How You Can Get into Culinary School

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Deciding to attend culinary school is a great first step on the path to a new career. But how do you know if you’re going to be admitted?

Culinary school isn’t like a traditional four-year college. You don’t have to write an essay or take standardized tests, because those skills don’t predict a good cook or hospitality manager.

Find out what schools like Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts look for in the admissions process, and what you can expect when you fill out your culinary school application.

How to Get Into Culinary School: The Application Process

Escoffier has a non-competitive admissions process, meaning you don’t need to write an essay or take an entrance exam to apply. To get started, you’ll simply submit an application along with your required documentation and program of interest. Help is available every step of the way, from choosing the right program to navigating financial aid.

Request information

Have questions about which campus or program is right for you? Unsure about what financial aid or scholarships you might qualify for? Have other questions before you get started? Fill out an information request form to speak with a member of our Admissions team.

Submit your application

When you’re ready, complete the online application form and sign your Enrollment Agreement. There is no application fee, and no prior experience is required.

“I filled out an application, and a day later they reached out to walk me through the process,”* says Escoffier Austin Culinary Arts graduate Shai Fernandez.

Submit your documentation

You’ll need to provide a copy of your photo ID and proof of high school completion, which might be a diploma, GED (or equivalency exam), official college transcript, or state-approved homeschool certificate of completion.

Explore financial aid

Financial aid doesn’t have to wait until after you’re accepted. You can start exploring your options at any point before or after applying.

Escoffier’s admissions representatives can help you navigate federal aid options, fill out the FAFSA® form, and explore scholarships, employer reimbursement programs, and military benefits.

Complete orientation

Once accepted and enrolled, you’ll complete an orientation to get familiar with your program and resources before your first day.

What Are the Requirements to Attend Culinary School?

To be considered for culinary school at Escoffier, you need to meet the following requirements:

Boulder Campus (including Online Programs)

• Must be a minimum of 16 years of age
• Application for Admission
• AESCA Enrollment Agreement (inclusive of written permission of parent or guardian if under 18)
• Proof of high school graduation or equivalent (must be obtained through one of the following):
  • High school diploma or transcript
  • High school equivalency exam: GED, HSED, HiSet, or TASC
  • Documentation demonstrating that the student has passed a state-authorized examination that the state recognizes as the
  • equivalent of a high school diploma
  • Official college transcript from a completed Associate or higher degree program from an accredited institution
  • 60 completed college semester credits or 90 completed college quarter credits from one accredited institution, or
  • State-Recognized Home School Certificate of Completion*
  • For U.S. veterans, the DD-214, which reflects high school equivalency
• Admissions interview

Austin Campus

• Application for Admission
• AESCA Enrollment Agreement (inclusive of written permission of parent or guardian if under 18)
• Proof of high school completion or equivalent:
  • High school diploma
  • High school equivalency exam: GED, HiSet, or TASC
  • State-approved homeschool certificate of completion
  • Official college transcript from a completed associate or higher degree program
  • For U.S. veterans, the DD-214, which reflects high school equivalency
• Admissions interview
• Tour of the facility
• Record of previous education & training (CSC-010)
• Receipt of Enrollment Policies (CSC-005)
• Information Release Form (FERPA)

Summary: Admissions Requirements by Campus/Format

Accepted forms of high school equivalency may vary slightly by campus.

Is Culinary School a Good Fit for You?

Beyond the minimum requirements listed above, what kind of person does well in culinary school?

First and foremost, a genuine passion for food goes a long way. Culinary school is immersive. You’ll be thinking about food, cooking techniques, and kitchen culture every day, and that enthusiasm helps keep students engaged when the work gets demanding.

It’s beneficial to be organized—or be willing to learn. A disorganized station is often one of the biggest pet peeves of chefs across the board. Students are expected to build the habits of cleanliness and organization during school.

Another key trait? Teachability. No one enters culinary school knowing everything — not even executive chefs with years of experience. Every student is in school to learn. So come to class with an open mind and eagerness to absorb new information.

 

Finally, commitment is crucial. Culinary school is an investment of time, energy, and finances. Students are expected to make their education a high priority during their program. Our team of faculty, tutors, and coaches stand ready to assist students whenever they need help.

How to Choose The Right Culinary School Program For You

Most culinary schools—including Escoffier—have multiple programs. They may offer culinary degrees and/or diplomas in several different disciplines, so you have the option to choose which is the right fit.

Escoffier offers programs at two credential levels: diplomas and associate degrees. If you’re still deciding which level is the right fit, consider the key differences in this table.

Diploma vs. Degree

When considering your program, start by thinking about your career goals. If you hope to be an executive chef, a culinary arts program may provide a well-rounded education that can help you get there. If you plan to start your own vegetarian restaurant, then our plant-based culinary arts programs might be a better fit for you.

