A degree in culinary arts with a focus on advanced baking and pastry covers a wide array of topics and skills. Upon graduation, you will be a prepared, well-rounded culinary professional with all of the assets necessary to pursue a successful career. Throughout the baking and pastry curriculum, you will learn general culinary skills, as well as writing, math, management, entrepreneurial, and other core concepts. As you progress through the program, you will increase your focus on baking and pastry centric classes. From restaurant production and professional cooking labs to advanced boulangerie, custom cakes, and centerpiece display, you will be equipped with everything you need to hit the ground running and compose a competitive resume.

A skilled pastry chef has a variety of career options. With the ability to expertly craft pastries, desserts, breads, and other baked goods, hotels, bistros, restaurants, bakeries, and more are always prime destinations. However, depending on your passion, you can create your own niche in a limitless number of ways. From becoming a baker to a pastry sous chef to a pastry head chef, the amount of responsibility varies. 

There are many scholarship opportunities available for culinary students. This is especially true for LCI students in every program. These scholarships consider a range of criteria and vary in value. They include:

• LRAEF Scholarship: The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) scholarship program supports the continuing education of individuals pursuing a career in the culinary or hospitality sectors. These awards are merit-based, and values vary based on funds availability.
• Niche.com $500 Culinary Scholarship: Open to all high school and college students interested in studying culinary arts. This scholarship can be used to pay for tuition, supplies, and other education-related expenses.
• Culinary and Hospitality Program Scholarship: Open to students in the United States and Canada interested in taking food-related classes. Provided by TigerChef, two $1,000 scholarships are awarded each year.
• The James Beard Foundation Scholarship Program: This scholarship is for food-focused candidates with exceptional talent. It is an annual scholarship provided by the James Beard Foundation.
• National Restaurant Association Education Foundation Scholarship: This scholarship is provided by various funders and is for students interested in food-service-related post-secondary training.
• WebstrauntStore Biannual Culinary & Hospitality Scholarship: This is a one-time grant for currently enrolled or prospective culinary arts or hospitality management students.

As with any post-secondary education, there are many different financial aid options. To receive financial aid, simply fill out a FASFA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

Again, with most post-secondary education destinations, several prerequisites need to be met or achieved to gain admission. To be accepted to Louisiana Culinary Institute, the following requirements need to be met.

• Proof of high school graduation or equivalent.
• Complete the application and pay the $25.00 application fee.
• Provide three references that can attest to your personal character.
• Submit a short (500-word maximum) describing your desire to earn a culinary arts degree.
• Complete the LCI-developed Culinary Math Test.
• If you do not have an Associate Degree or higher or a college transcript with a grade of ‘C’ or higher in college-level math or English course, you must successfully pass the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test.
• Complete an interview with the Admissions Panel.
• Provide proof of citizenship. This requires two forms of ID. One must be a photo ID.
• Once accepted, a $75 registration fee is required.

One very well earned benefit for the members of our nation’s military is the GI Bill™. This funds your education, and LCI is a military-friendly school that knows all of the ins and outs of this benefit. With an extensive support staff system that is focused on your success, LCI is well-versed in understanding your experience that can translate to academic credit.

ProStart is a two-year program offered at select high schools that focuses on culinary arts and hospitality management. There are a number of benefits that come with participating in and completing the ProStart program. ProStart students are eligible for scholarships and academic credit that can reduce the cost of culinary school, and accelerate your time in the program.