Okay, so I recently discovered that I loooove makeup and applying makeup, skincare, everything. I've gotten into the whole realm of cosmetology, and I'm thinking I may want to go to cosmetology school. I am currently going to school to be a teacher (1 class/semester, working FT, will never get done!). I love teaching and kids, but cosmetology school is another avenue I want to explore. I think I might like it more.

The problem is, my family thinks it is less prestigious than going to a 4 year school and getting a bachelor's. They want me to finish my B.S. in Education and THEN go to cosmetology school. Thing is, I won't graduate until 2011 at this rate. If I went to cosmetology school, I would go FT while my fiance worked (he moves up to MN Feb. 2009).

Is there any way to make this decision easier?

I can't say I have any advice sorry, but I know how you feel. I'm currently starting my 3rd year of uni studying Biological Science but to be completely honest I prefer learning about make up and skincare. It's a hard decision I know.

__________________

I wanted to go to cosmetology school, but parental pressure was applied, and I got a four year teaching degree instead. I work in cosmetics, but I've always been able to be a manager because of my education. I feel I wouldn't be "me" without my college education, but I also wish I had gotten my license, too.

So my conclusion is -- go to college if your parents are paying (like mine did), because it's a good opportunity. However, if you're paying, get your license, then you can always work your way through college if you want to go later. In these economic times, I think it's good to have a trade AND an education.

Well, they're not paying (unfortunately!), but I'm working at a University, where I get deep discounts on tuition. I have bills to pay, and couldn't quit until my fiance moves up here. My thing is, I'm nervous about paying all that money to go to school just to get out and go to cosmetology school and spend MORE money.

Thanks for your advice guys :-*

When I started nursing school, there was a student who really, really, REALLY wanted to go to cosmetology school instead but her father insisted that she become a nurse. He had all the reasons: nursing was more prestigious, his mother was a nurse, his sisters were all nurses, so his daughter HAD to become a nurse as well.

The girl was miserable. She didn't want to be a nurse and, while she did the work that was necessary, she went through all the angst that is nursing school for nothing---just to please her father. At the end of the first quarter, she dropped out---or maybe she flunked out---and went to cosmetology school, just as she had wanted to do in the first place.

When I think back about my former classmate, it seems such a shame to me---she went through all the angst that is nursing school, not because she wanted to be a nurse, but because her father insisted. Also, the program we were in was very competitive, so she was taking a slot away from someone who really wanted to be in that program.

The thing is, it's YOUR life. Yes, there are many advantages, personal and professional, to a bachelor's degree. But if you choose to quit your program and go to cosmetology school full-time, there's no reason you could not go back for a bachelor's degree in the future. It seems to me that if you follow your parents' plans for your life, you may never get the opportunity to do what you want. If you don't finish your bachelor's until 2011---it would be another year to do cosmetology school---that's putting your life off until 2012. You say you're engaged, so you'll likely be getting married before then---so that's another factor to consider.

BTW, if you love teaching, you could always teach in a cosmetology school---and I don't think you would need a bachelor's degree to do so.

Good luck to you in this.

My first advice is: Do what is in your heart because at the end of the day the decision that you make you have to live with it not any one else.

I was in the same situation you are in. I actually wanted to be a designer but my parents refused to support me if I went to school to become one. They thought that I was going to be a starving artist and I am too smart to have it my life thrown away (I am sure you heard that line too) So I told them fine I will go to cosmetology school because it is less time and cheaper (I went to NYU and tuition is an arm and a leg). They made my life a living hell so I caved in and went to school and got a bachelors degree, then a masters. After working in the corporate field for 6 years I finally cracked, quit my job and went to cosmetology school. For a while I was pissed at my parents that they pushed me and in my eyes made me waste not only my time but thousands of dollars going to school which I am still paying for. Now I am not so mad at them because of them forcing me to go to school I was able to go into a salon and work as a salon manager and make a salary not just make commission or minimum wage as most stylist do when they start out. After about a year I left and start my own business. So at the end for me it was a great thing that I went to college but there are other people that can and have made it with out the piece of paper.

__________________
"I'd rather have huge success and huge failures than travel in the middle of the road." ~ By the great Kevyn Aucoin

My Blog: http://rosieabouttown.blogspot.com/

I've heard that too, that I am too "smart" to throw it away to cosmetology school. I just believe that not everyone is an academic

I don't think it would be so bad if I could go to the U full time and crank out school. I really want to go to cosmetology school, but in today's job market, I would feel better going in with some sort of back up. But the benefits at my job (FREE school) are just too good to quit.

Thanks for talking through this with me! My parents and fiance just don't quite understand it...

Thanks for your advice!

My parents aren't forcing me to go (as I am footing the bill hehe) but I can definitely feel the pressure. I love my major and teaching kids (Pre-K to 3rd) is really rewarding to me. But I don't know if it's want I want to do forever. I discovered that make-up (etc.) is my passion, and I want to explore that as well.

I'm only 20, which is a really confusing age. I have all this freedom and the resources to do what I want, and I don't KNOW what I want!

I think for me, I should probably just stick it out with school (going back FT in 2009 or '10 HOPEFULLY) and then pursue cosmetology school? It's a hard decision, because it's a lot of money lol.

Hi there, Iam totally in the same boat as you but I made my decision. I was in my first year of Biomedical Science but secretly wanting to do cosmetology so I talked to my parents and bf about it my parents said I was too good for cosmetology school and I would not get a job in the industry bla bla bla. In the end I quit Biomedical Science and now Iam starting cosmetology school in September, my advice to you is follow your heart!!

I thought it would be a good idea to go to cosm school and use that training to work through college.
I graduated in 2003.
I just started back at college and cannot find a salon that will work around my school schedule.
Also, if you're thinking of going to beauty school because you're "not an acedemic" or you think its gonna be easier than a standard college... Woo boy! I would rather spend a million years at university than ever go through beauty school again! The studying you will do.....

Obvously, there's posters in the thread who have made it work for them - but there's always 2 sides to every story. Working through school while in the beauty industry didn't work for me, didn't work for my salon manager that had half a business degree, didn't work for tons of stylists I've worked with over the years... Maybe its just a Chicago thing, but once you're in the salon it sucks your life away. Also, if you're getting steep discounts on tuition, stick with it. I'm constantly worrying how I'm gonna pay for school on an inconsistant salary.

I have to agree with you. Cosmo school is no walk in the park. I remember when I was there I used to argue with the instructor why in the world did I need to learn about electricity? Was I going to be an electrician or a cosmetologist??? Man, it was insane.

I have also heard about people that have had it hard starting out but I have noticed it depends where you live. Like in VA where I live 50% of the time, the stylists here make crap money and my best friend always has a hard time with them working with her schedule (she actually had to quit her salon job because they would not let her change her schedule around to go have a very important surgery ) but In NYC my friends that are stylist are living it up. They make good money and are all around happy.

__________________
"I'd rather have huge success and huge failures than travel in the middle of the road." ~ By the great Kevyn Aucoin

My Blog: http://rosieabouttown.blogspot.com/

I didn't mean to say that cosmetology school was easy. What I meant that by "academic" is that a 4 year degree is not for everyone. I may not be the type of person that would be well suited to going to university for 4 years.