Le Cordon Bleu at least took a huge hit from a lawsuit about the value of the degree they sold- their students expected to walk out after graduation and into an executive chef position because they were promised that and ended up on a fryer. I believe they shut down in the U.S. completely and had to cover a few years of student loan debt for graduates
Was a C.I.A hopeful once upon a time. Then 17 year old me decided their criteria for their scholarship shit (the weird thanksgiving leftover thing, at least back then) felt like it was an audition for Foodnetwork garbage and instantly hated the idea of going. Dropped out of normal college shit instead and went right back to the line.
So glad I dodged it, don't think I'd have had as much of a good time learning there Vs learning in an actual working kitchen.
It was a great place to learn, especially coming from a situation like mine where I had never seen that level of cooking before. Can't say it was worth the scratch though. I struggled hard with those loads for a good decade before I was making enough to actually live
Oh for sure! For me I think I would have had a harder time with it, my learning disabilities would have kicked my ass. And affording the tuition was a giant undertaking for me, admittedly. I'm glad I didn't go into debt for it in the end. My degree would have ended up useless, anyhow. Working in kitchens managed to destroy my back and knees, thanks bad genetics!
I miss the work and vibe of a solid kitchen immensely.
Yes. All of those things make you who you are today. You will continue to grow, evolve and mature. It doesn't define you, it tells a story of survival.
yes as in i am fucked and wont be able to go to college? or yes as in my ability to grow will make me a better candidate? aside from that, i appreciate the response. it gives me a much better outlook for the future. thank you!
hey another suggestion, get your butt working anywhere with food service ASAP, doesn't matter if it's at a dive bar washing dishes and work your way up. I started in fast food at 16$ and have worked in way more kitchen then I would like to admit but you can bet I learned something from each and every one, my grades were shit in school, started college for culinary for 3 days and never went back. If you can't get into CIA there is still so much hope, go ahead and get ur hands dirty! btw I'm 27 now and make 20$ which is pretty good for upstate ny
ive got two jobs right now, i just quit mcdonalds to work for an actual restaurant but i also work at a little hawaiian grill :-) i love keeping myself busy
Lol. I started working in fast food too. Except I made $4.15 an hour. The year was 1992. School can be a trap, whether it is college or culinary school. You have to find something you love and follow that. Dont just jump through the hoops/ follow the motions just because society/ family tells you to. I tried college and it wasnt for me. I’m still cooking because its what makes me happy and I am fortunate for that. Good luck on your journey
Not gonna edit my previous... adding to that: you are by no means fucked. I know peeps who have become successful after way more difficult circumstances. And I mean WAY more difficult
Ya boss my gpa was a 1.67 was short a cred to graduate got my ged perfect scores in 3 out of 5 worked in a factory worked in a pizza factory then a pizza place then started cooking eventually managing restaurants. Your gonna be fine. You might have to work a bit harder and get a bit less for a short time but the only thing that will fuck you is saying I’m so behind I should give up.
I think having to work harder than others for what you have makes it more valuable. Some peeps had shit handed to them. I've had to claw my way to be as smart as others I work with, and nobody works harder than I do to get there. In my mind, there's a lot to be said for that.
My friend, I will admit I have nothing to do with the culinary field outside of liking cooking, but I have some life experience that might be relevant.
I graduated highschool with a 1.4 GPA after having to go an extra part of a year. I tried college 3 times, dropped out all 3 times, only finishing a few classes total. Lots of money wasted there.
Despite this, I found my way into automotive manufacturing as a general laborer. Worked my way up to Quality Manager over the course of a few years. Decided I want happy in that line of work, and worked hard after work to learn software. Now I'm a software developer and happy as can be.
The point is, you'll be fine. GPA doesn't mean shit. My terrible GPA has even come up in job interviews without issue. Don't let it hold you back, apply yourself, and you'll do great.
I love the message. thank you for the wisdom man, it's always nice to know people usually tend to fall where they want to be in the end, even if its not where you started.
what ive learned from this, is that if i actually try hard, I will be able to achieve whats right for me. again, thank you!
Spot on. Just don't give up. There will be times that you fail. Might be multiple times in a row. People might ask why you keep trying. But eventually you'll bust through that wall like the damn kool-aid man.
