Maybe you should think about the other options, like military. OK, I am not a recruiter, however, I am currently enlisted in the military. It may sound suck right now, but you can get a job as a cook as easy as pass the ASVAB test with minimum score. If you want to participate in a good military culinary program, join either the army, or the navy. Trust me, I compete with those guys, and they can cook. A lot of them are ACF Certified chefs, some (like my buddies) Certified executive or master chefs. Then you have the best of both world, 1, have a job security you will get pay way more than just get a job in a civilian sectors, 2, you work side-by-side with some of the best chef in the military, 3, you have chance cook in the pentagon, and white house as long as you keep your tail clean. 4, you have a lot more chance to study with the certified chefs.
Don't get me wrong, the down side is as much as the upside if not more, you will have to go to war(that's right, you have to "orbit the orders of the officer appoint over you"), and you have to carry a gun to defend yourself, and others (sometimes), you will deploy (with current situation, that is a guarantee) 6-15 month at a time which you will have work 12-16 hour days, depend on where you will assign to.
But after you get out the military, you will have the skill to present for your employers, the experiences they asking for (if not more than they ask, i.e. if you get a special duty in the white house, of pentagon), and the money to go to school if you don't want to get a job right-away. While you in the service, you can get ACF certification, and compete on the national level as well, those are just extra credits on your resume.
I suggest you think about this, join the military, but don't by any means retire in the military, cause that is too much BS you have to deal with.
By the way, I am getting out this year after 8 years in the USAF as a cook, and going to attend a cooking school.
hope I can help you.