Hello! I was wondering what Culinary School is really like? I love to cook, and was thinking of concentrating on pastries, especially wedding cakes. The cooking school i'm looking at is Le Cordon Bleu here in Atlanta which i've heard is a really good one and they have won several national competitions. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!! PS-how much experience do they look for when admitting someone to the school? I don't have any experience in baking, just cooking, but think i'd be really good at it and am willing to learn. =)
2006-12-19 05:07:25 · 7 answers · asked by atlantagal 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
My husband attends the school you want to go to--he has 3 weeks left before he is a bona fide chef.
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta is a good place to go if you have an abundance of personal motivation. You get out of the experience what you put into it. As with all Le Cordon Bleu schools, there are two tracts, Baking and Culinary. A few of them in other cities offer Restaurant Management tracts, but it seems that Baking is what you're looking for. I'll run down some Pros and Cons, just so you have an overview.
Pros-- 1. All students learn under Master Chef Kanadu; 2. Atlanta's entrance requirements are very low (a high school diploma--or equivalent), if you want to work hard and stand out, you can; 3. Atlanta has a growing economy, the culinary industry is opening up.
Cons--1. LCB Atlanta has a bad reputation among professional chefs and local restaurants, you would have to overcome some prejudice; 2. Other LCB locations are better, namely Scottsdale (my husband attended there also) 3. Currently, LCB Atlanta does not have anyone available to help with externship placements--once you finish your coursework, you are on your own.
Overall, if you have the drive and Pastries are your passion, you will do well. Atlanta is also the best choice if you are interested in LCB, but cannot afford to live in the other cities with LCB campuses.
2006-12-19 05:39:19 · answer #1 · answered by minah philz 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can attend cooking school and get a certificate, or you can attend one of the Culinary Arts colleges and get a degree. With a degree you can get a job as a chef, or as a manager in a major hotel chain, catering company, or other professional food management or food service operation. Do you want a skill or a skill and career? The two most famous Culinary Arts colleges are the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University. Both of them are easily searchable online. They graduate a lot of professional chefs.
one of the other answers comments on how the CB schools do not have very high standards. I don't know about that, but I do know that CIA and JWU are world famous and have thousands of alumni in top positions in the Food Service industry world wide. And they have good job placement... I saw an ad from JWU that says that 98% of their graduates are placed in jobs within 60 days of graduation... and I'm sure CIA is similar. You are buying a whole package, not just someone who shows you how to make sauces!
2006-12-19 05:34:19 · answer #2 · answered by matt 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The university I attended had a culinary school and I took several courses. They don't really expect yuo to have tons of cooking knowledge (otherwise why would you be in school) but mine did require good ACT and SAT scores and high school transcripts. I don't know much about Le Cordon Bleu. I think you get a certificate from them. You could attend a culinary school at a university and earn a degree.
2006-12-19 05:18:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is a great school and you'll learn tons!!! If this is what you want to do contact the school and get into their program when the next one starts up. I know out here in CA they have waiting lists for people wanting to get in.
The school doesn't expect you to know much, they will go thru the basics and have you cooking up a storm in no time!!!
They offer financial aid just like all other schools.
Good luck and happy cooking!!!
2006-12-19 05:10:57 · answer #4 · answered by Loli M 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Going in culinary school is like working without being paid, moreover, you have to wake up very early in the morning 5 am, to have all the pastry prep to be done then you have to wash all the dishes, and cleaning all the room. Then the sous chef will critize if the food was good or bad, be prepared to bad critics. So you have to waiter, clerk, chef, assitent, etc. It is a very tough School.
2006-12-19 05:36:23 · answer #5 · answered by cabhite 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in no way pass to a culinary college that admits pupil who have not any genuine eating place adventure. those are rip-off faculties out to get your money. the superb preparation starts interior the dish room.
2016-10-18 12:00:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i like to cook to i want to go to a school like that
2006-12-19 05:09:38 · answer #7 · answered by Randy V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