Like other for-profit colleges, such as Corinthian's or University of Phoenix, this school is a MAJOR scam. It was a few years ago when I attended, but the fact still remains: a certificate in cosmetology is NOT worth $17,000. An associate's degree at UAB is far cheaper and will get you much further in life than wasting so much money here.
Paul Mitchell schools only teach THEIR specific ways of cutting and coloring, forgetting other traditional methodologies that are tried and true. Older, more experienced teachers always disappeared after a few months for not conforming to Paul Mitchell's very specific ways.
Most instructors (or "Learning Leaders") here were younger than 25, with barely enough time to gain experience, but willing to accept abysmal pay. This school is ALL about profit. Worst of all, students were actually charged $75 fines for breaking silly rules. For example: tardiness, parking too close to the entrance, too many absences, or even gossiping (no joke!), which made the experience that much worse.
To force students to pay steep fines as punishment in order to graduate is straight-up EXTORTION. Colleges don't do that, so why should this trade school? Not to mention the "designer" supplies in that $2,000 kit broke all the time and often had to be replaced. Obviously, my classmates who didn't come from a privileged background suffered the most.
After only six weeks of cramming in state-board required lessons, we were placed on "the floor," or accepting clients. With so little instruction before transitioning from a mannequin to a human, mistakes happened often.
On busy days, I never got a lunch break; however, 30 minutes was STILL subtracted from my daily instructional hours. Not cool. The whole year, I only performed one roller set, one perm, and never learned how to cut hair with a razor.
A bulletin board proudly titled, "Look where they are now!" showed a majority of alumni working at the school owner's salon, therefore generating even MORE profit. Like many degrees or certificates, cosmetologists typically start out making very low pay before building clientele. Good luck trying to pay off that loan on commission or $8 an hour.
Don't get me wrong; cosmetology is not a bad career choice, as long as you're fine with working for low pay for a few years. Of course, attending this school will not make it any easier.
Despite what the advertisements say, you are definitely NOT guaranteed a higher paying job after graduating. In fact, some salons actually refuse Paul Mitchell students, since they're not taught a variety of techniques other schools would teach.
So why on earth did I stay? After eight weeks, I wanted to transfer elsewhere when I realized what I had gotten myself into. Out of the $17,000 I had already paid with a loan, I was told I could only get around $2,000 back. Wow!
Based on my friends' and my own experience, check out Winonah's or even a barber school, to better secure a job. Also, apprenticing may take longer, but you get paid to learn and better hands-on experience. Paul Mitchell School is NOT worth it!
Paul Mitchell Schools Reviews
Like other for-profit colleges, such as Corinthian's or University of Phoenix, this school is a MAJOR scam. It was a few years ago when I attended, but the fact still remains: a certificate in cosmetology is NOT worth $17,000. An associate's degree at UAB is far cheaper and will get you much further in life than wasting so much money here.
Paul Mitchell schools only teach THEIR specific ways of cutting and coloring, forgetting other traditional methodologies that are tried and true. Older, more experienced teachers always disappeared after a few months for not conforming to Paul Mitchell's very specific ways.
Most instructors (or "Learning Leaders") here were younger than 25, with barely enough time to gain experience, but willing to accept abysmal pay. This school is ALL about profit. Worst of all, students were actually charged $75 fines for breaking silly rules. For example: tardiness, parking too close to the entrance, too many absences, or even gossiping (no joke!), which made the experience that much worse.
To force students to pay steep fines as punishment in order to graduate is straight-up EXTORTION. Colleges don't do that, so why should this trade school? Not to mention the "designer" supplies in that $2,000 kit broke all the time and often had to be replaced. Obviously, my classmates who didn't come from a privileged background suffered the most.
After only six weeks of cramming in state-board required lessons, we were placed on "the floor," or accepting clients. With so little instruction before transitioning from a mannequin to a human, mistakes happened often.
On busy days, I never got a lunch break; however, 30 minutes was STILL subtracted from my daily instructional hours. Not cool. The whole year, I only performed one roller set, one perm, and never learned how to cut hair with a razor.
A bulletin board proudly titled, "Look where they are now!" showed a majority of alumni working at the school owner's salon, therefore generating even MORE profit. Like many degrees or certificates, cosmetologists typically start out making very low pay before building clientele. Good luck trying to pay off that loan on commission or $8 an hour.
Don't get me wrong; cosmetology is not a bad career choice, as long as you're fine with working for low pay for a few years. Of course, attending this school will not make it any easier.
Despite what the advertisements say, you are definitely NOT guaranteed a higher paying job after graduating. In fact, some salons actually refuse Paul Mitchell students, since they're not taught a variety of techniques other schools would teach.
So why on earth did I stay? After eight weeks, I wanted to transfer elsewhere when I realized what I had gotten myself into. Out of the $17,000 I had already paid with a loan, I was told I could only get around $2,000 back. Wow!
Based on my friends' and my own experience, check out Winonah's or even a barber school, to better secure a job. Also, apprenticing may take longer, but you get paid to learn and better hands-on experience. Paul Mitchell School is NOT worth it!