subject: Culinary School Admissions Requirements [print this page] Like most institutes of higher learning, many culinary schools require that you meet a minimum set of requirements before you are accepted into their culinary programs. Whether you are looking into a career as a chef, baker or even restaurant management, top-rated schools, such as the New England Culinary Institute and Culinard will have specific requirements that you will need to meet, and therefore it is very wise to contact any culinary school you are applying for before filling out the application. Here are some basic requirements that most culinary schools will need you to meet before you apply to their culinary program:
Application
The application you submit to the culinary school of your choice is the first impression they will have of you. Make sure you follow the instructions for each culinary schools application exactly and submit all required documents, whether they be your high school transcripts, letters of recommendation or anything else.
Previous Education
All culinary schools will require at least some form of proof of previous education, such as a high school diploma or a GED. Above your proof of general education, most culinary schools will want some proof that you have a basic understanding of the culinary arts. This requirement may be met through proof of previous culinary classes or through taking an assessment test through the culinary program.
Work Experience
Many culinary schools require at least some form of previous work experience in a field related to the culinary arts before you will be accepted. This previous culinary experience can take many forms and can include volunteering in a soup kitchen, apprenticing in a restaurant, working for a caterer or a commercial kitchen.
The Essay
Many culinary schools consider your essay to be one of the most important aspects of the admissions requirements. Your essay should include what youve learned from previous culinary work experience and what you are hoping to achieve in your future career in the culinary arts. While many culinary schools only require an informal essay, some may have very specific points they are looking for.
Understanding the specific requirements that each culinary school you apply to have will greatly increase your chances of being accepted. Before you apply to any culinary school, you should ask for a set of their specific admissions requirements or visit their website to learn more.