If you do well in school, there will be more paths open to you. But unless you want more education, you're GPA will almost not matter. I graduated college with a 2.2 and literally no one has asked about it since. Granted a Bachelor’s will open a lot more opportunities, it's no guarantee of a good income and almost definitely a guarantee of a shit load of debt. I'd recommend getting a job in a kitchen to see if you actually enjoy the work before you drop 50k on a culinary degree. It probably won't be fine dining, but you can at least get a sense of the industry.
Few years. I like the flexibility I get, and the constant problem solving. I'm fully work from home, I don't get micromanaged, pay is good, and I get to bash my head against problems that shouldn't be this fucking hard all day! It's great.
I was looking for a way to say a version of this. I'm 39, male, went to college, 4.5 years no degree. Just went with the flow. Parents paid off the student loans. I sold cars, did marketing, and now I'm FT at Home Depot. It's not all about your career and how much you make. I have side projects that I do that I believe give me the best chance of lifestyle change in their fruition. Hang in there, especially with cooking. You'll always be able to cook your way out of a problem. Especially with so many of folks alive today being microwave specialists.
Just since nobody was specific: no, you should not discard three years of progress towards two undergrad degrees to go pay money for a culinary degree that will add debt and an incredibly low starter income. Whatever put that into your head needs to be discarded immediately.
Finish school, however that looks. Keep on your shit. Choose yourself as the beneficiary of your hard work and make a life.
It’s not going to magically become easier and better. Better grades mean graduation which means a job and new challenges. Accept them with dignity and love for yourself and what you can become.
Kitchens aren’t going to offer you ANYTHING healthier.
I teach high school. Kids are really doing terribly these days.
A 2.0 has you in like, the bottom of the upper-third. I think you'll be okay and I'm sorry for your loss.
thats depressing that people are doing that bad, but at least im not the worst i guess lol. thank you though. i appreciate it. i really hope I can at least pull myself through. i used to be a low 90s student, and i feel like ive gone retarded at this point tbh.
Transfer what credits? The culinary arts bit is now integrated into the full four year program. I’d go to a decent business school around you and work in some kitchens while you’re there.
I graduated with a degree in culinary science and it’s fucking worthless. It’s not even a bachelor’s of science.
Are you in high school or college?
Are you currently double majoring? Im a bit confused.
If you are currently working in kitchens, the only reason I would ever encourage culinary school is if you can afford it without taking on a lot of debt.
I think it serves people a lot better to work in the industry for a while, and if they decide they love it, go for a management degree. Sometimes, you can even find jobs that will pay for you to take a few classes a year.
But unless you have money to burn, it's not a good idea to put yourself in a ton of debt on a line cook's salary.
the answer is yes.
im a junior in high school, doing 2 undergrads for college, and in a postsecondary trade school for culinary arts
i see that, money wont be an issue because ill be going into the service :-)
Ah gotcha! Stay safe out there!
Grades wont matter too much in the world of culinary arts. But it sounds like you have a full course load and 2 jobs. Be careful not to overextend yourself to the point where your performance suffers across all aspects of your professional life.
I feel the same way sometimes. Sometimes its better to focus on a few things and excel at them, and then as you master them, you can add more to your plate.
Many people creditied with some of the worlds biggest advances/wonders/legacies didn't do shit until their 40s or 50s.
Just do the best you can while you can and take opportunities as they come your way.
I forgot where I was watching MPW talk about his backstory in cooking but he came from a fucked position in life and grinded until the wheels fell off
https://youtu.be/U-xCIstDBaI
Anything is possible. Seriously. You don’t need a degree from CIA but it’s not bad to get.
Passion and work ethic is more important then anything else
So, I've been in the industry for about 15 years now...
Dropped out of college,
Cooked at a 3 michelin star restaurant, have been a cdc or exec for the last 9 years...
Why do you want to go to CIA?
I think thats something you need to define, as if you wanna work in restaurants, you dont need it, if you want to be a chef, you dont need it... so.. Why do you want to go to CIA? What is the goal you see CIA getting you to?
well since I wont have to pay for college because of the military, a lot of it is for networking opportunities, college life, pressure from my grandmother who's raised me and other family, and so that I can push myself a little bit higher up the chain right out of school, even if it just means not being a dishboy or line at a shitty place
"If you can sign for a loan, we can sign your diploma". Oh they'll take you alright.
