The Art Institutes Reviews of Associate in Culinary Arts

This school ruined my life, the degree isn't worth the paper it's printed on, you have to take useless classes that has nothing to do with cooking or the culinary industry, and the classes that you do cook in you hardly ever do any cooking, you learn useless facts that your be tested on later instead of learning different cooking techniques, some of the teachers only speak English as a second language and are hard to understand especially in a crowded classroom, and they will also yell at you for... Read More no reason, they will not help you find a job or even an internship, I ended up working at the cafeteria for my internship. So please don't go here it will ruin your career instead try an apprenticeship program or just try starting at the bottom at a restaurant

Well, if you'd like to spend 50k on a worthless peice of paper this is the school for you! Only reason why i finished was because either way i was going to be in debt. Classes are easier than high school. History teacher always ran late don't bother trying on any work or tests because that worthless excuse for a teacher will give you a C anyway and we watch nothing but youtube in class. Yes you pay thousands for a teacher to show you something on Youtube. Your credits aren't even eligible to transfer... Read More to a community college and don't bother writing it on your resume that you graduated from here because they won't take you seriously either. Do not bother answering calls for job opportunities from them unless you have a bada** job all on your own they will offer you places that pay $8-$10 an hour, which if you didn't already know, you do not need a degree to get a job like that. Now is that worth 50k to you? Before anyone whines about this review yes i have an awesome job but it is not in my degree. This school was a complete waste of time and a bigger waste of money.

I've been reading the reviews of this school and can honestly say that I have had some good & bad experiences. Let's start with the bad....the fin-aid aspect of it. When I began here because I was prior military I informed them that I would not by any means take out a student loan because I knew that it would not be needed and if by some chance it was I would just choose another school. After a few minutes of arguing with the advisor he finally left that alone and realized I was firm in my decision.... Read More If you do apply for fin-aid and get a grant it takes FOREVER to receive your refund. You'll be close to your classes being over before you see it and the way that they'll set it up on your account will make it look like you owe them money when you don't. I've heard from my other classmates a lot of horror stories on payments so if you choose this school be sure to stay on top of money going to them and coming back to you or you will get screwed. Once they get you in they kind of just leave you alone. When you need info they try to throw you off by saying you have to make appts even when there is literally no one in the advisors office, they have a lot of time that they try to act like they don't have. This is a school to where in my opinion you have to be able to adult and stay on top of your stuff because if you don't they won't and then you'll be upset. The positives in my opinion...I see a lot of people being upset because they feel that they are teaching themselves. I feel that in any school where you are learning a trade, the teacher is there to assist & give you a guideline. They show you examples and you do the work. I've enjoyed this approach because nobody is doing it for me. I have a good foundation and am able to what i need to do from there. My teachers in Durham have been awesome. They are willing to help if they're asked and they are very patient. They don't take over but simple show you what to do and then allow you to do it. The work load is a lot but it's manageable. I am single mother of 2 and one of my kids is a toddler and I still am able to maintain a 3.5 GPA so I feel that the "i have to do it myself" reviews are just people who are too lazy or don't believe in themselves enough to figure things out. It doesn't matter what school you attend there will be some pros and cons but for me the pros have outweighed the headache of the people they've hired to work there.

I used the GI bill for this program for two quarters. If I could I would have never signed up. They will force you to buy overpriced knives and they do not offer an alternative to buying tools from another source. They will also nickel and dime you for everything to clued the food you cook. They use cheap ingredients. They are not helpful of vets with disabilities and they do not know how to handle the discipline vets have. They are more concerned with the payment towards the school. They prey on... Read More the students with the GI bill since it is easy money, once they get their money they will just ignore you and they don't care if you struggle. Be ready to just do dishes and clean floors. Instructors are unqualified to cook at a restaurant so they teach. Most teachers do not want to be there because they also complain about the "corporation" structure of the school. After attending school and working in the industry I realized the degree is worthless. They allow students with ZERO ability to cook and clean a passing grade no matter how they did I in class. I WOULD NOT recommend this for any Veteran wanting to use their GI Bill.

The teachers facebook during class and when you ask a question instructors laugh and ask why would you do that? Then their heads go right back into facebook or their phones. The product we are given is horrible usually moldy, instructors once again are telling us to use it. All the moneny paid to attend this wonderful school and equipment is broken or non existent. Instructors will talk about other instructors and tell you they're the best and make fun of students to their faces or to other students.... Read More I feel like I would've been better off studying Julia Childs and The Modernist Cuisine. If you're looking for a career in this field read those book you'll be good. Ha international cuisine this school forgot the world is more than Europe Asia and Mexican foods. . This school lets anyone in the students are almost all vets it feels like a veteran playground. Each vet knowing more than instructors and trying to teach class.The funniest part instructors allow them to mis- inform students. Some students don't turn in work and they're awarded passing grades after you've spent a lot of time studying and writing. Instructors will have you turn in work and never even look at the work so how do you know what you're doing is right? My advice don't attend this school especially if you're looking for a challenge. Challenge is frowned upon and will get you a good scolding from your instructors and head of departments if thats what you're looking for. The one good thing about this school is the flood of job openings you'll receive for 7.25 hour jobs.Don't get me wrong I did learn a thing or two but Modernist Cusine and Julia Childs could've taught me those things quicker. When you get into the industry most likely you'll be laughed at for attending this school. Please take my advice your tour around the school is BS, the adsare BS this whole Institute is BS

I attended this school back in the day. They sell you a promise of a well paying career in culinary arts. You'll make more than enough money to pay off that loan from Sallie Mae they love to push. That was a lie. After graduating I would be hired making barely enough to make ends meet. This is common, very very very few of us from our class make a decent living if we stuck with culinary arts. I actually earned less than my neighbor who worked at McDonald's at the time. The degree is incredibly overpriced,... Read More go to a community college and learn for a fifth of the price. Seriously, DO NOT waste your money. I struggled for years, I felt like a failure. Also, if you lapse on your loan payment, Sallie Mae calls your about three times a day. I eventually enrolled in a 4 year state college(which was STILL MUCH CHEAPER). I make a great living writing software. Also, those classes you take at AI? Only 30% of them transferred. AIH was a HUGE mistake. I'm still paying the loan($400 a month), I have a degree I don't use professionally and I'm ashamed to admit I have.

The school seems all about making a profit, not helping individual students maximize their abilities. The classes are overcrowded, some of the teachers are inexperienced, and the quality and quantity of the ingredients we were given to work with did not match the extreme amount of the tuition cost.

Yes, but from a different school.

Shop around. DO NOT go with the first... Read More school you go to just because the (advisers) salesmen are good.