while I was researching J&W I noticed that they are having summer camps for teens and now MY son in wanting to go so I will be calling them tomorrow to see if I can get him in.

How funny would it be if I started out looking for someone else and end up sending my son to summer camp there. LOL Lifes little circles.

 

[TLHB70]

beautybelle, can you post the link for the camp information?
I wonder if our Charlotte J & W is holding the camps. As I mentioned earlier, my DD is currently in middle school, but she would LOVE to go to a camp like that! I need to keep updated on their summer camp information for the future.

 

[beautybelle]

I dont know how to post a link but the website is www.jwu.com and click on the Charlotte link on the left and you will see it on that page. Oh and yes the camp is in Charlotte. Good Luck, Im calling today too.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My sister's BIL is a CIA graduate and currently an instructer there. Prior to going back to the school to teach he cooked at high end restaurants in NYC, Switzerland, Moscow and a beautiful resort in St. Croix. He's always done quite well for himself.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My BIL went to the Culinary Institute of AMerica. It is a fantastic school, but definitely pricey! I think they have both 2 and 4 year programs. We live fairly close to Hyde Park, so have had the opportunity to eat at the CIA....I can tell ya the quality of the cuisine is incredible so I guess they are teaching them something!

I was taken out to dinner there the night before my interview at IBM...it was wonderful. Then DH and I ate there for our 5th anniversary (20 years ago!). Both times in the American Bounty Restaurant. Every so often we say we've got to get back there! Love the mid-Hudson valley too.

My son goes to culinary school at Johnson and Wales in Providence , RI. They have 4 campuses (?) across the country. They are one of the top culinary schools in America

We live less than a half hour away, and never ate at their restaurant. Go figure. DS went with his HS business class to learn business manners and etiquette and loved it.

 

[SC Minnie]

There is one in Charlotte, about 25 minutes from our house. That is the school that my DD has asked about. Since she is currently in middle school I haven't really looked at the prices or details. Charlotte also has a few other culinary schools.
I was not expecting the price to be as high as what is posted here....

DD14 wants to go to culinary school too. J&W is a good option for us too but she has also been looking into Art Institute in Charleston. She is on the culinary track in high school so hopefully that will give her a taste of things- no pun intended.

I am trying to steer her into getting a Bachelor's degree in Business or something else first. I am soo nervous that she will go to culinary school and then 10 years later decide that's not what she wants to do. She will be a sophmore in the fall so is getting close to having to really decide.

 

[TLHB70]

DD14 wants to go to culinary school too. J&W is a good option for us too but she has also been looking into Art Institute in Charleston. She is on the culinary track in high school so hopefully that will give her a taste of things- no pun intended.

I am trying to steer her into getting a Bachelor's degree in Business or something else first. I am soo nervous that she will go to culinary school and then 10 years later decide that's not what she wants to do. She will be a sophmore in the fall so is getting close to having to really decide.

My DD keeps telling me she wants to go to college too just in case she has trouble getting a job as a chef. She wants to do both, but I don' think our finances can pay for both..........

 

[TLHB70]

I dont know how to post a link but the website is www.jwu.com and click on the Charlotte link on the left and you will see it on that page. Oh and yes the camp is in Charlotte. Good Luck, Im calling today too.

Thank you so much. I went to their site and found the information about the Charlotte camps! This is perfect!!!!!!!!! I will talk to DH about it tonight!

 

[SC Minnie]

My DD keeps telling me she wants to go to college too just in case she has trouble getting a job as a chef. She wants to do both, but I don' think our finances can pay for both..........

The thing is DD's tuition for an in-state SC public college is paid for- we started prepaying when she was in K5- and she has until she is 30 to use it. Unless she can gets scholarships culinary school will all be student loans. DH and I can't afford that kind of tuition out of pocket.

 

[NotUrsula]

You might want to read this article from 2 years ago in the NYTimes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/us/08default.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp

That was before the recession hit; times in the restaurant business are much harder now.