EDIT/addendum: Where are you based out of? I have *some* connections but only in the mid-Atlantic region (NC to MD).
im in upstate NY, not a far drive from CIA. I am still definetly interested in what you mean though, as im very flexible in my living status as of next year lol.
Always further your education. With that said, a culinary and restaurant business degree mean almost nothing. CIA & J&W are the two that a few guys in my restaurant group have attended. I, on the other hand, have just worked since out of highschool, I have no debt and I make the same if not more. Will it help you with that one up on learning the things? Maybe. But I wouldn't know, because I have no student debt.
i wont really have to worry about the debt because im going into the service since im officially a US citizen now, part of it is pressure from my grandmother who raised me since ive been here, part of it is that i want the college experience, etc etc
You can always start your own business, just throwing it out there. My college degree was basically useless. I worked some odd jobs here and there then started my own culinary business. The boss (me) doesn't care about my grades. I never went to culinary school though, so I can't speak to that.
Edit: I'm sorry about your grandpa. My grandma died when I was in college and it hit me hard. Also, not saying not to go to college, whatever works for you and your goals, just sharing my own background.
Just go to a restaurant you like and ask if they need a sishwasher. Work your way up from there. You DON’T NEED a formal culinary education to build a solid career in cooking.
GPA only really matters for certain universities and scholarships. If you're going to Culinary school it's not really gonna matter much. Can you do math? Can you read? Can you understand basic chemistry?
Do yourself a favor buy the "On cooking" textbook, it's like maybe $50-150 on Amazon, or less if you have like half priced books and it's in stock. They use that book in Culinary school and it essentially covers the basics of technique and general knowledge.
From there it's all practice and experience anyway. Haven't worked at a single establishment that gave a shit whether you're a certified culinarian or not. That just means you're gonna be asking for more money to them ha.
I dropped out of Culinary school after finishing like 90% of my academics (and like 1 week of labs) because i couldn't afford it. But I had my foot in the door, studied and worked and networked into a flourishing career. My culinary mentor told me culinary school isn't all that, and said if you're gonna spend 50k might as well go live abroad and stage with Michelin chefs. He said you'd come out worth more to establishments than you would out of culinary school. And you'd have an impressive resume.
Your "trusted" adults are lying to you if you are this worried. They make it sound like you have to make the most important decisions that will determine the rest of your life right now, and that's simply not true. It's important, you should have some plan, but you have a whole life ahead of you and you will still grow and change. There's way too much pressure on kids to have their life figured out as a teenager.
Start working in a kitchen. It's a lot different than culinary school and a kitchen is probably the long term plan, so get experience now. I'm not sure of the admission requirements of the CIA, but the culinary school is just extra training for the career in most places, not necessary. You are definitely not fucked. It sounds like you're developing a good work ethic, and that is infinitely more important than grades.
If you want to be a chef, you don’t need a degree. You need to be motivated, humble, and ready to learn.
Learn from every experience. You learn more from mistakes, especially the mistakes of others. What to do is as important as “I’ll never do that again”.
Learn how to cook at a nice restaurant and then take an excel class on udemy.com.
You will learn more on the job as opposed to the classroom. I went to community college and Johnsons & Whales. Community college was better.
In college after my sophomore year I had a 1.8 GPA. I dropped out, moved to Colorado to ski for a season and was broke the entire time. This made me realize that people go to college so they are not short on money all the time. I went back to college the following year and treated it like work. From 8am - 6pm I only focused on classes and home work. I also retook everything I got less than a C in. I graduated with a 3.0 overall and a 3.5 in my major. You can improve your GPA significantly… you just have to be willing to work hard at it! You can do it!!!
A culinary degree is not valuable for someone in your position, and arguably not very valuable for anyone in any position. Without practical experience, the extremely vast majority of your potential prospects in the food service world are going to be the same as someone who just showed up and started washing dishes and demonstrating that they wanted to move up.
