I got a review here from PEX
CENTER FOR AESTHIC STUDIES (CAS of Franck Provost): DO NOT ENROLL HERE
To Those Who Love Makeup:
I know how it feels – staring at your makeup for long periods of time, daydreaming about them, succumbing to lemmings, writing reviews dutifully – and finally deciding to enroll in a makeup school like I did.
Let me share a most unfortunate experience of wasting time and resources studying in a so-called “top tier” local makeup school: THE CENTER FOR AESTHETIC STUDES (CAS OF FRANCK PROVOST).
I enrolled in a certificate-based BASIC Makeup Course, confident and excited because of its “reputation.” I thought I wouldn’t go wrong with Franck Provost. I was in for a lot of surprises.
The first day I noticed the class was too big: 18 students all in all. But I let it be, thinking as experts, they should know best. After a few weeks, everything was clear. We weren’t being given the amount of attention we paid for.
Day in and day out, it was apparent the instructor, MARI J. WILD, did not possess proper teaching skills. She would come into class happy and energetic, angry and wild (literally), and sometimes subdued again in a span of 4 hours. When we ask her questions, e.g., to show us how to do a smoky eye again, she would start screaming and asking why we have to ask that question, why we didn’t practice at home, why we didn’t pay attention – all the whys that were not helpful to us students at all. In short, she expected us to learn a technique the first time around! All of us had the same question: What was the point of enrolling if we knew makeup that well? As students, we absorbed her wrath every session. We couldn’t open our mouths when we have something to ask, complain about, request for. The basic workings of a normal class did not fit in with her.
When we were doing makeup in class, she, together with her assistant, would criticize us – not in a constructive way (believe me, it was obvious), but in an insulting manner. From the tone, to the body language, to how their eyes talked, they were being total *****es taking pleasure demeaning students and showing off their skills. Like me, I think you can tell from careful observation whether a person has good intentions or not. I tell you, in the CENTER FOR AESTHETIC STUDIES, from the directress to the instructor, artifice and oppression are what bind them.
The two months of the course was hell. I would think that the motivation to do better, learn, and finish the course was because of the instructor and the course content. But I found myself plowing on mainly because the money I paid couldn’t be refunded. I was hoodwinked this far; I wouldn’t allow them to take advantage of my money without me availing of the services I paid for.
At the end of the term, we weren’t allowed to see our grades yet. We were only told that “we didn’t make the cut” so we had to do another 20 faces (meaning 20 makeup looks on 20 different models) with printed photos. As if the money and time spent for the course weren’t enough, we were being asked to look for photographers and models just to prove that we deserve a BASIC makeup certificate.
I went to the directress to appeal. In the first place, everyone enrolled thinking they would receive a certificate when they finish the course, since it is ONLY a CERTIFICATE course. Although she heard me out, it was apparent in her porcine features that she was unhappy to hear my comments about her school and the faculty she hires. Before I even aired my concerns about the instructor, she interrupted me and made it clear that whatever I say, she would have to defend the instructor no matter what.
Now she must be either very stupid or a shameless extortionist. If a directress were really concerned about the quality of her school, she would welcome all comments openly and constructively. By telling me that she would set up defense, she was clearly saying that whatever feedback I have to give won’t matter – it won’t change the way she thinks of her school; it won’t even be put into consideration!
The school has been around for four years. This instructor has been around for the same time. I realized, if THE CENTER FOR AESTHETIC STUDIES were a reputable school with a genuine concern for its students, this instructor would not be around any more. The directress herself told me I wasn’t the first to complain. So why is she still there? Go figure.
But then again, no wonder. NO WONDER the instructor is still around. NO WONDER the directress allows her to stay—they are of the same ilk—unprofessional, narrow-minded, spiteful creatures of hell. I pity the owners who fool themselves that they are “committed to giving individuals… proper values in the field of cosmetology at standards that are internationally-recognized” when they themselves don’t live it.
Because of this school, I am so disappointed, utterly disillusioned about the makeup industry. I’m sure it is not this bad, but CAS makes it look unworthy. After all, don’t you learn the first things in school? In this case, CAS ruined everything.
So, please, if you respect yourself, cross this school out from your options. Believe me, CENTER FOR AESTHETIC STUDIES is not worth the passion for makeup. It’s not as if there are no other makeup schools in the country. They may be swaggering now, but let’s wait and see—a school with a substandard caliber and such vulgar attitude will not last long.
Shameless. That is all I can say.