Preparing for Cosmetology School

To get the most out of your time at beauty school it is imperative that you take a few steps to prepare yourself for your new career. These steps include setting tuition payment, choosing your field of study, and future career plans. This article will outline some of the key concerns you should have before entering cosmetology school.

Okay, you've made the big decision to go to beauty school for a career in cosmetology. You've got passion, an eye for beauty, and a pair of scissors, so it should be time to make the world gorgeous right? You may want to slow down before plowing headlong into cosmetology school so that you can make the right decisions in preparation for your new career. The following are a few things that you may want to consider before enrolling in cosmetology school.

• Prerequisites - Aside from a good eye for aesthetics, most cosmetology schools require at least a high school diploma or the equivalent (GED) to attend. This is not always the case and goes on a state to state basis, but the safest choice no matter the future, is to at least have the equivalency of a high school diploma if cosmetology school is what you really want.
  
• Tuition - Depending on your course of study (manicurist, hair stylist, skin care services, etc.), tuition will usually run between $5,000 to $20,000 for lessons, books, equipment, and fees. This is pretty standard no matter the school that you enroll in, and it is best to have tuition and payment figured out long before your first day of classes. Financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available at many beauty schools, though financial aid without the FAFSA is also available at many unaccredited schools.
  
• Career Placement - As with any other institute of higher learning, sometimes it can be less so what you learned at beauty school and more so what beauty school you went to. Make sure that the cosmetology school that you attend is established, and has good relationships with hair stylists that will be providing jobs or career guidance after graduation. Connections are everything and your time at cosmetology school is a networking opportunity just as much as it is a vocational school.
  
• Specialization - Aside from the comprehensive curriculum of beauty school, there are many different fields within cosmetology that you may want to become your central course of study. You could become a cosmetologist, an esthetician, or a manicurist to name a few. The fields of cosmetology are varied and specialized, so do your homework to see what fields you may be most interested in before you are forced to choose.
  

Take a minute before going to cosmetology school to explore your options and decide what your best course of action would be. If a career through beauty school is what you want, you will find it to be a rewarding career and lifestyle. However, you must first choose the right school and adequately prepare yourself for your new vocation to truly get the most out of your time at beauty school.

If you live in the Texas area & you are looking for a vocational school in Abilene, TX or San Angelo, TX, contact Texas College of Cosmetology today.