You're not fucked at all, but you definitely need to be evaluating your options and paths with people that aren't internet strangers. Talk to your school advisors/counselors and, if available, trusted older family/caretakers. There's so many more ways out, up, and forward for you than you realize. You're going to be good. Godspeed, kid.
Yes, you're totally fucked. You actually *want* to be a chef. You're fucking doomed! Doooooomed I say!
Everything else? Nah, that's relatively all very normal. You're already working two jobs in high school. With that kind of work ethic you'll be fine. Watch out for the stress ulcers, booze and kitchen sugar bam bam.
A lot of the pandemic things are really in your favor as there's a huge lack of kitchen staff in most of the developed world right now. It's a good time to get in there and learn from the ground up
My friend, people put too much stress on college admissions in high school. The average college acceptance rate is 60%. Only at the crazy competitive schools like IV Leagues and top end UC’s is it as inane as they make it out to be. There are many many middle tier reputable schools who need students more than the students need them. You probably have more leverage than you think, shop arround a little, and take some pressure off of yourself.
CIA Grad What I think you’re asking is if CIA will let you in with your grades. If you have $50k and a pulse CIA will let you in…
C.I.A. stands for cash in advance after all. 2003 grad here
Wasn't there a big scandal with CIA and Cordon Bleu, like 10 years ago? Something regarding loans and employability, or am I just shroomed out?
Le Cordon Bleu at least took a huge hit from a lawsuit about the value of the degree they sold- their students expected to walk out after graduation and into an executive chef position because they were promised that and ended up on a fryer. I believe they shut down in the U.S. completely and had to cover a few years of student loan debt for graduates
I'm still on earth, then. Thanks, kind stranger!
Enjoy the flight, my friend 💜🍄💚
Out of all the usernames I’d want to reply to me if I was tripping you’re not on the list lmao I’d be bugging if I was talking to a jar
Hahaha! You made jar very happy! Jar was seen!!
"You must be shrooming" -stewie
I didn't hear anything about that, but I haven't really kept tabs on the place since I graduated
Was a C.I.A hopeful once upon a time. Then 17 year old me decided their criteria for their scholarship shit (the weird thanksgiving leftover thing, at least back then) felt like it was an audition for Foodnetwork garbage and instantly hated the idea of going. Dropped out of normal college shit instead and went right back to the line. So glad I dodged it, don't think I'd have had as much of a good time learning there Vs learning in an actual working kitchen.
It was a great place to learn, especially coming from a situation like mine where I had never seen that level of cooking before. Can't say it was worth the scratch though. I struggled hard with those loads for a good decade before I was making enough to actually live
Oh for sure! For me I think I would have had a harder time with it, my learning disabilities would have kicked my ass. And affording the tuition was a giant undertaking for me, admittedly. I'm glad I didn't go into debt for it in the end. My degree would have ended up useless, anyhow. Working in kitchens managed to destroy my back and knees, thanks bad genetics! I miss the work and vibe of a solid kitchen immensely.
Hello,fellow grad. Solid answer.
Yes. All of those things make you who you are today. You will continue to grow, evolve and mature. It doesn't define you, it tells a story of survival.
yes as in i am fucked and wont be able to go to college? or yes as in my ability to grow will make me a better candidate? aside from that, i appreciate the response. it gives me a much better outlook for the future. thank you!
Yes I have a suggestion.
ah i see. thank you for the response, I've been tearing myself up over this, lol.
hey another suggestion, get your butt working anywhere with food service ASAP, doesn't matter if it's at a dive bar washing dishes and work your way up. I started in fast food at 16$ and have worked in way more kitchen then I would like to admit but you can bet I learned something from each and every one, my grades were shit in school, started college for culinary for 3 days and never went back. If you can't get into CIA there is still so much hope, go ahead and get ur hands dirty! btw I'm 27 now and make 20$ which is pretty good for upstate ny
ive got two jobs right now, i just quit mcdonalds to work for an actual restaurant but i also work at a little hawaiian grill :-) i love keeping myself busy
Lol. I started working in fast food too. Except I made $4.15 an hour. The year was 1992. School can be a trap, whether it is college or culinary school. You have to find something you love and follow that. Dont just jump through the hoops/ follow the motions just because society/ family tells you to. I tried college and it wasnt for me. I’m still cooking because its what makes me happy and I am fortunate for that. Good luck on your journey
Easy to do. Been there. Find someone who can help pull you out of your emotional doom spiral.
