We get asked this question on a regular basis: “How do students afford your school?”
With student loan debt being at a record high, over $1.6 TRILLION, the government has done students a HUGE disservice by painting the illusion that they don’t have to pay for college, at least not right away. But the colleges and universities who award this aid are mostly “not-for-profit”, right?
Today I’m going to share with you the most common ways students afford to attend AMUA.
Once you’ve decided this is what you want to do for a living, the next step is to get some experience in the field. Maybe this means working in retail cosmetics sales, doing the makeup for school plays, making up friends and family for special events, cleaning out molds at an fx shop, or assisting a makeup artist or costumer working in television, film, or theater. The reason for doing this is twofold: 1) you want to make sure you can actually see yourself being happy doing this for a living, and 2) a scholarship donor or a reputable trade school would like to see proof of your interest in your intended field.
Vocational schools like AMUA focus on career preparation and can give you all the skills you need to enter a trade in 1 year instead of 4. While this is typically less expensive than college or university, it isn’t free. You will still need to come up with a financial plan to afford the costs of attending which will include tuition, materials, expendable supplies, and the cost of living (and not working) during your time in school, at the very least.
Here are some ways that students afford to attend trade schools:
- 529 Plan – If your parents planned ahead and saved up (yay!) you can usually use a 529 plan to pay for an accredited trade school.
- Employer Scholarships – Check with your employer and/or your parent’s employers. Sometimes they’re willing to throw in a few thousand dollars to help a good employee further their education and career. Usually organizations offer them as more of an investment than a gift, and may or may not ask for some full or part time work or volunteer hours in exchange.
- Institutional Scholarships are earned – A school is more likely to offer scholarships to stand-out students; students who have some experience in the field, and who show dedication, determination, and aptitude. A school may expect volunteer hours from students who accept scholarship offers.
- General Scholarships – Search online to see if any scholarships or grants exist for students in this field. Websites like Scholarships.com and Unigo.com have “scholarship by type” sections, so you can further narrow down your scholarship options. Other scholarship sites include Cappex, Chegg and FastWeb.
- Gifts from Friends and Family – Create a compelling presentation for Grandma or Grandpa showing them how talented and passionate you are for this career field. See if they would be willing to give you an early gift or let you borrow some money, at least. This is how I afforded makeup school when I was starting out. Thanks Grandpa, R.I.P.!
- Work for it – This is our favorite type of student. Forget immediate gratification! Some of our favorite, and ultimately most successful, students work for 1-3 years or more and save up the money to attend. They understand that the value in being financially stress-free while in school, and when starting out in the career field. The weight is lifted when you’ve planned ahead. We find the students who are willing to work hard to get here are willing to work hard when they leave here. Bonus points if you did work that will translate into skills as a makeup artist! Did I mention this is our favorite?!
- Loans are a last resort – It’s not a great idea to embark on a new career (whether it be from university, college, or trade school) saddled with debt and steep monthly payments. It’s better to plan ahead, find alternate sources, and save up.
Click here to learn more about the financial options available to students at AMUA
In short, don’t expect anyone to give you something you aren’t willing to work for. Get some experience. Work. Save. Prove your dedication.
After all, “Anything in life worth having is worth working for.” – Andrew Carnegie