Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Chefs
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Atlantic Cape, Bergen Community College, Brookdale Community College, and Burlington County College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Mercer County Community College, Burlington County College, Atlantic Cape, and Brookdale Community College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Camden University • Camden, NJ
Studying Chef Assistant (completion in 2011)
• 9/7/2011
"I was very satisfied because we had great technology, a great library, study programs, and groups to join if we needed extra help. Teachers were understanding and wanted us to learn and pass with flying colors."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I would because it has great financial plans for people who are worried about the money. A lot of people have busy schedules and so you can choose to go online if you want to. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's a great program to choose if it's what you want to do in life. I should have picked a better major. |
| Program Quality | 4 | Great professors and teachers, great. small classes, and students who were really ready to learn. Teachers were ready to help you no matter what. Great tutors. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned a lot and they go me very prepared. I'm so glad I didn't go to a online school. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Lots of hands on work in the class helped me out a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The hands on work was great. The professor saw that grades on tests went up when we did more hands on work. We were a lot more interested and willing to participate. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | The schedule was great because I could pick any flexible option I wanted. I could also pick online classes sometimes as well, which was great. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Classroom space was great. Tutors and study group were also great and labs were hands on. I enjoyed the programs and academics they provided for students to attend and join. |
| Social Life | 2 | I was not very social, but at the same time no one tried to socialize with me either. So I wish students were more sociable and not looking down on any one. I was always in my room studying anyways. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Job placement for chefs is okay but not the best. They could make it easier to find a job, and plus I only have a certificate, not really a degree yet. This makes it harder for me. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They were great. Whenever I needed them they were there, through email or in the class. |
Ocean County College • Toms River, NJ
Studying Restaurant Management (completion in 1998)
• 12/5/2011
"My school was horrible and did nothing to prepare me for the work environment. It was a complete waste of money."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | It was a worthless experience, which taught me nothing. I would suggest that others research other training opportunities! |
| Program Reputation | 1 | The school was not known for this program. I wish I would have researched more programs. |
| Program Quality | 1 | I was taught basic restaurant skills, but nowhere near what is needed. I have learned much more on the job. |
| Instruction | 1 | I'm not very sure that the instructors were qualified to teach this subject. I do not think they had much field experience. |
| How Difficult | 1 | It was an extremely easy course, which anyone could have passed. I found it to be very boring and pointless. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This class was completely taught from a book. There was no hands-on experience, which would have been more helpful. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | This course was only offered one time per week. They should have had more choices. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | There were no resources for this program. It was held in a classroom with a book. |
| Social Life | 1 | It was a community college, which offered no social activities. I would not recommend it to anyone. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no job assistance available at the time. Graduates were on their own to find a job. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no alumni network. They do not offer any assistance to past students. |
Atlantic Cape Community College • Atlantic City, NJ
Studying Culinary Arts (completion in 2012)
• 2/10/2012
"I was pleased with my school. I have a job doing what I love."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My school is cheap. Also, the education is great, and I found it easy to get a job. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | My school's culinary program is very popular. It offers many great courses and experience. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel my school has provided me with adequate training for the field of culinary arts. Also, the school has numerous connections and resources for me to utilize. |
| Instruction | 8 | Coming into this program with little experience, I feel I have learned a substantial amount about the culinary arts. Also, I find that the content I learned in school has been highly applicable in the job world. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I was not overwhelmed by the amount of work. However, I consider myself a hardworking student and am motivated by a challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I feel my school uses a perfect mix of these two teaching styles. This allows me to learn hard bookwork and then physically practice the skills. I find this is a major help to my learning process. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school is very flexible. Most situations can be worked out, especially with the online options. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Every facility I use is immaculate. I feel I am in a very safe and clean working environment. |
| Social Life | 8 | I love attending basketball and soccer games with a large community at my school. There are also many fans of the culinary program often attending culinary functions. |
| Placement Services | 8 | While attending school, I was placed in my current job. My bosses love me and my knowledge. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The close proximity of Atlantic City gives the school many connections. Alumni from my school are placed all over the state and country. |
BCIT • Medford, NJ
Studying Culinary Arts (completion in 2008)
• 3/13/2012
"I have a job. I know what I am doing in the kitchen."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school was cheap and I got the training I needed. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | References were hard to come across. A lot of head chefs knew my school wasn't the best. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school taught the ins and outs of BOH, but ever really taught everything you needed to know. I gained more training in a real kitchen. |
| Instruction | 5 | There were too many students. I wanted more individual attention. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The difficulty wasn't too bad. We would watch different methods and then practice the methods with supervision. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was almost entirely hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Summers off. It was a regular semester schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | It was all hands on. the instructors were always busy, but nice. |
| Social Life | 5 | The other students went right home. It was all commuters. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was none. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | There was no job help. Restaurants didn't see my school as a great training facility. |
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