How can I make sure I'm picking a good culinary school?
Check on its accreditation. All good culinary schools should have current accreditation from an organization approved by the United States Department of Education. Accreditation is important for culinary schools because it shows that their programs meet a standard set of requirements. Two accrediting bodies for culinary schools are the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology and the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation. They can tell you how current a school is on its accreditation. For more about choosing a quality culinary program, read "How to Choose a Cooking School" from our partner site, CookingSchools.com.
What kinds of programs are offered at culinary schools?
Everyone knows that the world's best chefs are trained at culinary schools, but aside from teaching the fundamentals of good cooking and presentation, culinary schools also offer a variety of programs in baking and pastry, hospitality, and management. Baking and pastry programs are aimed at students who want to stay on the bread and dessert end of the business. Hospitality is a great major for the student who wants to work at a hotel or resort, while other management programs prepare students for restaurant, hotel, and resort management positions.
Can I go to culinary school online?
Truthfully, there are not a ton of options for the would-be online culinary student. However, for those students with diplomas, certificates, or associate degrees, there are bachelor's degree completion programs offered online. These programs build upon the hands-on, practical work already completed and allow students an opportunity to complete general education requirements and the management courses required of a culinary arts bachelor's degree. For more on online culinary programs, consider reading
"Learn About Online Culinary Schools".
How do I go about finding a culinary internship?
The majority of culinary programs have a built in externship or internship component, meaning that work at an off-site location is required for graduation. Many schools with such a requirement offer placement assistance to their students. This might be done through the culinary arts department or through the career services department. If your school doesn't have an internship or externship requirement and you want to do one anyway, definitely visit the career services office. They may know of opportunities for you and have contacts to help you get placed, or they may be able to help you with the process of finding an internship.
Is financial aid available from culinary schools?
Many culinary schools participate in federal financial aid programs that include work study programs, grants, and loans for students and parents. These can be applied for by completing the Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA). Culinary schools also offer their own individual programs, often including grants and scholarships. Another option is a scholarship offered by a culinary arts-related organization. Please ready our "Culinary Scholarship Guide" from our partner site, CookingSchools.com, for more information on finding a culinary school scholarship.
