Advice on Cos. schools, please!?

Dec 1, 2015

Jessica D.

So after the new year, I will be starting to look for a cosmetology school to attend, and I would love to have a conversation with you if you have any input pertaining to the topic, any at all. I've done some online research, and it didn't give me the results I was hoping for. So, I'm hoping some of you can maybe help me out with your own personal experience.

I'd like to know about where you went, what it was like, and if you liked it, and also if you disliked it, and why. I'm very overwhelmed by this thought and the process seems intimidating, so I think talking to people who have done it might help calm my nerves and get me excited instead :)

Criteria:
- Primarily hair focused, color and cutting.

- I don't mind also learning about nails and skincare/makeup, but they're not my top priority.

- I'd like to be able to get a certificate/degree within a year, but less than two years. However, I still have to work almost full time too, so I understand if it can't be done that fast.

So far my options are:
Paul Mitchell The School,
Regency Beauty Institute,
Gallery College of Beauty, and
Michigan College of Beauty.
I live in Southeastern Michigan, if that helps.


If anyone has any advice for or against anything I've mentioned, any will help! I'm starting from ground zero here, and I'd really appreciate any insight from anyone with personal experience, good or bad. If you read this far, thank you!

Dec 1, 2015

Mari F.

I was looking into schools before deciding to wait and not put myself $10000 in debt lol and I didn't see any school less than 18 mos. for the program. Also, they don't focus on anything in particular, I was told once I finished it would be my choice to use all or just some of what I learned in school. I hear good things about Paul Mitchell. You can try calling the schools your deciding from and go to their orientation, they give you tours of the campus. Hope this helped and good luck!

Dec 1, 2015

Jessica D.

That is helpful! Thank you, Mari!

Dec 2, 2015

Justine S.

The first thing you should look up is how many hours is required to get your license and whether or not you have to do an apprenticeship after you graduate. Then go from there. After that do a tour of all of the school you're interested in. You want to be able to see what their set up looks like and the instruments they use, this also give you time to talk to students and ask them question on how they like it. Ask if they have any extra classes you can take or if they known for a certain aspect. Take into account their safety, how well they follow state regulations and the hygiene of the institute. Ask what you'll be learning and how many hours each section is. To get a Cosmo license you have to learn nails, skincare and hair to pass your state exam. Hair is the longest portion. Most places only allow you to log so many hours a week and normally the max is between 25-30 (in Tennessee it is) but some let you do 40 hr weeks, it really just depends and you have to ask them so they can factor that into your schedule. Most places got from 7/8 in the morning to 3/4 in the afternoon and beauty schools aren't open on Mondays or Sunday's so you attend class from Tuesday to Saturday. You can go part time of full time and most programs will take at least a year. You have to factor in cost too. Most programs are $14,000+ and you can apply for financial aid (it doesn't cover a lot and sometimes they don't accept it) or grants. I know that Paul Mitchell has scholarships but there is only a select few. Are you good with standing on your feet for up to 8 hours a day? Most places require you to wear all black or some sort of uniform (if even seen places where you had to dress business professional) I also had a school make you take an aptitude test and if you didn't score high enough you couldn't get in. So my advice is to just go visit each school and decide what is best for you.

Dec 2, 2015

Jessica D.

So informational! Thank you, Justine!