Frustrated college student here... is a degree in "hospitality management" of much use for a chef?

Question

I've been in college for nearly 3 years and I feel that it is just a waste of my time. So far I've been taking the general education requirements because I just declared my major to "hospitality management." I wanted to know if this degree will help me at all in becoming a successful chef. I've looked up some famous chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Emeril Lagasse, and Bobby Flay and none (from wikipedia anyways) have a degree in regular college but just culinary schools (ie none of them have a hospitality degree). I have a scholarship so thats why I'm still in school, but am I just wasting my time? Should I drop out and go to culinary school ASAP? This is the toughest decision of my life. I would appreciate it if anyone in the culinary field would reply.

Answer 1

This would be a help. Do you remember that reality TV show "Rocko's" or something? It was about a top chef opening a restaurant. That's what you could do. You could open a successful restaurant, and hire yourself as a chef. My Uncle went to culinary school and did just the opposite. But it works either way. You can open up your own shop.

Answer 2

Im not in the culinary field, but any degree in business/management is helpful, and since you are almost done why not stick w/ it and finish. It will mostly likely come in handy.

For instance after you graduate and decide to go to culinary school you will have the tools to run your own restaurant or run someone else's.

Eventually will get retire from being a chef (I hear it is grueling) so that degree may come in handy.

As far as those other chefs being so successful they obviously picked up a knack for business and they are all increddibly talented.

I am not saying you are not talented, but not everyone can become them, and even if you did @ that level it is all business.

Finish college and get your BA b/c it WILL help you in the long run.

Answer 3

I'm not in culinary school, but my sister is. I know that she's pursuing an Associates for culinary arts and may later finish a degree like yours.

I think you should finish your current degree (you're nearly done). Then, you could go back to for an Associates for actual cooking while you work at maybe a hotel or restaurant in the office setting? The bachelors will done and over with and then you can pursue the chef angle more specifically.

Best of luck:-)

Answer 4

I'd get your degree, just because you've come so far, otherwise it may nag you as an incomplete part of your life and you'll probably end up finishing it years down the road anyway.

But maybe you should change majors (if your scholarship allows it). Find something that interests you, philosophy, history, economics, whatever, and enjoy the rest of your education. Many successful people have degrees that are completely unrelated to their careers.

No, you don't need one to become a chef, but at least you have something those other guys don't. You have something to make you stand out, different.

I'm not in the culinary field, but I'm an artisan in film, and my degree didn't help my career one bit. I'm still glad I got it, (it didn't hurt my career either) because it's something I've accomplished and finished and I've learned things that have helped me appreciate other things in life.

It may help you get a promotion sometime down the road as well. You'll stand out from the other guy because of it, with two equal candidates but one has a degree. That happens.

Answer 5

i think u should finish ur college, and after that u still can be a chef as long as u have that talent in u. that degree will help u to get a job easier. trust me. how old are u anyway? u can still continue ur study in culinary schools.