Comments on: Cooking School Is Not For Everyone

By: Tabitha

Tabitha — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:35:35 +0000

Hi my name is Tabitha im 14 and i want to pursue a career in making pastieres. I know im young and i could change my mind about it but i really wanna be one. My grandma shows me how to bake cakes cookies ect but i want to do more than that. I live in Ohio and there’s not many places around that like to teach how to bake pastieres. So i was wondering if you knew any and if you do please tell me. Thank you

Hi Tabitha, you might want to ask your parents to help you with this. There may be some local community schools that offer cooking programs. If there is a Viking cooking school in your area for home cooks, most likely they have some pastry classes. Sometimes local stores offer classes and if they don’t, you could ask them to start one. Maybe get a few of your friends together and see if a local baker will offer the group some lessons. Be creative but be sure to ask your folks for some help. -RG

By: kaylee

kaylee — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:56:02 +0000

im 14 and a freshman in high school and i want 2 pursue a career as a baker but am still kind of not sure if its the right career for me i need help making my mind up…

Good news for you is you still have lots of time to explore, read, bake at home and research with your parents if this is right for you. There is lots of great information on the internet but ask your parents to take you to some local bakers to speak with them or at a local restaurant. Good luck. - RG

By: Yvette

Yvette — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:49:01 +0000

GREAT article!!! I have been pondering this for some time, but I really don’t think it’s for me………..early hours (been there done that), on feet all day, low pay the list goes on and on. Thank you for being frank, you have saved me some $!! On to looking into more of what I’m cut out to do in changing careers!!

By: Lorena

Lorena — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:13:59 +0000

Hello!

For as long as I can remember, I have loved food. When I was younger (4/5), my parents owned a bakery that I spent a good amount of time at. Dad would constantly introduce us to new recipes. One day he would come home with octopus, the next, he would be baking chocolate chip cookies. Basically, I love food, I love cooking, and I love baking.

I recently went to a tour at a culinary school and was SO excited! As we walked around, all I could think of was, ‘I do this at home…in my free time…this is amazing!’. I have a habit of checking to see what is in the fridge and looking for recipes online. Or I may come across a recipe and give it a shot. These are things I love to do.

The tuition…is what is stopping me at the moment. Already having student loans from my first degree, I can’t help but think that I will owe the government money for the rest of my life. The school is charging about $35,000+. I guess the issue that I’m having, is: is it worth paying all of that money to attend this school, or am I fine with learning skills at the Community College?! Are employers really going to be looking at what college I went to? Thank you!

Great question Lorena and one I can’t answer for you. I get this question a lot and that’s why I post interviews, articles, comments so you can read them and decide for yourself. There are many pros and cons for going and not going to culinary school or baking/pastry school and I encourage you to do as much homework as you can before deciding. Reach out to a school’s graduates and see what they have to say. You may even want to start with a community school and see if you are getting what you want out of it and then decide if you want to take it to another level. The more information you have, the easier your decision will become. Good luck and please come back and keep me updated on your career. - RG

By: Alanna

Alanna — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:56:32 +0000

Hello, I am a sixteen year old and I am looking into possible colleges/career paths. I enjoy cooking almost as much as I enjoy baking. I wish to open up my own bakery one day and am looking for a college. I wish to go to a school that has a program like The Culinary Institute of America’s bachelor degree in Hyde Park, NY; but I want to go to school in San Francisco. Should I take a program like the one that CIA offers or should I take a short baking program like the one offered in the French Culinary Institute and get a business degree? Thank you.

Hi Alanna, all great questions and unfortunately ones you have to figure out with the help of your parents and counselors. My advise would be to do your homework, learn as much as you can about the various programs you are interested in, speak with as many people as you can including the schools - graduates -current students and then sit down with your parents to determine what’s right for you. Good luck and please stay in touch and let me know what you decide and how you are doing when you are in school. - RG