Any CIA students out there?

[siserilla]

Thanks Tim!

It's good to hear that the CIA parties and is social like a normal college. I know this may sound odd but I wasn't sure how it would be. I work in a restaurant right now so I'm use to us going out to the bars when we get out of work or we just simply drink in the parking lot. Us cooks do party hard.

Do people make trips to NYC often? It's like 2 hours away isn't it?

I live in Florida right now so the climate change will probably hit me pretty hard. It will be exciting to see a real fall though, I don't know how excited I am about treking through the snow.

Which dorms do you recommend (besides that substance free one-bleck )? Also do you live in the same dorm the whole time you are going for your Associates or do you change out like normal colleges do?

Well I think that's it for now. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by CookinTim

If you lived in the dorms what were they like?

Well, most of the CIA's dorms are old and outdated. They aren't terrible, though, I lived in one of the older ones, Rosenthal, before I did my externship. Sometimes, depending on the time of year and the number of students leaving and coming in, they'll stack three people into two person rooms. That happened to me, and it sucks. No doubt about it. But in general, the CIA's dorms are like most college dorms, maybe just a little older.

On the plus side, the CIA recently built a bunch of new townhouse style dorms for bachelor's degree students. Even though I'm not in that program I still got put in these dorms after externship, that's where I'm writing this from now. These rooms are great. Huge, comfortable, modern. As good as any dorm I've ever been in.

What is life on campus like?

A lot like any other college's - lots of drinking and smoking and sex and a bit of drug use too. Its just that everyone there in addition to taking part in these activities also shares a great passion for food. So I find it very cool.

At the same time, if drinking and smoking aren't you're idea of a good time there is a substance free dorm and its the most modern of the dorms outside of the bachelor's degree dorms I mentioned before.

How many times a week do you go to class?

Classes run in three week blocks. You go to class from either 7am to 2pm or from 2pm to about 9pm. All classes are Monday through Friday, except for the when you are in the restaurants (right before graduation) when you work on Saturdays but have Mondays off.

What went on during the weekends, was it like a normal college or is it more quiet?

Normal college, maybe a little louder if anything. There are a few bars in the area, one right across the street that's very popular. Some people drive home or visit boyfriends or girlfriends or even husbands or wives. Trips to New York City to eat and party are popular too. Cooks party hard. If you haven't figured that out by now, you will, I'm sure.

What is Hyde Park like? (I'm assuming it's a small town but I'm not sure)

Its right outside Poughkeepsie, so its not in the middle of nowhere, but its certainly not in a big city. There's a few other colleges around, mainly Marist which has a lot of good looking girls and not a lot else.

If you're from a big city like I am, the Hudson Valley will strike you profoundly with its beauty. Spring and fall, in particular are really magnificent here.

Hope this helps, I slammed out this post pretty quickly, but I can get into more detail at a later point if you have more questions.

[CookinTim]

"Do people make trips to NYC often? It's like 2 hours away isn't it?"

I actually just returned from NYC an hour or two ago. Its been awhile since I've driven there, but its about an hour and a half, I believe. The easiest thing to do, however, is take the train. The Metro North line runs from Poughkeepsie (about a 5 minute drive from campus) straight into Grand Central Station. If my train schedule is correct it takes an hour and forty minutes. Parking is free at the station the weekend, so its really easy to just drive there, park your car, ride into the city and then come back whenever you want.

"Which dorms do you recommend (besides that substance free one-bleck )? Also do you live in the same dorm the whole time you are going for your Associates or do you change out like normal colleges do?"

The CIA Associates program works roughly like this: You go to school for 8 months. You go on externship for 6 months. You come back and do 7 and a half months. It works out to just about 21 months total. You can live in the dorms before and after you come back, but a lot of people choose to get an apartment off campus for the last 7.5 months. I've moved a billion times over the past few years, hauling furniture all over the place, so I decided to stay on campus and save myself the trouble.