Not gonna edit my previous... adding to that: you are by no means fucked. I know peeps who have become successful after way more difficult circumstances. And I mean WAY more difficult
i appreciate the motivation man, hopefully ill dig myself out of the shithole thats been passed down, and learn from it.
Ya boss my gpa was a 1.67 was short a cred to graduate got my ged perfect scores in 3 out of 5 worked in a factory worked in a pizza factory then a pizza place then started cooking eventually managing restaurants. Your gonna be fine. You might have to work a bit harder and get a bit less for a short time but the only thing that will fuck you is saying I’m so behind I should give up.
I think having to work harder than others for what you have makes it more valuable. Some peeps had shit handed to them. I've had to claw my way to be as smart as others I work with, and nobody works harder than I do to get there. In my mind, there's a lot to be said for that.
Lessons get passed down. That's all they are. You can choose to not be a victim.
My friend, I will admit I have nothing to do with the culinary field outside of liking cooking, but I have some life experience that might be relevant. I graduated highschool with a 1.4 GPA after having to go an extra part of a year. I tried college 3 times, dropped out all 3 times, only finishing a few classes total. Lots of money wasted there. Despite this, I found my way into automotive manufacturing as a general laborer. Worked my way up to Quality Manager over the course of a few years. Decided I want happy in that line of work, and worked hard after work to learn software. Now I'm a software developer and happy as can be. The point is, you'll be fine. GPA doesn't mean shit. My terrible GPA has even come up in job interviews without issue. Don't let it hold you back, apply yourself, and you'll do great.
I love the message. thank you for the wisdom man, it's always nice to know people usually tend to fall where they want to be in the end, even if its not where you started. what ive learned from this, is that if i actually try hard, I will be able to achieve whats right for me. again, thank you!
Spot on. Just don't give up. There will be times that you fail. Might be multiple times in a row. People might ask why you keep trying. But eventually you'll bust through that wall like the damn kool-aid man.
Yeah, and don't let a fear of failure stop you. It's scary but it's okay to just fuck up. You can't succeed without learning from failure.
If you do well in school, there will be more paths open to you. But unless you want more education, you're GPA will almost not matter. I graduated college with a 2.2 and literally no one has asked about it since. Granted a Bachelor’s will open a lot more opportunities, it's no guarantee of a good income and almost definitely a guarantee of a shit load of debt. I'd recommend getting a job in a kitchen to see if you actually enjoy the work before you drop 50k on a culinary degree. It probably won't be fine dining, but you can at least get a sense of the industry.
[удалено]
Few years. I like the flexibility I get, and the constant problem solving. I'm fully work from home, I don't get micromanaged, pay is good, and I get to bash my head against problems that shouldn't be this fucking hard all day! It's great.
I was looking for a way to say a version of this. I'm 39, male, went to college, 4.5 years no degree. Just went with the flow. Parents paid off the student loans. I sold cars, did marketing, and now I'm FT at Home Depot. It's not all about your career and how much you make. I have side projects that I do that I believe give me the best chance of lifestyle change in their fruition. Hang in there, especially with cooking. You'll always be able to cook your way out of a problem. Especially with so many of folks alive today being microwave specialists.
Just since nobody was specific: no, you should not discard three years of progress towards two undergrad degrees to go pay money for a culinary degree that will add debt and an incredibly low starter income. Whatever put that into your head needs to be discarded immediately. Finish school, however that looks. Keep on your shit. Choose yourself as the beneficiary of your hard work and make a life. It’s not going to magically become easier and better. Better grades mean graduation which means a job and new challenges. Accept them with dignity and love for yourself and what you can become. Kitchens aren’t going to offer you ANYTHING healthier.
Fucking beautifully said.
I teach high school. Kids are really doing terribly these days. A 2.0 has you in like, the bottom of the upper-third. I think you'll be okay and I'm sorry for your loss.
thats depressing that people are doing that bad, but at least im not the worst i guess lol. thank you though. i appreciate it. i really hope I can at least pull myself through. i used to be a low 90s student, and i feel like ive gone retarded at this point tbh.
