Description
Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes of beauty school admissions?
In this episode of the DayMakers Podcast, hosts Larry Foster and Daved Dolce sit down with admissions experts Erin Baker, Angela Howard, and Alex Veguilla to unpack what makes Tricoci University’s admissions process so unique.
From first impressions to helping students find their perfect fit, this candid conversation shines a light on how the admissions team turns curiosity into confidence — and potential into purpose.
Whether you’re considering beauty school, supporting future students, or just love stories about people changing lives through education, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and inspiration.
Show Notes
– The mission and mindset of the Tricoci admissions team
– How empathy and connection drive meaningful student conversations
– Breaking down misconceptions about beauty school admissions
– The teamwork and collaboration behind every successful enrollment
– Real stories of student growth and transformation
– How Tricoci empowers future beauty professionals from day one
– Advice for anyone considering a career in beauty and wellness
Links:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/FVQ5wDkArw8
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vV4AnWqgfWmu4CG0XFYT7?si=abc8bfe69c594303
Transcript:
We are here to make people feel good about themselves.
We really have to feel like we are a day maker for the guest.
“You’ve made my day.”
How great is that when you hear those words from your guest?
Hey, everybody.
This is the Day Makers podcast.
I’m the host, Daved Dolce, along with one of my mentors, Larry Foster.
We get to do this together for the first time.
I’m really excited.
But today, I’m super excited, we’re interviewing our admissions team from Tricoci University.
I was once part of their team.
I will be forever.
Um, welcome Erin, Alex, and Angela.
How you doing today?
We’re good.
Thank you.
Great.
Yeah, thank you.
Doing well.
Awesome.
So, let’s start off by telling everybody what your roles are with admissions, and, like, uh, what excites you about what you do?
Wow.
That’s a loaded question ’cause-
I could talk for hours.
Uh, lots of things excite me, but my role, I am the regional director of admissions.
I’m also responsible for education partnership.
Mm-hmm.
And I oversee 6 of our campuses.
What excites me about the position is the opportunity to be the front lineman of someone making a career change, a life change, that could just take them into a whole different trajectory, so that’s the exciting part for me, personally.
Fantastic.
Yes, yes.
And so, same, same position, uh, regional director of admissions.
And what we enjoy most is being able to change lives.
Yep.
Every single day of the week.
That’s really all about in admissions.
Every single day.
Yes, we get to do that.
Yeah, I always tell people that, um, what
it means so much to me that there are people walking around this earth that at some point in their life have said to themselves, “Erin Ba- Baker helped change my life.”
And that is just extremely meaningful.
The
Yes.
That is huge.
It is.
Uh, you know, it’s incredible because, you know, having, you know, special story about Alex who was actually a student when I was a teacher.
So, he
I’ve watched him grow through all those different phases and- Yeah.
seen him change his life.
Yeah.
You know, watching a student like that mature, and it all starts with admissions.
So, somebody- Yeah.
who’s interested in Tricoci and coming to school here, tell us what that process looks like.
It’s actually very unique.
0 uh, unlike the traditional environment where you literally will, you know, i- inquire about our program, and then you would actually speak with someone personally.
So, it’s not just a matter of doing an application online, which is the traditional method, e- answering essay questions and you’re accepted or you’re not.
This is more on a very personal approach where the advisor, our admissions advisors where we
those are the individuals that we lead, they talk to the pr- prospective student, uncover, like, some of the interests, the passion, to make sure it is a right fit, but also talk about some things that may be challenging for them to help them overcome it.
So, it’s a very, very quaint environment when we speak with them.
It’s just us and the student walking through
prospective student, I should say, just kind of walking through the process.
So, I think that is what is the game changer for a Tricoci University.
Not many student, uh, schools are doing that these days.
And I like that.
You know, so when we’re talking about that interview process, why do we feel like it’s so important for the students to go through that interview process?
We, we always have to find their wants and desires and figure out what they really want, what they’re looking for.
