I am a new cosmetology student and as I was looking at schools to pick from I noticed there is not a lot of information out there about picking the right school for you. So I'm here to share some tips for choosing a cosmetology school that really helped me.
Are you considering attending cosmetology school and just don’t know where to start? Too many people rush into decisions without enough knowledge beforehand. Hopefully, these tips for choosing a cosmetology school that I have for you will help you in picking the school that will get you to your end goal of being a licensed cosmetologist.
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Location
One of the first tips for choosing a cosmetology school is where it's located. I know this seems like a no-brainer. You want a school close to where you live, right? But there is more to think about than just “is it close to me?”. You need to do a search of your local area and see how many schools are near you. Then if you find there are none, or only a couple you may want to extend your search a little farther out. I recommend this because not all the schools close to you will be the right fit for you. My school is 25 minutes away. Yes, it’s farther than I would like, but it was the best school for me.
Schedule
This is a big part in deciding on a school. Especially if you are living on your own and need to pay bills while in school. I work full-time and I couldn’t afford to go part-time, so I needed a school that offered evening classes. That was the main factor in my final decision. First you need to decide if you want to attend cosmetology school full-time or part-time. If you decide that you can attend full-time, then you have more choices.
Frequently asked questions
Price
That is where the huge question is, isn’t it? How much is this going to cost? Well, that all depends on what school you pick as well. Not all schools are priced the same. A trade or community college is going to cost less than say Aveda or Paul Mitchell schools. Price can vary anywhere from around $15,000 to $20,000. If cost is a worry for you, then you may want to stick with a trade school or community college. If the price is not a problem for you, or if you know you will be able to receive a generous sum from financial aid, then maybe a school like Aveda or Paul Mitchell could be right for you. Remember, a higher price does not always mean a better school.
Atmosphere
The 4th and final tip I have is to check out the atmosphere. After you have narrowed down the schools you have the most interest in, it is time to schedule a tour of each. When you attend these tours, try to picture yourself there as a student. Can you imagine that or is it hard to picture? Do you get a vibe that this is the school for you? When you go on the tours you will be able to tell which school fits you better. That is what this is all about. It’s not about finding a school for you to fit into, it’s about finding the school that fits with you. No school is created equal and they each have their own unique feel. I knew right away when I walked into Paul Mitchell, that it was the school for me, but I know friends who didn’t feel that way and went with Aveda or their local trade school.
Make sure you are picking the right school from the start. Try not to pick the very first one you see in a Google search, because this is your career you are deciding on. You don’t want to start your cosmetology journey at one school, just to become frustrated that this school isn’t the right one for you and drop out. This is a huge decision that you should take time on. There's no need to rush.