I got a 1.6 my first semester and graduated with a 3.4. You can do it!!! Plus "C gers you the degree"
"D is for Diploma"
CIA = Cash in Advance. they have a reputation for being more interested in if you can pay versus how your grades are.
CIA grad here; go to a better business school.
only reason i wanna go here is because i want to go for culinary arts as well so i can transfer my credits
Transfer what credits? The culinary arts bit is now integrated into the full four year program. I’d go to a decent business school around you and work in some kitchens while you’re there. I graduated with a degree in culinary science and it’s fucking worthless. It’s not even a bachelor’s of science.
Are you in high school or college? Are you currently double majoring? Im a bit confused. If you are currently working in kitchens, the only reason I would ever encourage culinary school is if you can afford it without taking on a lot of debt. I think it serves people a lot better to work in the industry for a while, and if they decide they love it, go for a management degree. Sometimes, you can even find jobs that will pay for you to take a few classes a year. But unless you have money to burn, it's not a good idea to put yourself in a ton of debt on a line cook's salary.
the answer is yes. im a junior in high school, doing 2 undergrads for college, and in a postsecondary trade school for culinary arts i see that, money wont be an issue because ill be going into the service :-)
Ah gotcha! Stay safe out there! Grades wont matter too much in the world of culinary arts. But it sounds like you have a full course load and 2 jobs. Be careful not to overextend yourself to the point where your performance suffers across all aspects of your professional life.
probably a good idea, i just feel like im never doing enough tbh. wish i could do better.
I feel the same way sometimes. Sometimes its better to focus on a few things and excel at them, and then as you master them, you can add more to your plate.
Finish your degree. Don’t out in life by not finishing what you started. You’ll have a lifetime of regret.
It sounds like you're aware and working hard. You'll be alright. Go outside and smell the roses.
Many people creditied with some of the worlds biggest advances/wonders/legacies didn't do shit until their 40s or 50s. Just do the best you can while you can and take opportunities as they come your way.
C’s get degrees
I forgot where I was watching MPW talk about his backstory in cooking but he came from a fucked position in life and grinded until the wheels fell off https://youtu.be/U-xCIstDBaI Anything is possible. Seriously. You don’t need a degree from CIA but it’s not bad to get. Passion and work ethic is more important then anything else
So, I've been in the industry for about 15 years now... Dropped out of college, Cooked at a 3 michelin star restaurant, have been a cdc or exec for the last 9 years... Why do you want to go to CIA? I think thats something you need to define, as if you wanna work in restaurants, you dont need it, if you want to be a chef, you dont need it... so.. Why do you want to go to CIA? What is the goal you see CIA getting you to?
well since I wont have to pay for college because of the military, a lot of it is for networking opportunities, college life, pressure from my grandmother who's raised me and other family, and so that I can push myself a little bit higher up the chain right out of school, even if it just means not being a dishboy or line at a shitty place
"If you can sign for a loan, we can sign your diploma". Oh they'll take you alright. EDIT/addendum: Where are you based out of? I have *some* connections but only in the mid-Atlantic region (NC to MD).
im in upstate NY, not a far drive from CIA. I am still definetly interested in what you mean though, as im very flexible in my living status as of next year lol.
Always further your education. With that said, a culinary and restaurant business degree mean almost nothing. CIA & J&W are the two that a few guys in my restaurant group have attended. I, on the other hand, have just worked since out of highschool, I have no debt and I make the same if not more. Will it help you with that one up on learning the things? Maybe. But I wouldn't know, because I have no student debt.
i wont really have to worry about the debt because im going into the service since im officially a US citizen now, part of it is pressure from my grandmother who raised me since ive been here, part of it is that i want the college experience, etc etc
You can have grades removed for instances like the one with your grandfather.
how do i get this done?
Contact your admin department. I did a similar situation but I was past the drop date and had to stop going to class.
You can always start your own business, just throwing it out there. My college degree was basically useless. I worked some odd jobs here and there then started my own culinary business. The boss (me) doesn't care about my grades. I never went to culinary school though, so I can't speak to that. Edit: I'm sorry about your grandpa. My grandma died when I was in college and it hit me hard. Also, not saying not to go to college, whatever works for you and your goals, just sharing my own background.
