How to Choose the Right Barber Academy Near Goodings Grove Illinois
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Goodings Grove IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you select not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Goodings Grove home. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the right option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
What to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Goodings Grove IL residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Goodings Grove IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Goodings Grove IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Goodings Grove IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Goodings Grove IL barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she receives aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Goodings Grove IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available in Goodings Grove IL.
How to Choose a Barber School in Goodings Grove
Enroll in the Right Goodings Grove Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Goodings Grove Illinois.
Goodings Grove Barbering Training | Goodings Grove College Of Barbering