Are You Cooking School Ready?

It's the time of year when many soon to be high school juniors and seniors start thinking about careers and colleges. Some younger home chefs think it would be fun or interesting to run a kitchen or bakery. As with everything it takes a good education, to get ahead.

As with anything, research is the key. Look into culinary schools and universities around the country. There are even community colleges that offer AA or an associates degree in the subject. These are usually cheaper and in some states no tuition for state residents making under $45,000 per year. Also two years isn't that big a commitment,If you want to change over into another or related field you can after continuing on at a four year college. Another aspect to consider is whether you want to go to a cooking school or a college. Such universities as John & Wales  offers both.Having both culinary  training and business background would be appealing to a young chef  to be who wants his or her own restaurant right away. The same applies for the Culinary Institute of America or CIA where you can even earn a master's degree in food or culinary business.Of course tuition is the main issue , There are scholarships and financial aid to help. However, education shouldn't come with a price tag, yet many parents often steer their kids towards the much more affordable options.

Are there still cooking schools in the world? Yes, however here in the States, they're more likely to offer other courses as well.Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia , PA, offers a European approach to teaching cooking, with even cooking camps for younger kids and high schoolers. They even have classes abroad at both English and French cooking schools. Of course, there's Europe, namely France, where the idea was born with the Cordon Bleu Cooking Academy. This institution , first established in 1895, is the world's most famed school and a prototype for others  that have followed. It is still accepting students and has such famous alumni as Julia Child, Mario Batali, Giada De Laurentiis and the famed Great British Baking Show judge, Mary Berry. The school has also expanded to London and Florence  as well as into North American, South America, the Middle East and Asia  (strangely they don't have a campus in the US). For some future chefs this would be a dream come true, however they and their parents should take into consideration, everything from housing  to language to even safety.Parents, if you  feel your kid is ready for life abroad, this is the education for him or her. If not, look into an American school that offers a junior or senior year in another country.

Any future chefs should start researching now for the culinary school or hospitality degree that suits them. Picking the right one is key to any success. Select one that will guarantee good training and education in the food industry.