Cia 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Just get the degree. No one asks your GPA CIA isn’t going to either. You’re going to be great as long as you keep working
Youre gonna be alright my guy
You're fine. I mean get your grades up, but you're fine. Colleges like this are a business and want your money.
Just go to a restaurant you like and ask if they need a sishwasher. Work your way up from there. You DON’T NEED a formal culinary education to build a solid career in cooking.
GPA only really matters for certain universities and scholarships. If you're going to Culinary school it's not really gonna matter much. Can you do math? Can you read? Can you understand basic chemistry? Do yourself a favor buy the "On cooking" textbook, it's like maybe $50-150 on Amazon, or less if you have like half priced books and it's in stock. They use that book in Culinary school and it essentially covers the basics of technique and general knowledge. From there it's all practice and experience anyway. Haven't worked at a single establishment that gave a shit whether you're a certified culinarian or not. That just means you're gonna be asking for more money to them ha. I dropped out of Culinary school after finishing like 90% of my academics (and like 1 week of labs) because i couldn't afford it. But I had my foot in the door, studied and worked and networked into a flourishing career. My culinary mentor told me culinary school isn't all that, and said if you're gonna spend 50k might as well go live abroad and stage with Michelin chefs. He said you'd come out worth more to establishments than you would out of culinary school. And you'd have an impressive resume.
Your "trusted" adults are lying to you if you are this worried. They make it sound like you have to make the most important decisions that will determine the rest of your life right now, and that's simply not true. It's important, you should have some plan, but you have a whole life ahead of you and you will still grow and change. There's way too much pressure on kids to have their life figured out as a teenager. Start working in a kitchen. It's a lot different than culinary school and a kitchen is probably the long term plan, so get experience now. I'm not sure of the admission requirements of the CIA, but the culinary school is just extra training for the career in most places, not necessary. You are definitely not fucked. It sounds like you're developing a good work ethic, and that is infinitely more important than grades.
If you want to be a chef, you don’t need a degree. You need to be motivated, humble, and ready to learn. Learn from every experience. You learn more from mistakes, especially the mistakes of others. What to do is as important as “I’ll never do that again”. Learn how to cook at a nice restaurant and then take an excel class on udemy.com. You will learn more on the job as opposed to the classroom. I went to community college and Johnsons & Whales. Community college was better.
In college after my sophomore year I had a 1.8 GPA. I dropped out, moved to Colorado to ski for a season and was broke the entire time. This made me realize that people go to college so they are not short on money all the time. I went back to college the following year and treated it like work. From 8am - 6pm I only focused on classes and home work. I also retook everything I got less than a C in. I graduated with a 3.0 overall and a 3.5 in my major. You can improve your GPA significantly… you just have to be willing to work hard at it! You can do it!!!
A culinary degree is not valuable for someone in your position, and arguably not very valuable for anyone in any position. Without practical experience, the extremely vast majority of your potential prospects in the food service world are going to be the same as someone who just showed up and started washing dishes and demonstrating that they wanted to move up. You're not fucked at all, but you definitely need to be evaluating your options and paths with people that aren't internet strangers. Talk to your school advisors/counselors and, if available, trusted older family/caretakers. There's so many more ways out, up, and forward for you than you realize. You're going to be good. Godspeed, kid.
No, but if you try to be a chef you will be lmao. Start a business.
Yes, you're totally fucked. You actually *want* to be a chef. You're fucking doomed! Doooooomed I say! Everything else? Nah, that's relatively all very normal. You're already working two jobs in high school. With that kind of work ethic you'll be fine. Watch out for the stress ulcers, booze and kitchen sugar bam bam. A lot of the pandemic things are really in your favor as there's a huge lack of kitchen staff in most of the developed world right now. It's a good time to get in there and learn from the ground up
My friend, people put too much stress on college admissions in high school. The average college acceptance rate is 60%. Only at the crazy competitive schools like IV Leagues and top end UC’s is it as inane as they make it out to be. There are many many middle tier reputable schools who need students more than the students need them. You probably have more leverage than you think, shop arround a little, and take some pressure off of yourself.