Choosing a Culinary School in San Francisco, California

Choosing a culinary school in San Francisco is easy to do if you know where to start. San Francisco is a diverse cultural center with a number of different reputable culinary schools. Choosing a culinary school is just like any other important decision making process. Start by organizing a list of questions and concerns that you would like to have answered by the schools. You should also make a list of general questions that you should be able to answer about the school. Call ahead and make appointments with a guidance counselor or dean from the admission office. They will be impressed with your organization and you won't be left staring blankly at them when they ask you if you have any questions. In addition to your own questions, here a re a few suggested questions you should take into account when choosing a culinary school.

Start with a question you can research and answer yourself. For example: Is the culinary school in a city or area with plenty of job opportunities while you are in school? Most students choose to get hands on experience via a part time job while they are in culinary school. This is a great way to stay in touch with your ultimate goal, earn a little money, and gain invaluable job experience. Classes are a completely different animal; which makes a part time job in the food service industry invaluable to you.

Next, plan something important to ask you culinary school representative. An important question would be something like, does the school provide opportunities for internships or externships while you are a student? An internship or externship is a great way to get your foot in the door of a top-notch restaurant or hotel that might otherwise over look you. You can network while you are an intern and make valuable friend sin the business.

You should also ask the school you are interviewing for a list of jobs that their recent graduates have held. This is a great way to find out the standing of your culinary school in the food service industry. If previous graduates are all working the fast food line this should send some alarm bells up in your mind.

This previous question leads into a very important one. What is the job placement record of the school. Do they help students find jobs after they graduate? Do they have a networking list of potential employers that work with the school?

These are all important questions while you are choosing a culinary school. In a market like San Francisco where the sky is the limit, it is up to you to control your destiny. Take the time to research you dreams. Here are a few local culinary institutes in the San Francisco area to help you get started. Each is well known in the food service industry and offer a wide variety of culinary degrees.

California Culinary Academy is located at 625 Polk Street, Concord, California, 94529. Concord is about ten minutes outside of San Francisco. They can be reached at (800) 229-243.

Children's Culinary Academy is located at 1136 Littleoak Drive, San Jose, California, 95129, about twenty five minutes outside of San Francisco. Although this is not for adults, it is a great place for your child or teenager to develop their interests in food. This could be a great starting point for an exciting career in the food service industry. They can be reached at (408) 873-1945.

Olive and Vine Culinary Adventures is located at 14301 Arnold Drive, Suite 3, Glen Ellen, California, 95442, about thirty minutes outside of San Francisco. They can be reached at (707) 996-9150.