From all I've read and the Chefs who I've known, the kitchen of any decent restaurant is a VERY intense, high pressure place. There can be a lot of loyalty there too. When I was working as a waiter (the enemy), if I had fucked with the kitchen staff, the Head Chef would have slit my throat without a second thought to save his beloved platoon.
If you can find someone to give you a truly honest sense of what a real working high end kitchen is like on any given night, you'll be well on the way to knowing whether it's the thing for you.
I love cooking at home, but I know a real kitchen wouldn't suit who I am. Things might very well be different for you.
Unfortunately I don't know much about the different culinary schools.