When choosing between beauty schools for a cosmetology program, there are many important considerations to keep in mind. While beauty schools do not offer the typical four year programs, it is going to be a large investment of time, money, and effort. That said, the decision to go to beauty school should not be taken lightly, and neither should school selection. Some questions to keep in mind include:
1. Is the Beauty School Accredited?
This is a crucial factor. Many schools are out there for the sole purpose of making a fast dollar off of people not savvy enough to know if their school is accredited or not. Do not fall into that trap and conduct the research ahead of time. If for some reason the student has to move and the school is not accredited, those credits earned may be all for naught.
2. What is the Graduation Rate?
The ratio of students to graduation is a very telling statistic. If it seems the graduation rate is low, then you need to know why. If the answer is not satisfactory, consider looking for alternative schools.
3. What is The Job Placement Rate?
Some beauty schools have outstanding job placement rates while others do not. This, like the graduation rate, can be a “deal breaker” in some cases for potential students.
4. Do They Offer Any Discounted Tuition Rates or Scholarships?
Some schools will offer scholarships and discounted tuition depending on the circumstances. Since this is money generally coming out of their pocket, they may not be too forthcoming with this information.
5. What is The Student/Faculty Ratio?
This is an important aspect. It is more difficult to get the personalized learning a student will need if this ratio is too high.
6. Does The School Offer on-Campus Housing?
While not the ideal for some students, campus housing can save a lot of money if it is offered and the commute is too long.
7. How Much Time is Spent Working on Real Humans?
Some schools seem not to spend nearly enough time with their students on actual clients, and rely heavily on mannequins. While this is necessary in the early stages, dealing with actual people is integral to this education.
8. Are the Books and Supplies Included in the Tuition?
Most traditional schools do not include these in the cost of the classes, and they can be extremely costly.
9. Course Duration
Different programs generally have different hourly requirements. It is necessary to know how much time and money will be involved.
10. Are Tours Available?
Any school worth an individual’s time will offer the ability to tour the campus, sometimes with a current student or staff member. Tours can be a great way to tip the scales either in favor for or against the school being appraised.
If you are considering a career in the beauty industry, you should first decide on the school that best suits your interests. Do your home work and come up with a list of beauty schools that best suits your needs.