Culinary Institute of America Top Questions

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would be sure to save more money before entering into college. It is difficult to make ends meet while paying for tuition, living expenses, and loans from a previous college degree, but especially while being a full-time student.

You really need to start applying for more scholarships for several hours each and every single day. I did over time, not quite as much, but I did, and I have yet to earn a single one. Well, that's a lie. I got one for $400 dollars, but because my family worked at the place. That's aside the point, you need to get your butt into gear and do something about the money situation. You are not special. You are an average white female trying to earn money. Start applying now all the time and you WILL get something. All it takes is a couple minutes of your time for one. A couple hours is worth a few years. Start now before you regret it.

As a high school senior I felt pressure to enroll in a 4year college and declare a major immediately. I wish that I had taken the time to decide on what I really wanted to do instead of what I thought I should do. I spent five years taking classes to become a civil engineer. I spent thousands of dollars on classes that I had zero interest in. If I had really thougt about things I enjoy attending culinary school would have been a no brainer. Choosing a new career path is the best decision I've ever made. I would also tell myself that getting involved in more social clubs on campus might have made the transition to living away from home easier. Clubs really are a great resource for making new friends and enjoying college life. Being very shy it was difficult for me to make new friends without the help of a club setting. I think extracurricular activities are almost as important as academic classes. I believe that being involved with activities on campus as well as being successful in your academic life leads to being a healthy well rounded individual.

I would tell myself to step it up, in college no one asks you for your homework, if you don't turn it in you fail simple as that. I would also say its fun but you need to work hard to play hard

Be open minded to roommates, buy labels to label everything you don't want others to use, learn to be patient, and take time to yourself. If you spend all your time in school work or with roommates and friends you will never be happy you have to take time to yourself and learn to let the little stuff go.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to find something to study that I am passionate about. I have come to the realization that you do very well in school when you are excited to learn the subject and are fully into learning. If you are just going to college because it's what you are supposed to do in life, you will not succeed. You need to find something that you love and go to college to follow that career path. Once in college, you need to concentrate and do your best in your school work. Of course, everyone needs to enjoy themselves, go out and have fun. Though, you can't let this take over your college experience. I recommend learning the fine line between going out to have fun versus partying too much. Just remember you are there to be a success and to do well in life. By doing well in school, you can follow your dreams and turn them into a reality. You will be so proud of yourself once you succeed, nothing would have been worth getting in the way.

To be truthful. As a high school senior. I was so focused on the wrong things. I don't know if I would have even listened to MYSELF. But if I could get myself to truely believe any advice I had. Well, the one thing I didn't realize until resently. Without a degree you can do good things. With a degree you have the oppurtunities to do great things. There are schools that focus on what interests me. I can afford it. And I CAN do it! I have a nack for relating to youth/young adults. With my degree and certifications. I will have the chance to help guide this age group. So maybe, I will be able to reach someone, like myself. Share my focus and knowledge with them. Hopefully making a difference in their lives. Present and future. Something I wish had happened to ME as a HS senior.

During my senior year in high school I took a lot of AP and honors classes and the workload was a lot to handle. Some of the classes I took do not apply to my career and I really just took them because they would bring my GPA up. If I could go back and give myself some advice I would tell myself to work at a place that is related to the baking and pastry arts field instead of taking so many advanced classes. When I first got to school I had very little experience in the field because I did not have a job that related to my future career. Therefore, the advice to myself would be to work in a baking and pastry job instead of spending all of my time on extra school work.

I would tell myself to be more dedicated in my science and math classes, and not coast, but truly devote myself to learning all that I could. I would say that expanding your horizons is necessary, and to not limit the type of classes I am willing to take, because stepping outside the box will help you, although it may be frightening at times. I would also say that I should get a job in the industry - even a low/entry level job - so that I am exposed to how it works, in order to better judge whether or not I would truly like to pursue a career in that field. Be engaged in activities on campus; they are there for you to enjoy and as opportunities to enrich your life, so take those opportunities and run with them!! Join extracurricular clubs, attend sporting events, immerse yourself in the college atmosphere, because you only have four years to engulf yourself in it, and those four years fly by more quickly then you can ever imagine.

I would tell myself to go to school as soon after high school as possible. It wont matter as much what you are studieing as the fact that you have a college degree. Only 1{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of Americans have degrees from a 4 year college. Your quality of life will be so much better if you go to school sooner rather than later while you have the time.