Colleges
Hi, im doing my gcse's this year and then i want to study beauty therapy but i dont know what to do whether to do a 2 year course at a normal college or go to an expensive college and do a 7 month course? Does anyone have any advice? Xxx
Answers:
I would say go with the 2 year course - if this site has taught me anything it is to not take on too much at once, the members here are very experienced and I like you are new and want to learn everything fast but that isn't the way - take the 2 year route hun is my advice and learn it all properly - you'll become a better therapist and more knowlegable I think.
Answers:
Hi Clo,
I am currently doing a level 2 NVQ at a college but on a part time basis. This involves only 4 hours per week and it is extremely intense. I would also recommend the 2 year course to you as mysticalwitch suggests. I am fortunate as i have my own therapy room at home to practice in and have already qualified in anatomy and holistic massage last year. If I had not got that knowlegde and experience I to would be doing a full time course now instead.
Hope this helps
Thanks Lou
Answers:
Thankyou guys thats helped a lot ill see what other replies i get :) are you guys therapists? Xx
Answers:
I would disagree and suggest the shorter option. This is only from personal experience, but I dont really see the point in two lessons a week for two years! Its a waste of time and money when you could do it far sooner. Again, my choice, but im a quick learner, it all depends on your knowledge retention. Scott
Answers:
Hello Clo,
I totally agree with Lorina1230 and Mysticalwitch, go for the 2 year full-time option.
I'm guessing that as you're doing GCSEs you're still in your teens? If that's the case your courses at a government fundedfurther education college should be free until you reach 19 years, that's got to be better than paying the best part of £1K;)
Be sure to choose a college that has it's own salon facilities so that you will get to practice on real clients and build your confidence.
Later when you're a successful therapist :)and want to increase your range of therapies the short courses might be better suited.
Best of luck
Wesam
Answers:
I recommend the shorter route too.
I've experienced both types. If you had been asking should you do a 4 day waxing course I'd have said no that was the worst possible thing you could do.
However have you made sure that the college has a good record? Ask for recommendations on the beauty boards? What qualifications are they offering? What standard will you reach in 7 months eg Beauty Specialist, CIDESCO, NVQ 2, or 3. All this is important to know in order to give you advice.
I started off doing a 14 week waxing course at a local private college, 3 hours one night per week. We covered theory in the first part of the lesson then the bulk was practice.
The tutor was one of the best I've ever had and private colleges hopefully will be employing well qualified individuals (another thing you should easily be able to check). Every week, we were supervised for using clean instruments, we learnt good tips for the work we were doing and we were really well supervised (8 in class). However, the course cost me the best part of £450 so was expensive. I then did eye treatments which was 3 days 9.30-3.30. I liked it so much but it was expensive and I had other committments, etc so decided to go to the local LEA college which seemed to be good. I thought if I do it over a longer period of time I'd get more practice, more experience and could do it in my own time.
Duly enrolled on 2 year course. We spent the first 2 weeks on miscellaneous things. I asked how much time we would be spending on the modules and waxing for instance was 8 weeks max but that time included bleaching, etc. so actually much less than my private course. After the waste of 2 weeks on our third week all 22 of us crowded round the tutor who did a manicure. It was difficult to see and she didn't explain things like the cuticle work very well. We then had to go and practice on each other.
The end result was that few people in that class were really sure of cuticle work even by the end of the course. Some of us went to salons for manicures so that we could see a pro do it. Throughout the time I was there, theory was not done in class we did it at home which suprisingly didn't allow more time for practice. In fact, over the time we had less practice time.
Waxing was even worse and people ended up bruised and burnt from the wax.
We had 4 different tutors in the time I was there. Not once was the glass bead sterilser a must during the time. It was assumed it had been done but most people didn't know how to use it. We had virtually no supervision let alone helpful tips on technique.
Cleanliness at the private college for instance meant you were observed using the sterilisers, using surgical spirit and clearing up afterwards and you were pulled up if you didn't.
You might be surprised to learn that your 2 years at college could go something like: 6-8 weeks manicure and pedicure, 8 weeks facials, 6-8 weeks waxing (including bleaching), 6-8 weeks makeup. So what is the rest of the time used for - not practice.
We had to do certain things as part of the syllabus which I for one was not interested in eg bleaching, applying really obviously false eyelashes. There was lots of stuff that was irrelevant to me. Had it been self tan, threading,brazillian waxesor other more relevant things I wouldn't mind. We used hot wax a couple of times but didn't get to grips with it only for the purpose of being able to say it had been used.
