CHOOSING THE BEST CULINARY COLLEGE FOR YOU

What’s the best culinary college out there? For that matter, what are the top 10 culinary schools around? How do I really know I’m going to the best culinary school for me?

If you’re a student looking for the best education for a successful culinary career, you may be asking these questions as you research your choices.  Here are six key criteria that can help you assess the quality of different culinary school programs and decide which would be the best for you:

1.   Choose a culinary college that will give you the greatest possible chance for success.  Your education is an investment in the future – make sure you will get the best pay-off when you graduate.

Look for:

• High graduation and employment rates. 
• Opportunities for long-term career success with attractive salaries. 
• A large, successful alumni network. 
• A strong industry reputation that provides access to national and international career opportunities not just regional ones.

2.   Choose a culinary school that emphasizes hands-on, in-kitchen learning and real restaurant experiences.  Professional success requires both knowledge and skills.  Hands-on learning is the only way to master the skills, so your school must give you the time and expert attention to learn and practice.

Look for:

•  A high number of teaching kitchens and in-kitchen instruction hours.
•  Classes that allow you to individually learn food preparation and cooking skills - and classes that have your produce meals in volume.
•  Classes that finish your professional training in actaul restaurant settings.
•  Externships at leading restaurants, hotels, and resorts for real-world experience and industry connections.

3.  Choose a culinary school with a large faculty of experienced, diverse, and accomplished chefs.  Larger faculties are the best way to learn the breadth of professional knowledge in the industry.

Look for:

•  Faculty members who are Master Chefs or Master Bakers
•  Instructors who are Certified Hospitality Educators (C.H.E.s), a certification assuring that chef-instructors are effective teachers. 
•  Diverse faculty representing a variety of cultures and culinary experiences. 
•  “Celebrity” chef faculty members who actually teach, not just endorse the school. 
• Student/faculty ratios that provide individual mentoring. 
• A “published” faculty and college; accomplished educators are often authors of leading culinary texts as well.

4.   Choose an accredited culinary college offering both associate and bachelor’s degree programs.  Accreditation by the appropriate regional accrediting commission is your best assurance that the programs are sound, the institution meets the standards of higher education, and your degree will be accepted by other institutions should you pursue further education.

Look for:

• Associate degree programs that provide fundamental skills, techniques, and cuisine studies to prepare you for a variety of foodservice jobs.
• Bachelor’s degree programs that provide the same foundation plus build operational and management knowledge to prepare you for leadership in your foodservice career.
• Regional accreditation by the appropriate accrediting commission for higher education, validating the quality of the degree provided.  Each region in the country has a regional commission that accredits colleges and universities.

5.   Choose a culinary college offering a vital campus community and access to career and cultural resources.  You should have the chance to learn from both your classes and your campus community; together they give you the best college experience.

Look for: 

•  A diverse student body and a variety of clubs, special events, and sports for you to enjoy.
• Attractive campus housing and recreational facilities, and a fun student life experience. 
• Access to a major city where you can benefit from additional entertainment, cultural learning, and exposure to leading foodservice businesses.

6.  Choose a culinary college that offers superior value, backed by a complete financial aid program.  Value comes from your opportunities to learn from the best, build important relationships, and graduate with a degree that is widely recognized by the industry.  But you must weigh costs as well.

Look for: 

• A clear description of tuition and other education expenses, so you can compare the value of different programs.  Schools with quality and integrity make this information readily available.  
• The degree that gives you broad industry access to maximize your career opportunity.
• A professional, experienced financial aid staff ready to address your needs.
• Available college scholarships to supplement federal and state aid programs.
• Continuing financial aid support for each year of study, not just the first year.

To research cooking schools, start at guides like ShawGuides (www.shawguides.com, cooking and wine schools, career) and Peterson’s Culinary Schools guide (www.culinaryschools.com) to identify schools of interest. Then visit the colleges’ Web sites and request viewbooks and catalogs to learn about their programs and resources.

While the Web is a great general source, avoid “top 10”-type ranking sites that are typically advertisements for a narrow selection of schools.