| > | | | | To appeal to older career changers, schools are |
| | | | offering shortened programs, smaller classes, |
| Most culinary colleges and cooking schools | | | | fast-track application processes and internships in |
| nationwide report that an increasing number of | | | | restaurant and food operations. |
| students are older adults with prior careers. | | | | Along with two-year associate's and four-year |
| Whether fulfilling lifelong dreams or trying | | | | bachelor's degrees, the culinary-arts school of the |
| something different, the old students are | | | | art Institute in Denver offers a one-year cooking |
| attracted to the wide variety of jobs in food | | | | program for older students who already have |
| service and to the possibility of success in an | | | | degrees in other disciplines or who want to enter |
| industry the National Restaurant Association | | | | the industry quickly. |
| projects will need an additional 1.8 million workers | | | | Whats most discouraging is that career changers |
| in the next 10 years. | | | | may be naive about what it takes to become a |
| A recent survey concludes that fifteen percent of | | | | professional chef, and therefore most do not fare |
| this year's freshman class at The Culinary | | | | well in their courses. |
| Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., are career | | | | Most people get into culinary because of the |
| changers or are those who previously studied | | | | glamor. You have to be organized, think on your |
| subjects other than hospitality. | | | | feet and have a certain temperament for it. |
| There is a strong response to recruitment efforts | | | | There is stress, heat, hot oils, boiling water, sharp |
| with students from other careers. There are | | | | knives. You have to be organized and focused |
| many who want admission to improve their skills | | | | and have a real passion for it. Cooking in a |
| and increase their likelihood of achieving the goals | | | | restaurant is very different from cooking at |
| they set for themselves. | | | | home. |