Paul Mitchell the School - Schenectady

 I am finally starting Cosmetology School! I want to tell you all about my tour at Paul Mitchell the School Schenectady (PMTSS). This is really where everything feels like it is real, for me, and I want you all to be able to experience it too!

   I submitted my information to PMTSS admissions after doing a LOT of research. Later that day I stumbled across their Facebook page, and of course I liked it and posted on their wall about how excited I was to hear from them. Very shortly after I got a call from Elvita in admissions and I was on my way! All I had to do was get through five days of excitement and anticipation (absolutely the hardest part!)

  So, Wednesday before last I made the drive down to Schenectady. After an adventure with parking (read: not bringing change and running out into the cold to stuff quarters into the meter repeatedly) I was there!  Walking in I instantly noticed the décor. It’s like a mix between a cool NYC loft and a high end spa. Beautiful brick contrasts the cool white plaster perfectly. The wash room is separated by a water fixture that takes up the entire wall. The salon area looks very professional, I absolutely could see myself taking clients there, building my career.

  Even with all that, it was the atmosphere that really drew me. There is a cool confidence you can feel right away. When Elvita was showing me the salon I got to see something I thought was really special. The Future Professionals were gathered together with the Learning Leader, and they were playing telephone!  Throughout the day the students gather together for various energizers, anything from chants, sharing your triumphs, and yes, things like playing telephone. The sense of community is amazing, everyone was incredibly inviting. I can’t wait to be a part of the PMTSS family, because that is what it is, a family.

  At this point we left the salon area and continued on to the “school” portion. Elvita took a lot of time to answer my questions and explain the teaching philosophy at Paul Mitchell schools. I was very excited by the way they are adamant that their students always be learning something. This is actually one of the main things that draws me to Cosmetology.  “The day you think you know everything there is to know in this industry is the day you need to pack up your scissors,” she told me, and I couldn’t possibly agree more.

  The first thing I noticed in the classrooms were the dream boards. When you start the core class you take a poster board and decorate it with your goals, dreams, and inspirations. These boards are hung up in your classroom the first seven weeks when you are in there full time. I love the idea of being able to see that as a reminder of why I am there every day. My inspiration staring me in the face is going to be such an incredible motivation.

  In the basement is the student area, along with more classrooms and some of the staff offices. There were a lot of great details that I loved. A cork board hangs up for Future Professionals and Learning Leaders to post notes to each other congratulating them on successes, thanking them for going above and beyond, or just to leave a nice thought to brighten someones day. The walls are gorgeous exposed brick. The lockers are in the hallway, and at the end it opens up into an amazing lounge area.  Here are tables for students to eat lunch, as well as the café. I feel like a picture is worth a thousand words here, you’ll see what I mean!

  So, I went in on Tuesday and put down my deposit. I am officially enrolled as a Future Professional at Paul Mitchell the School – Schenectady. I start march 20^th, and absolutely cannot wait! All I have to do is get my loan sorted out and I will be completely ready to go. Look for posts about why I chose Paul Mitchell in the coming weeks, and posts about my experience as a student coming in March!
  xoxo Rae

p.s. All photos of the school were taken from their official facebook page here. There you can find their information if you want to look into the school!