The products we used were horrible, cheap and nasty. We did have dermalogica for client facials but never the right ones for the client's skin as never had the right stuff in stock. We had to pay extra to use the bleach, etc.
Getting clients to do some of the non essential stuff was a nightmare. How many people really wa
Answers:
I am currently doing a level 2 Beauty therapy course through Warwickshire college.
I am not happy with the way it is going, your post almost describes exactly what we are going through, its an absolute shambles!
There are 20 in our class (which only has 8 beds in!),6 of us are mature students and enrolled on this particular course as it was (and still is) described as a mature course. When we received our timetables it turned out that we (matures) were going to be put with the 16 year olds, we had already paid our money and when we queried this with our tutors they assured us that this would not affect our learning but enhance it!
So far we have had 4 tutors all with different standards and practical methods, 4 of the matures have childcare committments, so leave an hour earlier then the younger students, so we miss out on tuition, which was supposed to be (but is not) made-up to us to compensate the fact it is not a mature course.
We are frequently split-up orshouted at as a groupfor bad behaviour and punished for arriving late when it is a minority of the younger students responsible.
I am so dissapointed, I am 31, and it has taken me years to build the confidence to return to learning, I am just over halfway through and am thinking about throwing in the towel.
We probably won't pass our course anyway, we have missed so much theory and our practical training is patchy.
This college has a good reputation.....what are the bad ones like???
Answers:
:)Hello Clo,
I am a mature student and qualified in beauty nvq level 2. I did three full days over a year. It was an intensivecourse of which i didnt really like, the only things i like doingwas massage/facials. So although i didnt go on to do beauty level 3,i did go on to do swedish/aroma massage, I.H.M. and at present studying reflexology. Some times we dont know how things are going to turn out....I really thought i wanted to be a Beauty Therapist.
Take care in what ever you do.[sm=sandrine.gif]Rachelx
Answers:
Hi Clo :)
I would like to come to the defence of the learning experiences of colleges and just point out pros and cons.
Firstly reading the reports on the college education -I feel deeply saddened that they have had such a negative experience at the college. Not all colleges are like that, I work with one were we have a really good relationship with our students, we have to follow educational guidlines and standards so during the course you will have to learn everything that is listed in the qualification that you are currently studying. A lot of beauticians go to work in salons as work experience and then on to salons when they leave the college. The skills needed are in the qualification and cover such things as Health & Safety, Reception Duties - communication with clients and dealing with confrontation etc, etc. We have to show the qualifying bodies that you are able to do this and we have to have evidence to show this, hence the 2 weeks on reception (which is only the days you are in college and not a complete 2 weeks), we have to go through the basics before we can go onto the advanced beauty treatments. All this work is put together as a portfolio which is what you would show a prospective employer just what you can do and to what standard. Many students go on to work in companies that travel ie cruise ships and spas and they need to have that basic qualification so that they can build on it and develop it to their own specific brand.
Some students on their level 2 discover that beauty is not for them and they go on and do other therapies ie holistics, these also have the same level of standards.
College courses also have the added incentive of funding depending on your own private circumstances and the course, this is a boost, having been in the situation were funding was the only way that I could complete the courses I wished to study and practice. Most colleges also recruit teaching staff from actual working therapists - the college i work in everyone of us has come from a background of being a therapist and still have our own practice as well as teach, so this knowledge is passed on to the student and treatment knowledge is kept upto date. Colleges also provide when requested help with disabilities, guidance and other problems to help students have a rewarding experience.
Private courses, and I have done some of those, can be very expensive, no help with funding. They may not be recognised by awarding bodies so insurance can be a problem at a later date for some of these if not registered correctly. The classes may be smaller which is better for demonstrating practical sessions. They can be more intimate therefore you may bond quicker with your fellow student. It is important when choosing a private course that it is a qualifying course and not one of the courses you do over a weekend and then you are qualified. That could lead you to problems later on and expense. These courses should be able to be recognised if ou need to go to college afterwards for NVQ level 2 it would be taken into consideration and APLEDie waxing, A&P.
I hope this helps with your descion in choosing where you want to go and sorry if this has been long winded, but at the end of the day it is your choice and yours alone.
Kind& Gentle Thoughts
Kimi[sm=angel-smiley-027.gif]
Answers:
Hi.
There are pros and cons of both types of courses. IMO the main factors to consider are:
[ul][*]How much time can you devote to your training, remembering that you will have course assignments.[/ul]
[ul][*]What can you realistically afford?[/ul]
[ul][*]Personal recommendations are important when considering where to go.[/ul]
[ul][*]My advice would be to find a v/good therapist and ask their opinion.[/ul]
I am not a beauty therapist but perhaps you could take on board Kimgraigs excellent post and PM her for personal advice if she is prepared to give it.
