Culinary School Pros and Cons: How to Decide If It’s For You

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Whether you’re a high school student debating your next move, an established adult considering a career change, or an experienced cook looking to advance your skills or start your own business, attending culinary school is a big decision.

Culinary school may open up new career opportunities, expose you to mentors and an extensive network of culinarians, and can teach you useful skills and techniques. Plus, if you love to experiment in the kitchen, it can also be a lot of fun!

But it’s not for everyone. Culinary school also requires an investment — of your time, effort, financial resources, and months or years of hard work. If you’re on the fence, this breakdown of pros and cons can help you determine if you’re ready to dive in or if a different path might better suit your goals.

What Exactly Is Culinary School?

Anyone interested in cooking can learn their way around the kitchen by exploring cookbooks, devouring cooking shows, or taking a few local recreation classes. But if you want to make a career out of your kitchen skills, attending culinary school can be one of the most effective ways to do it.

Culinary school is a full curriculum of training in various aspects of cooking and the culinary industry that you may need for a career in food service and hospitality. This can include everything from food prep, knife skills, and cooking techniques to menu planning, how to take inventory, and restaurant management.

Culinary education can be offered by dedicated culinary schools like Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, or community college or university programs. Some programs are in-person, while others are online.

So why would you choose to attend a culinary school instead of simply learning on the job? It turns out there are several reasons.

When Culinary School Is Worth It

There are many ways earning a culinary degree or diploma can benefit you, from mentorship to career opportunities. Here are a few to consider while you weigh your options.

Culinary School Can Open Up More Career Opportunities

You can certainly have a career in food or a professional kitchen without a culinary school education. But your chances of success can be much higher with a formal culinary school degree.

Hiring managers generally want staff members who need the least amount of time, energy, and financial resources for training on the job. By bringing an established skillset from culinary school – and indicating that you have the wherewithal to work hard and earn a degree – you can be a more desirable job candidate.

Completing culinary school can also help prove your dedication to food as a career, not just a job. In an industry where turnover can be high, chefs may prefer a candidate who is committed to a career in food, rather than one who simply sees the position as a temporary job.

 

If you don’t plan to work in a professional kitchen, culinary school still has the potential to improve your career prospects. If you were hiring a food critic, wouldn’t you prefer one who has the culinary knowledge to back up their writing skills?

Omni Hotels & Resorts Executive Chef Josh Hasho says culinary school is a gold star on a resume.

In addition, dedicated culinary schools provide lots of opportunities that may lead to future employment. Your Chef Instructors, guest speakers, curated hands-on industry externship opportunities, alumni network, and co-students are all potential sources for future employment.

Study with a Variety of Chef Instructors in Culinary School

In culinary school, students have the opportunity to learn from and interact with multiple Chef Instructors throughout their programs. These industry professionals may include Certified Executive Chefs®, James Beard Award-winners, chefs who have worked in Michelin Star restaurants, and restaurant/foodservice business owners. This means as a student in culinary school, you may be exposed to a variety of worldviews, techniques, and culinary styles.

Because culinary school is built around the learning process, techniques are both demonstrated and evaluated. This gives you the chance to practice, receive professional feedback, and sharpen your skills under the guidance of experts with different styles.

Access to these experienced culinary experts also may provide opportunities for mentorship, as well. Some graduates even build long-term relationships with their Chef Instructors, and personally stay in touch throughout their careers for advice and camaraderie.* From tips on working your way up in a busy kitchen to embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship, teachers are usually eager to share their knowledge.

With their diverse backgrounds, Chef Instructors who have had their own success can provide students with a more well-rounded culinary education than if they simply learned from one executive chef or a mentor on the job.

“You have mentors in a restaurant setting, but you won’t get the variety,” says Chef Shane Witters Hicks, Escoffier Boulder Graduate & Private Chef at The Soulful Spread. “At Escoffier, you’re exposed to 10-plus executive chefs, and you’re surrounded by them every day. There’s a wealth of mentorship at your fingertips.”*

 

Access Networking Opportunities as a Student and Alumnus

In culinary school, your networking opportunities aren’t limited to your Chef Instructors. Your peers are an entire network as well.

You may meet dozens of like-minded students while you study. These fellow students may be at various points in their own culinary careers, from beginners to experienced cooks and chefs looking to improve their skills. These students can serve as future resources for job opportunities, moral support, collaboration, and further education.

As an example of how culinary school students can leverage their network, Escoffier graduates get access to the Escoffier Alumni Association, so they can expand their network to former graduates that may have advanced further in their careers.

All Escoffier students also complete at least one hands-on industry externship during their programs. This real-world experience can add a professional role to your resume and provide yet another networking opportunity. The chefs and coworkers you meet can be excellent resources for job leads and may even serve as your first professional references after graduation.

A large network can also help future restaurant or food truck owners find qualified candidates when they’re in a position to do the hiring.

Gain Exposure to Advanced Techniques and Cuisines From Around The World

In a professional kitchen, your role is to execute the prep and cooking required for a specific menu. While you’ll likely gain speed and efficiency with those specific dishes, there is often less room to experiment with new or varied techniques during a busy service.

