In the era of 24Kitchen and Gordon Ramsey, everybody wants to be a chef. That’s why it’s important to know and learn about which US culinary schools are the best and why you should consider joining one. By the time you start choosing your degree, you are not so willing to do this job anymore, let alone spend thousands of dollars to learn how to cook. However, chefs take significant money home every year, and the perfect combo of art and practicality makes this one of the best professions for creative minds.
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Choosing Your Dream Degree
Choosing your dream degree is oftentimes reduced to counseling about your aptitudes and what the market demands right now are. This is a good approach, but your voice should be heard as well. If you like arranging food on the plate and guessing spices in your favorite restaurant, you should consider a culinary school as well.
With a low cost (around $11,000 after federal aid) and a short study time of only two years (more if you opt for a multi-program approach), you will be able to leave college and start looking for a job at least a year before your school friends. This also means more opportunities to gain experience and less student debt.
Yet, applicants rarely consider those aspects. When it comes to deciding what to study during the next 3+ years, future students choose the easiest subjects or those that almost any coursework writing service can handle seamlessly. Some simply follow the follow-your-gut strategy, and it works out!
What are Culinary Schools
Culinary schools are colleges and schools which offer accredited courses in hospitality, food preparation, creating recipes, managing restaurants, and taking care of deliveries. They offer an array of programs, depending on your likings and needs. Some of the programs most commonly offered by culinary schools include:
- Culinary arts,
- Culinary management,
- International cuisine (Italian, French, Asia, Middle Eastern, etc.),
- Pastry baking programs,
- Hotel Management,
- Restaurant Management, as well as
- Food Theory and Food Safety Theory.
Do You Really Need a Culinary School to be a Chef?
In restaurants around the world, the best thing to do is make sure that you have a chef’s degree. Although it is not obligatory, it can surely help land your first job. However, also be prepared that any certification or a degree may not be important, as experience behind the grill and actually preparing dishes is what counts the most. If you decide to study in a culinary school, ensure you can get some experience and connections during your studies.
Choosing the Best Culinary School in the US
When choosing the best culinary school, you should pay attention to several factors. Who the lecturers are, where the lectures are held, the opportunity for practical work, whether they offer any internships in the school itself or in the local businesses, as well as whether there are chances for doing a semester abroad are all the factors you should consider. After this, check out any awards they may have got and make sure to check out the credentials of their staff as well. Now, here are the top five culinary schools in the US:
The Culinary Institute of America
Situated at Hyde Park, this culinary school was founded in 1964. It is generally considered one of the best culinary schools in the world. The school offers both bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as specialization courses. As a big plus, the school also offers specialization courses and certificates for wine connoisseurs.
The Culinary Institute of America has campuses in Singapore, Texas, California, and New York. It offers plenty of options for all food enthusiasts. Some of the degrees it offers concern applied food studies, culinary science, food business management, hospitality management. It also offers a number of online degree programs in sustainable food systems, wine and beverage management, and food business leadership.
Institute of Culinary Education
The Institute of Culinary Education has campuses in New York City and Los Angeles. As of recently, it ranks №1 Culinary School in America. It was established in 1975 and offers career training programs. The programs it offers include:
- Culinary Arts,
- Health-Supportive Culinary Arts,
- Restaurant and Culinary Management
- Hotel Management,
- Hospitality Management, and
- Pastry & Baking Arts.
The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College
The Walnut Hill College offers Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Restaurant Management, and Hotel Management as their programs. Whichever of them you choose, you will be able to also enjoy their tuition-paid travel, community education, kid’s summer camp as well as programs dedicated to high schoolers. You will learn to make more than healthy college snacks. For over 40 years, this school has provided all its alumni with high-quality education and a degree that is internationally recognized.
This Restaurant School focuses on hands-on learning. Their high school and community programs help young students find their passion for cooking and empower communities. They also help amateurs explore their possibilities at the stove and those who would like to lead a restaurant to develop their management and leadership skills.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts offers several programs. They are all carried out in a small-size class environment and focus on teaching students about the journey the food takes from farm to table. Students learn amazing techniques perfected by Auguste Escoffier, and all of these can also be learned online.
Culinary Institute LeNotre
The Culinary Institute LeNotre was established in 1998. Since then, it has provided thousands of alumni with cooking knowledge and experience, which focuses on French cuisine and pastries. This Houston, Texas, culinary school offers hands-on learning and small classes. It has ten pastry labs and kitchens where they teach their students about the intricacies of cuisine.
LeNotre Culinary Institute also offers different types of financial aid for their current and prospective students. Government Grant Programs, Federal Student Loans & Grants, Student Loan Repayment Plans, Scholarships, and Private Loans are all available to every student who would like to get a LeNotre degree. Make sure you use WritingUniverse for a good application letter for the grants. Furthermore, there is tuition assistance offered for active-duty military personnel and Veterans.
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Final Thoughts
As the number of those wanting to work as a chef and master culinary arts rises, so does the interest in culinary schools around the world. In the USA, there are many such schools, and many of them are often overlooked when applying for admission to a Uni. You can follow our list of the five best culinary schools in the US to find the one that sparks your interest.