@Alex *******
I'm not planning to go until October. The cooking school will ask when you plan to start because they need that for the paperwork. So you can put that you plan on arriving a few days before that. You are not obligated to stick to that date. The school will just want you to let them know you want to reschedule your start. FYI: the visa is valid from the date it is approved. Even though I stated I would be arriving in early October, I could jump on a plane tomorrow and use the visa.