Answers:
I would say go with the 2 year course - if this site has taught me anything it is to not take on too much at once, the members here are very experienced and I like you are new and want to learn everything fast but that isn't the way - take the 2 year route hun is my advice and learn it all properly - you'll become a better therapist and more knowlegable I think.
Answers:
Hi Clo,
I am currently doing a level 2 NVQ at a college but on a part time basis. This involves only 4 hours per week and it is extremely intense. I would also recommend the 2 year course to you as mysticalwitch suggests. I am fortunate as i have my own therapy room at home to practice in and have already qualified in anatomy and holistic massage last year. If I had not got that knowlegde and experience I to would be doing a full time course now instead.
Hope this helps
Thanks Lou
Answers:
Thankyou guys thats helped a lot ill see what other replies i get :) are you guys therapists? Xx
Answers:
I would disagree and suggest the shorter option. This is only from personal experience, but I dont really see the point in two lessons a week for two years! Its a waste of time and money when you could do it far sooner. Again, my choice, but im a quick learner, it all depends on your knowledge retention. Scott
Answers:
Hello Clo,
I totally agree with Lorina1230 and Mysticalwitch, go for the 2 year full-time option.
I'm guessing that as you're doing GCSEs you're still in your teens? If that's the case your courses at a government fundedfurther education college should be free until you reach 19 years, that's got to be better than paying the best part of £1K;)
Be sure to choose a college that has it's own salon facilities so that you will get to practice on real clients and build your confidence.
Later when you're a successful therapist :)and want to increase your range of therapies the short courses might be better suited.
Best of luck
Wesam
Answers:
I recommend the shorter route too.
I've experienced both types. If you had been asking should you do a 4 day waxing course I'd have said no that was the worst possible thing you could do.
However have you made sure that the college has a good record? Ask for recommendations on the beauty boards? What qualifications are they offering? What standard will you reach in 7 months eg Beauty Specialist, CIDESCO, NVQ 2, or 3. All this is important to know in order to give you advice.
I started off doing a 14 week waxing course at a local private college, 3 hours one night per week. We covered theory in the first part of the lesson then the bulk was practice.
The tutor was one of the best I've ever had and private colleges hopefully will be employing well qualified individuals (another thing you should easily be able to check). Every week, we were supervised for using clean instruments, we learnt good tips for the work we were doing and we were really well supervised (8 in class). However, the course cost me the best part of £450 so was expensive. I then did eye treatments which was 3 days 9.30-3.30. I liked it so much but it was expensive and I had other committments, etc so decided to go to the local LEA college which seemed to be good. I thought if I do it over a longer period of time I'd get more practice, more experience and could do it in my own time.
Duly enrolled on 2 year course. We spent the first 2 weeks on miscellaneous things. I asked how much time we would be spending on the modules and waxing for instance was 8 weeks max but that time included bleaching, etc. so actually much less than my private course. After the waste of 2 weeks on our third week all 22 of us crowded round the tutor who did a manicure. It was difficult to see and she didn't explain things like the cuticle work very well. We then had to go and practice on each other.
The end result was that few people in that class were really sure of cuticle work even by the end of the course. Some of us went to salons for manicures so that we could see a pro do it. Throughout the time I was there, theory was not done in class we did it at home which suprisingly didn't allow more time for practice. In fact, over the time we had less practice time.
Waxing was even worse and people ended up bruised and burnt from the wax.
We had 4 different tutors in the time I was there. Not once was the glass bead sterilser a must during the time. It was assumed it had been done but most people didn't know how to use it. We had virtually no supervision let alone helpful tips on technique.
Cleanliness at the private college for instance meant you were observed using the sterilisers, using surgical spirit and clearing up afterwards and you were pulled up if you didn't.
You might be surprised to learn that your 2 years at college could go something like: 6-8 weeks manicure and pedicure, 8 weeks facials, 6-8 weeks waxing (including bleaching), 6-8 weeks makeup. So what is the rest of the time used for - not practice.
We had to do certain things as part of the syllabus which I for one was not interested in eg bleaching, applying really obviously false eyelashes. There was lots of stuff that was irrelevant to me. Had it been self tan, threading,brazillian waxesor other more relevant things I wouldn't mind. We used hot wax a couple of times but didn't get to grips with it only for the purpose of being able to say it had been used.
The products we used were horrible, cheap and nasty. We did have dermalogica for client facials but never the right ones for the client's skin as never had the right stuff in stock. We had to pay extra to use the bleach, etc.