6 Types of Program Disciplines

Escoffier currently offers programs in six different disciplines:

• Culinary Arts
• Baking & Pastry Arts
• Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management (available through Escoffier Boulder campus – online only)
• Plant-Based Culinary Arts (available through Escoffier Boulder campus – online only)
• Holistic Nutrition and Wellness (available through Escoffier Boulder campus – online only)
• Food Entrepreneurship (available through Escoffier Boulder campus – online only)

Many of these disciplines are available at both the diploma and associate degree level (though not all). Here’s an overview of each type:

Culinary Arts

In Escoffier’s Culinary Arts programs, students can explore both traditional and contemporary culinary techniques, as well as business skills that may help them to improve profitability and provide better leadership. Whether you want to open your own food truck or work in a bustling, high-end restaurant, culinary school can help you build the skills you may need to reach your goals.

Baking & Pastry Arts

Escoffier’s Baking & Pastry Arts programs can help prepare students for a career as a professional pastry shop chef, as a wedding cake designer, as a home-based bakery owner, or many other roles. The baking and pastry program at Escoffier highlights breads, doughs, cookies, cakes, confiseries, and more. Depending on the credential earned, courses covered could also include entrepreneurship, cost control, and other business-focused topics.

Plant-Based Culinary Arts

Escoffier’s programs also include a degree or diploma in the Plant-Based Culinary Arts. The courses in these programs build culinary foundations in both cooking and baking by focusing on the versatility of non-animal ingredients. They also include business-focused coursework, like foodservice management, purchasing, and entrepreneurship.

Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management

An associate degree in Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management can help prepare students for a future in the oversight and management of a successful foodservice or hospitality establishment. Leadership and communication, as well as event catering, beverage operations, and menu design, are included in the curriculum.

Holistic Nutrition and Wellness

Working in a kitchen or restaurant setting isn’t the only way to make a career out of food. For those interested in the nutritional side of things, a rewarding path can be that of a nutrition coach or other wellness-related professional. Escoffier’s Holistic Nutrition and Wellness programs can prepare health-minded individuals for an opportunity to help others develop healthy nutritional habits.

Food Entrepreneurship

For many culinarians, owning their own business is the dream. A degree or diploma in Food Entrepreneurship from Escoffier may help graduates build the skillset they need to start or manage profitable companies. With coursework in cost control, marketing, business planning, and much more, the curriculum is designed to add valuable techniques to the future boss’s toolbox.

Externship Experience Across Programs

All programs at Escoffier culminate in a hands-on industry externship. This opportunity can allow students to put what they’ve learned into practice and get a sense of how a professional kitchen or foodservice operation runs.

Students are responsible for sourcing their own externship sites, and all sites must be approved by Escoffier’s Career Services department prior to the start of the externship. Some students who already have industry jobs may even be able to use their current position for their externship, provided it receives Career Services approval. For others, the externship may be their first introduction to the professional kitchen.

Look carefully through the courses included in each program to see if they align with your goals. Remember that no culinary program will teach you absolutely everything you’ll ever need in your career. The goal is to provide foundational knowledge that you can continue to build on through real-world experience and further study.

A day in the life of an Escoffier extern.

Programs Covering These Disciplines

Escoffier programs are available at two ground campuses—Austin, Texas, and Boulder, Colorado—as well as online through the Boulder campus. Not every program is offered at every campus or in every format. Here’s a breakdown of what’s available where.

Programs by Campus

Weeks reflect academic program length.
*Time to complete may be extended due to Distance Education course sequencing.

Several programs are available exclusively through Escoffier’s online format:

Programs Only Available Online

Weeks reflect academic program length.

How Much Does Culinary School Cost?

Program costs vary depending on whether you’re in a diploma program or a degree program, studying on campus or online. For the most current tuition information, visit Escoffier’s tuition and fees page.

Escoffier’s Financial Aid representatives can help students navigate:

• Federal financial aid
• Employer reimbursement
• Military benefits, grants, and scholarships

For many students, these resources can make culinary education more accessible than they initially expected.

Amanda Edgin, an Online Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management student, found that financial aid made a difference.

“Financial aid is accepted, which made it possible to pursue both the diploma and degree programs while continuing to work,” Edgin said. “That support can make a real difference for students who are serious about advancing their education without putting their lives on hold.”*

 

Get Enrolled in Culinary School… and Get Cooking!

Every culinary journey starts somewhere, and for many students, filling out that first information request is the moment things get real. Escoffier’s Admissions team is available to walk you through your options, answer questions about specific programs, and help you figure out the path that fits your goals and schedule.

If you’re ready to see what culinary school could do for you, contact our admissions team.

TO EXPLORE MORE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A CULINARY EDUCATION, TRY THESE ARTICLES NEXT:

• How Long Does It Take to Finish Culinary School?
• Can You Become a Chef Without Going to Culinary School?
• What to Do Before Your First Day of Culinary School: A New Student Checklist

This article was originally published on February 15, 2019, and has since been updated.

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