So, that’s why we take such good care of them and we focus so much on getting to know the student, what it is that they want, what is their goals, desires, what do they want to see in the future maybe 2, 3, 5 years down the, down the line.
Because, at the end of the day, we are here to help them truly not only change their lives- Mm-hmm.
but their kids’ life.
And- Yes.
and, and it trickles down.
It’s, it’s really a generational thing that this makes such a big impact that w-
I mean, we
that’s why we have to take our job so seriously- Yeah.
because we do have that power to do that every single day.
You know what?
It’s very
it’s a discovery session.
Yeah.
And some walk away discovering maybe this isn’t the route.
And that’s okay, too.
But it gives you an opportunity to open up and kind of share, and then we share based on our experience, it helps them to discover which path they want to take.
Right.
Yeah.
And some, sometimes it’s, “This is the correct route.”
Yes.
Oh, yeah.
May- maybe, maybe not at this point.
uh, more often than not.
Right.
That’s exactly right.
Yes.
That
so, but they eventually come anyway.
Yes.
You know?
Yes.
Yeah, absolutely love that.
That’s great.
Mm-hmm.
So, I mean, not even just students, but everybody these days, scheduling, finances- Yes.
um, time management, work/life balance, family.
There’s so much things that you think about and your brain buzzes about when you think about, especially if you’re a little bit older, about going back to school.
Mm-hmm.
What does Tricoci University do to help people kind of manage that and see what they can do?
You know, I think, um, we have a good number of admissions advisors who are licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, licensed educator.
Daved, you used to be- Yes.
1.
And, uh, I think it’s so special that, um, our prospective students are sitting down with an admissions advisor who has probably been in that same situation.
Yes.
And many of them, we have advisors who were single parents whenever they went to cosmetology school and got their license.
So- Mm-hmm.
have literally been in their exact same, um, position, and they’re able to coach them, you know, in, in what is really like because they have that personal, uh, experience.
That makes a lot of sense.
And what
our industry, it doesn’t matter the age.
It’s never too late to start.
Mm-hmm.
You can start at any point of your journey and become successful.
It’s all about your desires and wants and what do you really want to do.
Just like with anything in life is what you put into it is what you’re gonna get out of it.
Yeah.
Yep.
And it’s never too late.
If you have the time and the energy, you can accomplish anything that you want.
Yeah.
I mean, it’s 17-year-old students and they’ve had- Yes.
50-year-old students.
That’s, yeah, that’s what I was gonna say.
A lot of people venture out there and realize that
you know, this is not the route.
And they- Right.
we end up, you know, speaking with them, and they’ve tried all the busyness and the schedules and thinking that career was the right route.
But we s- have so much flexible scheduling at a lot of our campuses, so it’s a good fit.
And we just teach you how to manage life.
That’s fantastic, Larry.
Yeah.
It was, it was a second career for me, too.
Yes.
You know?
So
And, and we’ve had students who’ve done it as retirement.
Mm-hmm.
Right.
And for me, it was a matter of, you know, this was something I wanted to do since I was little- Mm-hmm.
but I wasn’t aware of what we do with that.
Yes.
You know?
‘Cause I grew up with my aunt being a hairdresser- Mm-hmm.
but hairdressers back then aren’t hairdressers now, right?
Mm-hmm.
You can be as big as you want to be, as little as you want to be.
You can make as much money.
You can do it part-time.
Uh-huh.
You know, so we have those people that come in after retirement and they wanted, they’ve always wanted to do it, and now’s their time to do it.
So we have that, and I love that.
Yep.
But tell us about the kind of hurdles that you might hear from a student as far as the admissions process and what’s going on in their life and how do we help them overcome those hurdles?
Um, you know, if you don’t mind- No, absolutely not.
uh, a couple of things.
I, I really feel like many times the biggest hurdle is just fear.
Hmm.
Fear of the unknown, fear of, “Am I gonna be good at this?”
Mm-hmm.
Um, “Am I gonna embarrass myself?”
Just fear.
And sometimes we can let, um, smaller, I guess, obstacles, you know, get in the way.