Getting clients to do some of the non essential stuff was a nightmare. How many people really wa
Answers:
I am currently doing a level 2 Beauty therapy course through Warwickshire college.
I am not happy with the way it is going, your post almost describes exactly what we are going through, its an absolute shambles!
There are 20 in our class (which only has 8 beds in!),6 of us are mature students and enrolled on this particular course as it was (and still is) described as a mature course. When we received our timetables it turned out that we (matures) were going to be put with the 16 year olds, we had already paid our money and when we queried this with our tutors they assured us that this would not affect our learning but enhance it!
So far we have had 4 tutors all with different standards and practical methods, 4 of the matures have childcare committments, so leave an hour earlier then the younger students, so we miss out on tuition, which was supposed to be (but is not) made-up to us to compensate the fact it is not a mature course.
We are frequently split-up orshouted at as a groupfor bad behaviour and punished for arriving late when it is a minority of the younger students responsible.
I am so dissapointed, I am 31, and it has taken me years to build the confidence to return to learning, I am just over halfway through and am thinking about throwing in the towel.
We probably won't pass our course anyway, we have missed so much theory and our practical training is patchy.
This college has a good reputation.....what are the bad ones like???
Answers:
:)Hello Clo,
I am a mature student and qualified in beauty nvq level 2. I did three full days over a year. It was an intensivecourse of which i didnt really like, the only things i like doingwas massage/facials. So although i didnt go on to do beauty level 3,i did go on to do swedish/aroma massage, I.H.M. and at present studying reflexology. Some times we dont know how things are going to turn out....I really thought i wanted to be a Beauty Therapist.
Take care in what ever you do.[sm=sandrine.gif]Rachelx
Answers:
Hi Clo :)
I would like to come to the defence of the learning experiences of colleges and just point out pros and cons.
Firstly reading the reports on the college education -I feel deeply saddened that they have had such a negative experience at the college. Not all colleges are like that, I work with one were we have a really good relationship with our students, we have to follow educational guidlines and standards so during the course you will have to learn everything that is listed in the qualification that you are currently studying. A lot of beauticians go to work in salons as work experience and then on to salons when they leave the college. The skills needed are in the qualification and cover such things as Health & Safety, Reception Duties - communication with clients and dealing with confrontation etc, etc. We have to show the qualifying bodies that you are able to do this and we have to have evidence to show this, hence the 2 weeks on reception (which is only the days you are in college and not a complete 2 weeks), we have to go through the basics before we can go onto the advanced beauty treatments. All this work is put together as a portfolio which is what you would show a prospective employer just what you can do and to what standard. Many students go on to work in companies that travel ie cruise ships and spas and they need to have that basic qualification so that they can build on it and develop it to their own specific brand.
Some students on their level 2 discover that beauty is not for them and they go on and do other therapies ie holistics, these also have the same level of standards.
College courses also have the added incentive of funding depending on your own private circumstances and the course, this is a boost, having been in the situation were funding was the only way that I could complete the courses I wished to study and practice. Most colleges also recruit teaching staff from actual working therapists - the college i work in everyone of us has come from a background of being a therapist and still have our own practice as well as teach, so this knowledge is passed on to the student and treatment knowledge is kept upto date. Colleges also provide when requested help with disabilities, guidance and other problems to help students have a rewarding experience.
Private courses, and I have done some of those, can be very expensive, no help with funding. They may not be recognised by awarding bodies so insurance can be a problem at a later date for some of these if not registered correctly. The classes may be smaller which is better for demonstrating practical sessions. They can be more intimate therefore you may bond quicker with your fellow student. It is important when choosing a private course that it is a qualifying course and not one of the courses you do over a weekend and then you are qualified. That could lead you to problems later on and expense. These courses should be able to be recognised if ou need to go to college afterwards for NVQ level 2 it would be taken into consideration and APLEDie waxing, A&P.
I hope this helps with your descion in choosing where you want to go and sorry if this has been long winded, but at the end of the day it is your choice and yours alone.
Kind& Gentle Thoughts
Kimi[sm=angel-smiley-027.gif]
Answers:
Hi.
There are pros and cons of both types of courses. IMO the main factors to consider are:
[ul][*]How much time can you devote to your training, remembering that you will have course assignments.[/ul]
[ul][*]What can you realistically afford?[/ul]
[ul][*]Personal recommendations are important when considering where to go.[/ul]
[ul][*]My advice would be to find a v/good therapist and ask their opinion.[/ul]
I am not a beauty therapist but perhaps you could take on board Kimgraigs excellent post and PM her for personal advice if she is prepared to give it.