Externships and the Culinary Arts
 

So I'm thinking about attending culinary school, and the school I'm interested in includes a 3 month "externship". Try as I might, I cannot find any kind of definition for that word. Google turns up little in the way of definition, and I found definitions at m-w.com, but I'm just having a tough time figuring out how it differs from an internship.

And as long as we're on the subject, has anyone here attended culinary school? Any advice, especially from the financial aid arena, would be more than welcome. I'm trying to figure out how to juggle school, work and single-dadhood, and I'm thinking there has to be a way to get aid to go full-time without having to worry about keeping a job.

I dated a guy who went to the CIA, but he's gay now and hates me so I can't really ask him for any advice for you :blush:. Also, I have a friend that went to Johnson & Whales and is now the catering director at the Citadel. I could hook you up with her if you want.

Depending on how much you make, you might be able to get Federal grants, but be sure to check at the state and local level too. Look for any grants/scholarship that are offered. And you can always get a Federal loan...and if you've already done 2 years of college, you get the max, I think (around $3K a semester).

That's gotta be an interesting story. :)
Actually, I might take you up on that. Once I decide I'm really serious about it, I'll throw together a few questions you can pass along if you feel like it. :)

I'm going to an open house Thursday, the school is
Cook Street Culinary School. Thing is, they want 22k, which seems like a whole lot of money and I really don't know that there's a payoff at the end, so I have more research to do.

I forgot you were in CO. He's actually executive chef at a fancy restaurant in Denver (if you go this route I'll give you the name, maybe you can go talk shit about me and endear yourself to him). Seems like a pretty happening restaurant scene out there. The school you linked looks very cool.

Yeah, no problem, she's a sweety and I wouldn't mind the excuse to contact her again. I think she's single too... :D

Did you see this definition?


Externships/Internships
Within the Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Service Management Division, both internships and externships are required. An internship usually occurs first, and the student does a semester at a Paul Smith's affiliated job site. After the student has done a semester interning at a Paul Smith's job site, they do an externship for a property that is outside of the Paul Smith's affiliation. Other departments also require an externship. These include the Surveying, Urban Tree and Recreation majors. These are done outside the affiliation of Paul Smiths, thus they are called externships.

I sure didn't. Is that from the page I linked?

Edit: Know what? I'm an idiot. :)

So are you interested in becoming a chef or a restaurant manager at some posh place?

a chef of some kind, I'm not picky. :) I need to get out of the industry (tech) I'm currently in before I get too frustrated with it. I've always loved cooking and both the art and science of it fascinate me, so I think I could find my true calling there. Being a computer nerd has always felt like a "pitstop" and over the past couple weeks the divine (hah!) inspiration hit, so since I have nothing better to do, and since I'm already in the middle of massive life upheaval, I thought I might as well go learn to get paid doing something I love.

Ahhh... Well, we can always use one more good chef in the Springs area! :corn: I was going to suggest that you check out DU's school of Hotel and Restaurant Management. They give scholarships and their grads start at $70K/year, but they don't teach culinary arts, unfortunately. I know the guy who is the Chef for McKenna's - not sure how he got the gig, but he makes good money and he loves working there! Good luck to you and let us know where you ending up cooking. I want to come sample your cuisine! ;)

My nephew is looking into getting into a culinary school, and one of his choices is CIA.

Lot of money but it must include meals. :)

And a trip to Europe, so it's not all bad. I'm really kind of getting myself stoked up for it, which is dumb because I'm not even close to starting, but for the first time since... well, ever, I feel like I've hit upon a really good idea for my future. And looking at the tragedy I made of these cookies tonight, I suspect I could stand to learn a *lot*. :D

geez.. uh I'd just like to ask a silly question first if I may..

have you worked in the foodservice industry in a managerial capacity before?

( I have attended 'chef school' and have been in food service for about 16 years now.. I do have my degree (although I went about it the backwards way.. apprenticing to several chefs over the years and then taking my tests...))

and the thing is that if you're having a hard time juggling your current career and the single parent thing.. wow man, think of another proffesion.. 60+ hour work weeks, no weekends off.. no holidays off... it's a brutal career choice (although it can be very satisfying at times)

if you have any questions about it I would be more than happy to answer them.