Its hard for me to recommend a dorm to you since they are pretty much all the same. And though you do have an option to choose a double or triple room (beware, sometimes you don't get your choice!) you don't get to choose what dorm that will be in, so it doesn't matter too much anyway. To give you a better sense of the housing, however, there are three dorms - Pick, Rosenthal, and Angell - that are all old school 1970s style dorms like you've probably seen on various college campuses. Those three are practically identical. Hudson is pretty new and a bit nicer, but its the substance-free dorm. Its usually where the younger students get put. Then there's the bachelor's dorms I spoke about before. In theory anyone can put there, but bachelor's students get priority. After that comes post-externship students (like me). And anyone who gets put in the bachelor's dorms needs to have good grades and no disciplinary violations.

Hope that helps,
Tim

[siserilla]

Thanks so much for your help. I have a few other questions.

Do most people have a car? I've been debating if I'm going to take my car up there or not, the drive would totally suck I think it's probably around 13 hrs or so. So I was wondering if I'd could get by without one.

Also is it hard to get a job up there/is it impossible to work with classes etc?

Hmm I think that's all. Thanks again!

[CookinTim]

"Do most people have a car? I've been debating if I'm going to take my car up there or not, the drive would totally suck I think it's probably around 13 hrs or so. So I was wondering if I'd could get by without one."

I would say a slim majority of students do have a car. You can certainly get by without one, I have friends who do, but it does limit your independence. The only thing that is within walking distance is a gas station (popular place to buy cigarettes) and a bar. Everything else is a drive. If you don't need to run errands by yourself, and you're confident you'll make friends with cool people who will haul you around every once in a while, then you can squeeze by without a car. Before holidays and vacations the CIA thoughtfully runs a van service to nearby airports and train stations, so getting home won't be an issue. However, if you're a bit of a loner, or you don't have parents or friends who can drive all your stuff up here and then come get it when you go on externship, then haul it back, then get it again when you graduate (a lot of hauling, no?) you might want to consider bringing your own ride.

"Also is it hard to get a job up there/is it impossible to work with classes etc?"

No. Classes run in two sessions. You are either AM - roughly 6am to 2pm - or PM - roughly 2pm to 9:00pm., Both allow plenty of time for work. There's plenty of low paying on campus jobs. Those are sometimes pretty cool because you can sit at some desk and check ID cards while you do your homework. There are also numerous restaurants and catering companies that hire CIA kids.

Some parts of the CIA program are more intense than others, so I usually cut back on my work during those blocks. For example, right before you leave on externship you have Garde Manger, which isn't too tough a class, but you also have your first cooking practical and a boatload of paperwork to do for externship. I slinked away from my job at that point a little.

And, hey, speaking of my job, I have a great catering gig that pays $17 an hour plus tips, If you get here before I graduate in December and you buy me a couple beers I just might hook you up!

[siserilla]

Doh! I'll be starting in January so I don't know if I'll see you before you graduate.

Thanks so much for answering my questions if I think of anything else I'll let you know.

Melissa.

Originally Posted by CookinTim

"Do most people have a car? I've been debating if I'm going to take my car up there or not, the drive would totally suck I think it's probably around 13 hrs or so. So I was wondering if I'd could get by without one."

I would say a slim majority of students do have a car. You can certainly get by without one, I have friends who do, but it does limit your independence. The only thing that is within walking distance is a gas station (popular place to buy cigarettes) and a bar. Everything else is a drive. If you don't need to run errands by yourself, and you're confident you'll make friends with cool people who will haul you around every once in a while, then you can squeeze by without a car. Before holidays and vacations the CIA thoughtfully runs a van service to nearby airports and train stations, so getting home won't be an issue. However, if you're a bit of a loner, or you don't have parents or friends who can drive all your stuff up here and then come get it when you go on externship, then haul it back, then get it again when you graduate (a lot of hauling, no?) you might want to consider bringing your own ride.

"Also is it hard to get a job up there/is it impossible to work with classes etc?"

