If a career as a makeup artist is something you’re dreaming about, why not get started as soon as possible? You may be put off by the idea of enrolling in courses, as they can be time-consuming and expensive, but we’ve got GREAT news for you – online makeup courses will allow you to work at your own pace and spend significantly less on your training (without sacrificing quality)!
However, choosing the right online makeup academy is a tricky process, and one that you shouldn’t rush through. You want to ensure that you spend your money in the right place and get the maximum return possible. Unfortunately, a lot of low-end and sinister online makeup schools exist out there.
But don’t fret! We’ve put together a guide to help you understand what to look for in a school, common bad practices, and how QC Makeup Academy strives to be the best. Keep reading to be both inspired and encouraged!
What to watch out for
Not all online makeup schools are created equal, which is actually a good thing. You have options when it comes to choosing the right training for your interests and career goals, but you really need to know what to look for! Here are a few bad practices that are, unfortunately, all too common among online makeup schools – read through them carefully…
No credentials or reviews:
When searching for the right makeup course, we can’t stress enough how important it is to do your research. Not only should you be looking for a strong social media presence on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (in this day and age, this is a revealing factor), you need to dig deeper into specific reviews and credentials.
Once you have a short list of the schools you’re considering, head over to their respective social pages and take a look at the reviews written by students and graduates – this will give you some raw insight into the student experience, as these reviews will be brutally honest accounts of how the courses are structured, how assignments are graded, and how they helped students start their careers. Believe us, once you’ve read through a number of these reviews, you’ll be able to tell if this school cares about its students and their education, or focuses more on lining its pockets without much care for quality!
Along with reviews, do your research to find out if each school holds an accreditation. Most importantly, the institution you choose to enroll at should have a high rating with the Better Business Bureau, which demonstrates consumer satisfaction and shows you that they have a reputation for being honest and fair with their students.
No student support:
We’re talking about online makeup courses here, and while they allow students a great deal of freedom with studying, there is a lack of face-to-face communication. It’s just the nature of the beast!
Unfortunately, some schools will not compensate for this fact and students find themselves in the dark when they have questions or need guidance, simply because there is no way for them to get in touch. Imagine working on an assignment and needing clarification about a particular detail – you would, of course, instinctively reach out to your school for their help. However, some online makeup schools are not equipped (or don’t try) to deal with this.
Our advice? Steer clear!
One of the most important things to figure out before choosing a makeup academy online is whether or not there is a student support system. You can’t be expected to learn and grow in a course if you’re not able to reach out with questions or seek advice. Your makeup school needs to try as much as possible to offer the same support tools as a brick-and-mortar school would, and that means having helpful, qualified support specialists ready to answer calls and emails throughout the day.
Sinister “guarantees”:
Sadly, there are many online schools out there that are just waiting to grab money from you. When doing your research, take time to read the fine print, and be very wary of the “value” that makeup schools place on their course materials – specifically their makeup kits. They’ll often hike the value up to, say, $25, when the actual product cost only $6 for them to purchase.
With this in mind, imagine enrolling and then deciding within a week or two that this is not the course for you. While some courses will advertise a fair and easy money-back guarantee, many students have found that they can only receive a portion of their money back, due to a small mention in the fine print that they overlooked.
Full disclosure: these schools don’t care about your education or success in the industry, and we recommend crossing them off your list immediately. Any online makeup course worth your time and money is going to ensure you receive all your money back if you’re not satisfied, and also work with you to come up with a solution if something is amiss. You don’t want to find yourself enrolled in a makeup academy with this sneaky behavior.
What it SHOULD look like….
After reading the list above, we have no doubt that you’re discouraged. However, these bad practices are also important to know ahead of time so you can make the best decision about your education. Now that we’ve run through a few things to watch out for, here is a list of features that your online makeup school should have:
Experienced, professional tutors:
Looking for a makeup academy online takes time, but we have one specific feature that will narrow your decision down pretty quickly…
Your makeup tutors.
If you want to have a successful career in makeup, you need to be taught by the very best in the industry. For example, QC Makeup Academy provides its students with professional training from celebrity makeup artist Nathan Johnson. Let us tell you – it doesn’t get any better than this. Nathan has worked with over 600 faces during his rich career as a makeup artist and has years and years of industry experience under his belt. Every student gets to experience his teaching techniques through video lessons!
Receiving his personalized feedback on assignments and being guided by his expertise will prepare you for the type of makeup career you’ve only imagined. You’ll know you’re in great hands under Nathan’s tutelage, and this is what you want from an online makeup school!
Pricing that you can feel good about:
To be completely honest with you, any course you enroll in is going to be a financial investment. The key word, however, is an investment. While we understand that it can be difficult to part with a large sum of money in order to start your makeup career, the right course will be worth it in the long run.
The last thing you want to do is find yourself in a situation where you’re drowning in tuition payments while enrolled in a course that clearly doesn’t care about your progress or eventual career as a makeup artist. The best advice we can offer here is to not be guided by a low price. Ultimately, you get what you pay for, so you want to make sure you’re choosing the right makeup academy that has all the features you’re looking for. And guess what? If it’s a quality institution, you’ll have your pick of payment plans that will work for your budget and lifestyle.
Here at QC, we know that education can be expensive, which is why there are flexible payment plans to choose from. You can really write your own ticket, as you’re in full control!
Why Choose QC?
So, is QC Makeup Academy right for you? Let’s backtrack to the practices we mentioned earlier…
A quick glance at its reviews on Facebook will give you a glimpse into the student experience, while it’s A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau website will illustrate consumer satisfaction. As a student in need of guidance or advice, you can be sure that Student Support Specialists will be available to help you by telephone, email and live chat 24/7 – you’ll never be left on your own to figure things out!
Finally, QC cares a great deal about your training and success in the makeup industry, and being a high-quality makeup academy is top priority. You’ll be in excellent hands during your time as a student, and long after you graduate!
#QCWinterMagic
Great blog post! QC has been right for me the last 3 years! I’ve taken 2 makeup courses and finishing up the hair essentials can’t wait to start my next one!