Magnify.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it matters more than less.
Because
But really, it is that we’re, we’re
It’s just fear.
And, um, you talked a lot about future and I think that our students need to really, um, think where do they see themselves and whenever they think of their future and them being happy, what are they doing?
And if that is in this industry- Mm-hmm.
is this short-term sacrifice that they’re gonna have to make- Yeah.
in order to go to school- Mm-hmm.
worth the long-term gain?
Yes.
‘Cause there’s never gonna be a perfect time.
Right.
Mm-hmm.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
And I would say to anyone that’s fearful, do it scared.
Just do it.
I agree.
Yeah.
Ooh.
Do it scared.
Don’t be afraid to tackle it.
Uh, you’d be surprised what’s on the other side.
I mean, I think we’ve all been in fear factors at some point in our lives.
Yeah.
And then you end up like, “Wow.”
I mean, we have the obstacles of finance and all of those, but we have every resource available to assist and guide them through the process.
Financial is a big thing.
People are afraid of it, but it’s an investment.
And that’s how you have to look at it.
We invest in everything else that’s tangible.
I mean, and we got grants.
Yes, absolutely.
We got all sorts of scholarship opportunities.
Yeah, but we’ll, we’ll buy a car, won’t we-
and take a loan, won’t we?
Yeah.
Absolutely.
But when it comes to the education, we just don’t see it because it’s not tangible.
Uh, but the end result is something that will never depreciate when you walk off the lot.
How about that?
Yes.
You know?
Yes, yes.
And no one can ever take away.
Take it away from you.
No matter what.
We’ll get you a better car.
Yes.
Yeah, you better believe it.
One of the best investments you can make.
It really is.
And some of us have done it multiple times.
I know Alex is a multi-license.
Yeah.
I’m multi-licensed.
Daved’s multi-licensed.
We have our students who come back because we are all family.
And I think we’re doing a good job- Hmm.
’cause we are a family and we sit and talk a lot.
Yes.
So the fact that we’re actually doing this and talking cohesively, I think that’s an accomplishment for us, for that too- Yeah.
because There’s these students.
you know, Larry, I just wanna make sure they know we’re not all cosmetologists.
I’m, I, my background was journalism.
But this is, like you said, I never understood the value in this career or what you could do with it because it’s oftentimes-
like, uh
I think we need to get you your honorary cosmo license.
I think I should be an os-
Uh, I- Because you do a lot of hair.
I, I agree.
Now that I do- You do your own hair and it looks good.
Yes.
Learned it from the best.
But the fact that the students, because of our family-type relationship, it goes on to the students because our students, when they enroll, their admissions advisor is still part of their process even when they’re in school.
Absolutely.
Yeah, yeah.
You know, and the fact that they have that resource to go back to their admissions advisor plus the resource of the SSA or campus director or the leadership team, their educators.
You know, we, we start with the admission process- Hmm.
and they are a huge part of helping us with our students’ success.
Yeah, well, and, and- So we appreciate that too.
and that’s why it’s so important for they, for them to know that we are there for them.
Right.
And we are there for them every step th- every step of the way.
Um, we just make sure that they have what they need.
If they need help finding resources, whatever it is that they need- Mm-hmm.
we try to provide that for them to give them that peace of mind that they need.
Yep.
To know that, “Hey, you have somebody in your corner.
You’re not doing this alone.”
‘Cause that’s the biggest factor.
Sometimes students, they feel like they don’t have support, or maybe they have family and friends, or people telling them, “This is not what you should do or move forward.”
And when they have a big team like us at Tricoci University always cheering them on and helping them every step of the way- Yeah.
for them to change their future, it makes a big difference, and it’s impactful in their lives.
And I know it, it did it for my- myself in my life because of somebody in admissions that helped me through the process and, and guided me, and that’s exactly what we do every day.
I’ve changed my life completely because of it.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
So it really does make a difference.
Yes, yes.
Never forget your admissions advisor, Erin Baker.
That’s right.
There you go.
Alex is with Kerry, so we go, we go, we serve- Yeah, yeah.
