Does it matter which culinary school you attend??

I live in NM and there is no actual culinary schools here. The only thing we have is a culinary assoc. degree from the community college. Is that going to cut in the the culinary world? Should I make the trip to another state to go to a Culinary Institute?

Public Comments

1. That is a start, but it depends on where you want to go with it... If you want to be a Michelin star - level chef, you will need to at least apprentice with a great chef, but going to a highly respected culinary school, whether here or abroad doesn't hurt.
2. Most culinary arts degrees are associates degrees. In fact, I can't think of any that are 4-year degrees,unless you major in Hospitality Mgmt w/ a minor in Culinary arts. I think degrees from known-named universities can help you get your leg in the door for a first job or two. But after that, I think your skills and experience will speak for themselves. If the school undergoes voluntary scrutiny by a 3rd party certification group (like a national culinary arts club or society), that is good, and indicates their seriousness in educating their students. I don't think you have to pay the $$$$ for Culinary Institute of America or Johnson & Wales to get a good education. But if that level of education interests you, then go for it.
3. That would be a good start. It can help you decide if this is really the field you want to go in to. The most respected culinary school in the world is the Cordon Bleu in Paris: http://www.cordonbleu.edu. If you can cut it there, you have a great career ahead of you. Some of the best chefs have no formal training though and have just natural talent and lots of luck.
4. If you really want to go into the culinary arts then you should go to a better school than a community college. But if you aren't that serious about that as a career then start at the community college first just to see what it's all about. Go Education!
5. Yes it matters, you want to go to the strictest culinary school there is which FCI (french culinary institute) you will get exactly what you put in to it. Many culinary schools are very slack and a lot of people think that culinary is the route that slackers take which is very wrong. Go to FCI and spend 6 or 9 months and give your soul to it memorize the books, attend any extra activities, and never have a chip on your shoulder. Be modest and you will do great. That's is what i did and i graduated at 19 now I am 22 and I own a private chef business in NYC and have millionaires giving me standing ovations.