Getting accepted into the cosmetology school of your choice is the first step in embarking on a successful career in the field.
Most schools are competitive and have a mandatory application process for acceptance. Creating a letter of intent for cosmetology school is necessary to securing your spot in the program of your dreams.
Writing an effective letter of intent requires putting several parts together and creating a narrative that will grab the admissions counselor’s attention. By carefully selecting and writing each individual section, you will better your chances of being accepted into a program.
Most schools will give you guidelines about what they are looking for in a letter of intent. They will list rules about the length and content of the letter, so follow directions to the letter to make sure your letter is accepted.
Admissions counselors want to know who you are and what you will bring to their school. The introduction is not a biography.
You should not go into detail about life events that are not related to your career goals. Briefly mention academic achievements, extracurricular activities and milestones, but make the focus of the introduction your professional career path. Keep it lighthearted and optimistic. Your introduction should be the shortest part of your letter of intent.
In this part of the letter you will discuss what you will accomplish as a student in your cosmetology program. If you are a new student looking to get started in cosmetology, mention this. If you are an experienced cosmetologist looking to expand your skills, include this in your letter as well. If you have worked in the field, give the names of any salons or clients you have worked for. This will make you appear to be a more serious student and give you a better chance of being accepted into the program.
In many cases, the admissions counselors want to know why you chose their schools over others available. This is your chance to impress the admissions counselors. Let your research skills shine through. List specific courses in which you are interested, talk about special programs that the college offers and what makes the college stand out. If there are notable graduates of the school, discuss how you can relate to these graduates and how you hope to follow in their footsteps. Speak as positively about the school as possible without disparaging other schools.
Your letter of intent is a sales tool. You are selling the school on taking you on as a student. Highlight the best parts of yourself, while focusing on accomplishments that show you are disciplined, determined and motivated. Your letter of intent should give the admissions counselors a compelling reason why the school should choose you over all of the other applicants. Don’t forget to add a call to action at the end of your letter. A call to action tells your reader exactly what you want them to do. A common example of a call to action would be, “Selecting me for the cosmetology program would be an excellent way to add a new perspective and enhance your school’s image.
The admissions counselors will be reading hundreds of letters. They will look for reasons to eliminate candidates to make the selection process easier. Don’t let your letter find its way to the rejection pile.
Don’t submit your letter with spelling errors, grammatical errors or other mistakes. This will signal to your admissions counselors that you are not a serious, detail-oriented student.
If you have the name of the person who will receive your letter, address it directly to them. Don’t simply write, “Dear Admissions Counselor” if you know the person’s name. If you don’t know who to address the letter to, call and ask.
Schools often list deadlines for submitting your application and letter of intent for cosmetology school. Don’t submit your letter late. All of your work will be a waste if the college won’t accept your late submission.
Frank Trieu is a cosmetology industry leader, and despite his accomplishments and accolades, he still prioritizes students on the Evergreen campus. Through building relationships within the community and local salons, retail stores, and spas, he helps facilitate job placements for aspiring beauty professionals using his expansive network.
