Regency Beauty Institute Lansing, Michigan Campus $18,000 for a less-than mediocre cosmetology school! Lansing, Michigan

It is clear that you have no understanding of Cosmetology or it's practices. So let me tell you what you don't know about your situation and maybe you might understand what is going on. I'll try to address this as you stated it. I mean no disrespect, and some of this may seem harsh, but it is the truth of Cosmetology schools and it's the standard by which all of those you admire in the industry started with. Everyone you respect in this industry started right where you are in the same kind of school and the same rules.

"Douglas J and Excel offer product kits to to their students"

Fabulous... and when they're empty? They are not replaced. You will have to purchase them yourself. That's cute but no where near practical in a long program.

"We found seats next to people we "felt we could learn from"? (ok I'm paraphrasing)"

That's wonderful, but the "few always spoil it for the many", so while you were diligently working and maybe even minding your own business? There were far too many playing around with their friends to bother actually doing the work. Are you there for your education? Or are you there to socialize and do as you please? You are not paying them to do your bidding, you are paying for the priviledge of a secondary education that is accelerated.

"If the "computer makes an error" and doesn't count your hours Regency will not fix it."

If you look at the laws and regulations of the State Board in your state? You will find that it is a matter of law... not capability. Should they alter that record in any way? The school would be commiting fraud on your behalf, even if the time clock is to blame. Not very nice I know, but it IS a matter of law. It has also been mandated that all clocks be fingerprint or handprint in order to stop time clock fraud by other students using a scan card or punch card for a different student to clock them in and give them hours when they weren't ever there. It is law in all states. It is also the greatest excuse for a student to claim the "time clock did it". That may not be your behavior, but trust me there are students who lay awake at night drumming up ways to get away with time clock fraud.

As for your Phase 1 or Freshman classes? You are not supposed to be "good at it" or even understand it. Phase 1 is an experience of the very basic methods. It is to learn about the concepts and laws and nothing more. It would take your whole program and 3-5 years more to be good at ANY of the things you learn. This is a common misconception, and every freshman makes this complaint. It is the lack of knowing how the program works that causes the fear every Freshman faces when going out to the clinic floor.

Every school is frought with theft. Theft is never the responsibility of the school, and generally speaking, those that have theft, usually left their items for exceptionally long periods of time and then claim to have been gone for only 5 minutes, or just turned around and then turned back. All the while they had already been cited for their exessive absense (unknown to them of course). There you have the time clock fraud again, not being where you were supposed to be, when you were supposed to be there. It is always possible to have your things stolen, and I'm sure it does actually happen, but not as often the way people claim it to be happening. 

The reasons for clocking out are always as follows:

Breaking dress code rules

Clocking in and not at your assigned work area

Arguing with an Instructor in front of other students or clients

Refusal of a service on a client

Taking exessive or unassigned breaks without prior permission

Vulgar, unprofessional language, or outright cussing

Disrespctful behavior or interefering with the education of a fellow student

And many many more... Some the school contract dictates, some is a matter of State Law.

Your complaint consists of gossip from other students, a lack of understanding of the profession, and a sense of entitlement.

Please realize you are there to get an education and to pass your State Board exam. You are not there to do as you please. You are not "paying them to work for you". They are providing an education and that costs money.  

You have a law book and all of the laws that are required of you and the school, why are you not consulting that for information? You signed a contract that included rules. Did you sign without reading them?

I must sound like your school to you, but I am on the other side of the country. This is common and normal behavior of students everywhere. I'm sorry that you didn't realize this was the way it is in schools. Just get your education and work hard to pass the State Board exam. That is, after all, what you are really there to do.