A good culinary school curriculum is designed to build on itself, scaffolding your knowledge day by day. Because earning a culinary degree or diploma isn’t tied to any specific menu, students get to explore a wider variety of skills, from basic knife skills and sanitation methods to more complex world cuisines and cooking techniques. Depending on the path you choose, Escoffier programs can be completed in 30 to 84 weeks.

Develop Good Lifelong Kitchen Habits

Speed is vital in a professional kitchen. This means that some cooks may learn to take shortcuts to move more quickly.

These shortcuts might include rushing through inventory, estimating weights instead of using a scale, or turning up the temperature on the oven. And the result can be wasted ingredients, sub-standard food, or a sloppy workstation.

In culinary school, students are expected to develop good habits and discipline from the beginning. They must arrive on time, in a clean uniform, ready to work. Organization and cleanliness are paramount in a successful cook, which is why starting with good habits is so important.

“One of my main takeaways from Escoffier was discipline,” says Chef Freida Nicole Davenport of Freida’s Sweets And Meats. “The mise en place is no joke. I understood it’s a mindset, and coming to the table prepared starts with something as simple as getting your knife sharpened and getting your coat pressed.”*

 

Even for students who have already spent several years working in professional kitchens, culinary school can help them refresh their habits, get back to the fundamentals, and become more efficient and effective overall.

Earning a Credential Can Open Doors

Just like in other fields, a diploma or degree shows employers that you may have a certain baseline level of skills. It demonstrates not only your technical skills but also your commitment to the craft and your ability to meet the consistent demands of a culinary program.

A culinary education can be valuable even for non-cooking roles. It shows employers that you understand how a kitchen functions and why certain techniques are used. This can lead to a variety of paths, from hospitality and hotel management and food media to roles in nutrition or food writing

Escoffier graduate Wyl L. discusses the importance of investing in yourself.

The Possible Downsides of Culinary School

While there aren’t too many “cons” to attending culinary school, there may be some challenges. And depending on where you are in your career, it may not be the right time. Here are some challenges you should consider before applying.

Culinary School Requires a Time Commitment

Education takes time. Getting your education may delay your ability to make big changes, like getting a new job, taking a vacation, or starting a new business.

Still, unlike a traditional four-year program, Escoffier offers the opportunity to earn a diploma in 30-60 weeks or an associate degree in 60-84 weeks, depending on program and whether online or on campus. While those months will pass regardless of your choice, by choosing a culinary program, you can spend that time building a new skill set and working toward a professional credential.

Culinary School Requires a Financial Investment

Except for the rare case where a student finds ample scholarships that cover 100% of the costs, culinary school is not free. There is still a financial investment required to attend.

Fortunately, financial aid is available to Escoffier students who apply and qualify to help fund their in-person or online culinary school programs.

 

Culinary school students may also see a financial return on their education investment. Some employers might be willing to pay more for culinary school graduates, so students who choose to attend culinary school may benefit from that formal training soon after they graduate.

It Might Be a Challenge to Juggle Work, Family, and School Responsibilities

Culinary school students often have to work while they’re in school to continue paying the bills. And some are adult learners who also have families to look after. This can make attending school for hours per day a bit of a challenge.

Online culinary programs, like Escoffier’s, can help meet this unique set of circumstances. Students can complete these programs on their schedule, as long as they meet the required course deadlines. Students can watch instructional videos and practice their skills at night after the kids are asleep, or even early in the morning before work.

Escoffier graduate Katie Sualog did just that – balanced family life, career, and education. In fact, she started her degree program online before transferring to the Escoffier Austin campus. A mother of two, she also ran a home-based bakery while she earned her degree.

Plus, Escoffier students have access to a Success Coach who can help them if they run into trouble or are struggling with any part of their programs. These dedicated problem-solvers are in your corner to offer support and motivation all the way through to graduation.

Culinary School is Not Always Necessary for Success

Despite all the benefits of culinary school, it’s not required. If you already work in a great kitchen with a great mentor, and you’re happy with your job, culinary school may not be necessary.

Or, if you don’t have significant changes in mind for your career and simply want to keep doing what you’re doing, then investing all the time and money required may be overkill. To help yourself decide, it’s important to ask yourself what your goals are, and choose the option that best supports what you want.

So, Who Is Culinary School Right For?

Put it all together… and what does it mean? Culinary school may be the right path for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of cooking and food.

It can also be an excellent option for people who dream of a culinary career. This is especially true if you want to set yourself up for success with the professional network and full palette of cooking skills and techniques that culinary school offers.

It’s also for people who see education as an investment in themselves and in their futures, and who understand that there is great potential to receive both financial and personal returns on that investment.

If that sounds like you, culinary school just might be the right path for you. Reach out to us today to find more about how you can start!

TO GET A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT INTO THE VALUE OF CULINARY EDUCATION, TRY THESE ARTICLES NEXT:

• How Much Does Culinary School Cost and How Can You Pay For It?
• How Online Culinary School Can Build Real Kitchen Skills
• Why Older Students Should Consider Culinary School

This article was originally published on May 4, 2021, and has since been updated.

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