Is it better to go to culinary school or get hands on experience if I want to be a prof. baker?

Hi- I am trying to figure out if it is worth paying the big bucks to go to culinary school, or if it is better to get a hands on job in a bakery. So far the only bakery jobs I can get are in production (cooking only, no prep/mixing batters etc). Should I keep on trying to find a job in bakery or go to school first? Is the hands on experience better than school experience? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. culinary school will fine tune what you know handson:if you have no baking exp. hands on is your best start culinary school will expect you know alot i worked in a bakery for 2yrs and my friend went to culinary school and i seen his work i was lost and i did alot of different prep/mixing
2. I know this sounds bad but doing both is the way to go. Try to get a job in a bakery or a restaraunt and then try to go to culinary school. Culinary school will be easier if you have some real world knowledge and work will be easier and more fun the more you learn in school. I worked in a restaraunt and one of the line guys was working there while going to culinjary school and he said it really complimented each other, the only problem is you can get a little burnt out. Another good idea would be to ask the admissions people at teh school what they think. Good Luck