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I tend to disagree. Cooking school first, then 4 years of college puts 4 years between the career field education and the actual career. 4 years of updates in trends, technology, etc. 4 years to forget or lose skills. Even if the student is trying to wring part-time employment and stay on top of current trends, it would be a challenge.</p>
<p>Sylvan, I was thinking more along the lines of cooking school, establishing her career and then someday, down the line, she can go to college if she chooses too.</p>
<p>I have a cousin who was a chef from age 20-early 30s. He then went through training for a second career. Now he’s a deep sea welder! But I get the impression that it’s not uncommon for chefs to eventually change careers.</p>
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^^All children should be so lucky to have a parent like you.</p>
<p>Yes, that is fine to say to your daughter. If the culinary school doesn’t work out, then she will have something else to fall back on. It would work well as a back up plan for her to go to a normal college first and then to a culinary arts school.
There are a lot of degrees out there that aren’t marketable in today’s world! They aren’t worth the money spent to get them! Having a good degree will help your daughter find and keep a job!</p>
<p>While you’re both deciding, buy a copy of “Heat” by Bill Buford, a New Yorker editor who left his job to be a line cook for Mario Batali, and On Food and Science by Harold McGee. The former highlights the love and insanity that professional cooking requires and the latter may inspire her to pursue a science degree first. The most innovative chefs are often part chemist. Both are entertaining reads and you’ll enjoy them too. </p>
<p>If she’s really determined, no matter what college she goes to, she will feel she doesn’t belong there. Cornell may be a good option. Technically an Ivy, but the Hotel School falls on the state school side, I think. Plus football and one of the great small towns in America (with enough local vineyards and cheese-producers to do a locavore proud).</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>I have McGee’s book, myself. I probably failed to mention that I cook. A lot. And that she has learned basic knife skills in my kitchen and herbs and whatnot. She knows flavor profiles, etc…</p>
<p>I am probably the last person on the planet to be telling her not to go to culinary since she invites people to dinner at our house to eat my food.</p>
<p>since she was little, I had her in the whole foods picking out the basil that wasn’t bruised, etc… How many parents make their children take the green shoots out of the garlic? Not as many as I thought, apparently. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I will get “Heat.” Sounds good.</p>
<p>CIA offers a bachelors degree. It is done after the culinary part of their program.</p>
<p>I don’t really have a problem with doing CIA first. And I agree it’s the best in the country. We have a friend whose daughter was sure she wanted to be a chef. She’d had a bunch of summer experience and went to CIA straight out of high school. After a year at CIA she decided she wanted a college education after all. No regrets though.</p>
<p>This is what I LOVE about cc…it’s like one, big family all giving advice and their point of view! :)</p>
<p>Poetgrl…you just started this thread this morning and already you have lots of great suggestions! So, YOU’RE to blame for your D wanting to go to Culinary School! 
:D</p>
<p>Sounds like an awesome idea. But sounds like a compromise can be reached. Regular college studying Food Science, Business, whatever…sounds like a really wise decision FIRST, THEN culinary school. She can bulk up her resume by taking on-campus jobs in dining hall, or similar…working maybe a year or two after college and then entering Culinary School…</p>
<p>I’d love to hear back how your conversations turn out…good luck ;)</p>
<p>Cornell may be a good option. Technically an Ivy, but the Hotel School falls on the state school side, I think.</p>
<hr>
<p>The Cornell School of Hotel Administration is actually one of the endowed colleges, as opposed to ILR, HE, and CALS which are statutory colleges. They are all part of Cornell University and are not a “state school” although NY contributes some dollars to the operation of the statutory colleges and NY residents pay a lower tuition fee.</p>
<p>The Hotel School looks for kids with a passion for the hospitality industry which is more than hotels, and includes financing, building, staffing, as well as actually operating hotels and restaurants and other hospitality related venues. The admitted students are pretty smart but it’s the Why Cornell and Why Hospitality that will tip the admissions decision. You can probably find their admitted students stats with a bit of googling.</p>
<p>So, we talked over breakfast today.</p>
<p>I took her out early and I told her that I wanted her to apply to college and not to make her final choice until this time next year. I told her that I didn’t want her to close off any options before she’d had a chance to fully consider them. I also told her that whether she decided to go to college first or not, I would fully support culinary school.</p>
<p>She said… “Okay. Sounds good.”</p>
<p>So, thanks guys. I think I said everything that would have gotten in my way to you guys and this wouldn’t have gone nearly so well if I’d have been as all over the place with it as I was before your input. :)</p>
<p>This is great!<br>
Now if we could just resolve the YDS son prom issue.</p>
<p>:):):)</p>
<p>I know, right? If everyone would just listen to mama - no problems ;)</p>
<p>If only YDS could do the asking, it would all go much more smoothly. :p</p>
<p>Remember play dates? So simple.</p>
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Exactly. I’m sure YDS would present the young lady with a well-considered plan that covers all logistical possibilities, including but not limited to attire, transportation, refreshments, accessories and photography.</p>
<p>Remind me again why the boy needs to be involved? So much better to leave these things to the women.</p>
<p>That sounds great, poetgirl. I hope you’ll let us know how it all works out. We’ve had two friends with daughters who went to CIA and it has worked out well for both.</p>