DON'T DO IT!!!
I know you've heard a million great things about Aveda, but its all a scheme to get your money. The previous review generally sums up my feelings as well as many of the current students at Aveda Institute Minneapolis. If you haven't read it, I strongly recommend that you do so before reading mine.
Now, here are some things kelsey1621 didn't mention about Aveda Institute:
MONEY!!! It's all about the money like Kelsey said. Your grade is heavily based on the amount of money you bring in on a daily basis. While, Instructors may express that this is set up for us to succeed in the real world, I find it plain disgusting the way the school goes about doing it. Students are encouraged to upgrade each client. I've had instructors lie to clients faces, telling them they need something they most definitely do not. At the end of every service, each student takes their "guest" into the "experience center" where we are made to grab 3 products we used on the guest and explain to them why they NEED them. It doesn't matter if you have a 6 year old boy or a house wife, you have to do it or you're docked 5 points. As if this isn't embarrassing enough, we then have to bring the basket of products up the counter to push the products even harder. If you fail to do so, no points. Every single time, I feel like a car salesman doing some dirty hard selling. But hey, if that isn't bad enough, we are also graded on whether the client rebooks right then and there. Gotta keep that money coming in!!! Having repeat clients is an extremely important part of being a stylist, but when we're at a school not a salon.
As far as the instructors go, I have a completely different point of view than Kelsey. I assume this is purely because she must be a pm student, and I am a day student. In my opinion, most of the instructors are awful. As if it isn't bad enough that it's a drama filled school because its hundreds of young girls, the staff makes it a million times worse. I thought 18 year old girls were bad. The instructors at Aveda make them look like angels. On an average day, I will here my current instructor bitch and moan about how much she dislikes us. I kid you not, she actually does this. She makes it very clear that we are a burden on her. Many of the other instructors are in their 20's still so socializing comes before all else. While we wait for them to come check a haircut, they stand in the isle gossiping. And once you finally do get their attention, they are often far more discouraging than encouraging. There are a few instructors that are clearly only there for the paycheck. They are of little to no assistance most of time... and that is if you can find them.
This brings me to another point... small class sizes my ass!!!! How many students can you shove into a class? Aveda is constantly pushing it. Minnesota law states there needs to be 1 instructor per 20 students. Unfortunately, that law wasn't created for Aveda. Our clinic floor is busy. When there are 40 students with 40 clients waiting for 2 instructors to get around and do all the mandatory checks, it becomes beyond frustrating. Many times, I've had a client waiting in my chair for 30 minutes before an instructor came over. Don't know what you're doing? Have a question? Need some help? GOOD LUCK!!! I've seen some pretty bad haircuts done because a student couldn't get any help.
There are some positives to Aveda. No other school has as many clients on a daily basis as we do. Some of the instructors are caring and talented people. But overall, you'd be wasting $20,000 and a year by going there. I LOVE everything about doing hair, but Aveda has made it way less fun than it use to be.