 

[peyjax]

I used to be a recruiter for a culinary institute. It was my favorite job ever! However it was hard to recruit kids all the while knowing the expense it was to send kids there. We (PCI) were in the top 5 at the time. Not sure where they are ranked now.

CIA is definatly the Harvard of culinary schools. To be honest though many community colleges have similar programs, but they don't look near as good on the resume and I am sure the more $$$ schools have an edge on training with more experienced chefs. You can work your way up, but the stuff you learn in school will take you years ahead of the competition that did not go to school.

If your child goes to one of the higher end schools there are more vast oppurtunites available. A friend of mine went to a high end culinary school (J&W) and ended up working for a restuarant/bakery supplier making the big bucks, just a few years out of school. She did pastry stuff on the side for the fun of it and to keep her skills sharp.

The culinary industry is very fun and exciting even though the hours are bad. When I used to go to the high schools to recruit it always peeked a lot of kids interest and they were generally excited about it. Maybe it was becasue I was cooking for them and giving them food to eat. LOL! I very much enjoyed what I did before and miss it.

 

[C.Ann]

The DD of my childhood best friend went to the CIA and had a fabulous career - making money hand over fist.. Once she graduated and became established and well known in the states, head hunters from all over the world were trying to lure her overseas.. I lost track of how many different countries she worked in, but several years back she decided to settle down back here in the states - in Vermont - way out in the country.. She still works for a well known restaurant on special occasions, but she doesn't need the money and prefers to putter around on her land, grow herbs and spices, and enjoy the very laid back and relaxed lifestyle that her financial success has brought her way.. My friend says she pretty much lives like a "hippie" now - even dresses like a "flower child" - LOL..

 

[englishteacha]

Perhaps a person interested in culinary arts could do some time at a community college? Here in Maine we have the Southern Maine Community College, which has culinary arts and tourism as 2 of the main programs. They run a restaurant and an inn. I had friends who started there then transferred to a 4 year school. A friend went to Johnson and Wales. It's a very good school. The university I attended in the UK (Oxford Brookes) had a very good culinary program. Maybe an exchange??

 

[DMickey28]

I have two AS's in Hospitality and Hotel/Restaurant Management and a BS in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration with a concentration in Industrial Food Service.

My AS's are from Cape Cod Community College and J&W in Providence RI. My BS is from UMass - Amherst. J&W ran me $15K for one year, no room and board and no special costs associated with the culinary program. I did my culinary program at CCCC, with professors from UMass and Cornell. I bought my knives and uniforms through them.

I did not do the culinary track but more of a management track. I got a lot of culinary training but not indepth as you do in a straight culinary training track.

 

[chell]

You might want to read this article from 2 years ago in the NYTimes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/us/08default.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp

That was before the recession hit; times in the restaurant business are much harder now.

Hopefully the recession will be far gone by the time they graduate.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I want to follow this thread because DD is very interested in attending a culinary school. She is only in middle school now so I have a while before she has to make the decision. She loves cooking and wants to have a career in that area. Hopefully I can learn a bit from all of you. I do not know anyone that has gone to a culinary school nor do I know anyone that works in the restaurant business.

My DD wants to go to the Culinary school in Charlotte. She is going to be a sophomore. I don't know anyone who has been to a school either. Good thread.

 

[beautybelle]

I tried all day to call the school to get my son enrolled and couldnt get anyone on the phone. I left messages but still didnt get a return call. Im going to start back in the morning and hopefully get a person this time.

Gosh that news article was depressing.

 

[Imzadi]

Maybe their semester ended already and they are on a break.

 

[TM1982]

Does anyone know how I can get started in the culinary industry? I don't have a degree but would like to work my way up (starting at the bottom of course). I do live in Chicago so lots of great restaurants around here.

Maybe one of you did it this way?

Thanks.