No. Classes run in two sessions. You are either AM - roughly 6am to 2pm - or PM - roughly 2pm to 9:00pm., Both allow plenty of time for work. There's plenty of low paying on campus jobs. Those are sometimes pretty cool because you can sit at some desk and check ID cards while you do your homework. There are also numerous restaurants and catering companies that hire CIA kids.

Some parts of the CIA program are more intense than others, so I usually cut back on my work during those blocks. For example, right before you leave on externship you have Garde Manger, which isn't too tough a class, but you also have your first cooking practical and a boatload of paperwork to do for externship. I slinked away from my job at that point a little.

And, hey, speaking of my job, I have a great catering gig that pays $17 an hour plus tips, If you get here before I graduate in December and you buy me a couple beers I just might hook you up!

[CookinTim]

Not a problem.

Be sure to check out the CIA's website, if you haven't already: http://www.ciachef.edu

Of course like any other school they are only going to give you the 'highs' on their site, but the CIA is mostly 'highs.' There's a few 'lows,' but they are more bothersome than anything else.

[CulinaryGeek]

I'm a CIA Grad ('03) and I can tell you that the interest you get from other people in the industry is amazing. Once someone hears you are a CIA Grad, you can almost see the ears perk up. But you still have to prove yourself. Be the best you can be while at school. I was an older student when I started (not that old, only 30), so I had a bit of a unique perspective, having both advantages and disadvantages. Parties are great! I enjoyed many a good round of Beer Pong. But don't loose focus of why you are there. I graduated with honors, and recieved 3 medalians (you get one when you graduate the AOS program). I was President of the Student Council and had a lot of input into the design of the Cottages. And Yes, I too had Chef Clark for fish kitchen .

Now I am a leader in the industry, working in my home state of Mississippi (yes, by choice), and I have mentored several future CIA students and one current CIA student (she is about to go on externship next month). I have met Wolfgang Puck, Anthony Bourdain, Paul Bocousse and many other "Celebrity" Chefs. Although, it is the working Chef that still impresses me. I have worked in Texas, Alaska, NYC, and Mississippi, but I still manage to keep in touch with the people in my stream while at the CIA. These are the people that will be calling you looking for information, recipes, references, etc.

The short and the sweet of it is, the people you will meet at the Culinary are like no others. You can compare the Culinary to any school, Trade or University, and you will not find the type of network of friends and mentors anywhere. This is what seperates the CIA from any other school, even the "other" culinary schools.

Good Luck, and God Speed

Chef Bill

[CookinTim]

Originally Posted by CulinaryGeek

I was President of the Student Council and had a lot of input into the design of the Cottages. And Yes, I too had Chef Clark for fish kitchen .

Silly question, but any idea why we have seats in the showers in the cottages? I mean, this isn't a school (or industry) that is adaptable for the handicapped and these buildings don't even have elevators! Is it just a feature for... well.. you know?

[CulinaryGeek]

Actually I do. It was a suggestion from several of the female students. Something about shaving legs. I didn't ask any more questions at that point.

[CookinTim]

That makes sense.

[siserilla]

Okay another random question. What cell phone carrier works the best up there? I have Cingular right now but my contract will be up in December so if there's a better option I'll change.

[CookinTim]

None work great, but I've not heard that one works better than any other. I have Verizon and get service in most places on campus.

[siserilla]

Which of these cities are closest to Hyde Park? Westbury, White Plains or West Nyack.

[Devilxchef]

What kind of places did you guys work for the 6 month experience required for the CIA?

[CookinTim]

Originally Posted by siserilla

Which of these cities are closest to Hyde Park? Westbury, White Plains or West Nyack.

White Plains and West Nyack are both about 70 miles away. Westbury is a good bit further away.

Originally Posted by Devilxchef

What kind of places did you guys work for the 6 month experience required for the CIA?

I worked as a cook in restaurants for a few years before heading up here.