Shout out to Kerry too.
Yeah, yeah.
So, but I think that that’s important.
Yes, it is.
And I love that.
Um, so do you ever get phone calls from students, “I want to go to Tricoci University.
I’m thinking about it, but I kind- I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
You offer all these programs, and then through the discussions you have a revelation of what’s the best fit for them?
Oh, absolutely, uh, which is one of the endless reasons why the interview is so important.
Um, school, like Angela said, is an investment.
Yeah.
And if you’re going to make an investment, we want to make sure that it’s right.
Um, you know, so many schools don’t have an interview process at all.
You, you apply and you- Mm-hmm.
send in your test scores, and you’re either, you know, you’re in or you’re out.
Or some schools have an interview process, but it’s 100% are you good for me, are you good for the school?
Um, but here during our interview process, what we’re looking for is, yes, are, are you a good fit for Tricoci, but is Tricoci a good fit- Good fit for you.
And if you’re going to make this investment, are you going to be a successful student, be able to graduate and get that license and be successful out, out in the industry?
Mm-hmm.
And I love that you message- mentioned all the different licenses that you can get.
Um, how many phone calls do you think you get like, “Hey, I did your cos program.
Now I want to be an esthetician.”
Yes.
Or, “I did cos.
I want to be a barber.”
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
It’s, it’s often.
It really is often that students
And once you get in, in the school and you start experiencing the different programs, that’s when your eyes really get opened to other possibilities.
Yep.
At first you didn’t know anything maybe about skin, you only thought about hair.
Or you didn’t know anything about nails, and you only thought about skin.
And once you get in and exposed to the different programs, not only the teachers but the, the, the students and everybody and everything that they do, it kind of piques your interest.
That’s what happened to me.
Mm-hmm.
I started with cosmetology.
I didn’t know anything about esthetics.
Oh.
Once I started getting exposed to it, I started getting treatments-
then that opened my eyes to, like, “Hey, this is another program.”
And that’s what happens to a lot of our students, because we house all the programs under the same school- Yep.
they get to see what other programs have to offer.
Mm-hmm.
And they
Sometimes they get to experience what the service is like.
So at that point, they’re able to get full on experience, and then that’s what piques their interest to come back and say, “Hey, I want to do this.
I want to expand.”
And then when they know that other teachers and staff members, they have multiple license- Mm-hmm.
that also motivates them- That’s true too.
to come back and- Yeah.
be able to expand their services and, and the possibilities, right?
I love it, yeah.
So we can go on, on forever.
Yes.
Yeah.
Because, and quite honestly, you guys make my day every day I get to interact with you, and I love you guys for that.
We love you so much.
So, but tell us, let’s go down the line.
What actually does being a daymaker mean to you?
Angela?
You know, I’ll tell you a qu- really quick story, and it made my year.
A student who had been through a pretty tough season in her life, and it was a really bad season, like abuse and all these things that she was going through.
And she talked to one of the admissions advisors at one of my locations, and they encouraged her, and she said, “I won’t be able to do this.
I’ll try it.”
She came in.
She got a part of the community that Alex was speaking of.
We had our educators pushing her.
We had students pushing her.
The advisor was pushing her.
It was tough.
I won’t even share her whole story, but it was a tough season, and she graduated a couple of weeks ago.
And that made my whole day.
When I know that I am impacting lives or leading someone, I didn’t work with her directly, but we’re leading someone to impact a life, that makes my life, because that’s what
Isn’t that our purpose really in life is to- Yeah.
I think it is.
help others and elevate them?
Should be.
So yes, that made my whole day.
I love that.
And we probably do that a lot more than you imagine.
Oh, yes.
With you on your team.
Absolutely.
You just don’t hear it all.
But it’s a, it was a great story.
It is.
Yeah, being a daymaker, I think that’s just putting a grain of salt and just doing some, like, a drop with
It could start with a drop and then that trickles out to something so much bigger- Mm-hmm.
and that’s the impact that we have.
Right.
And what we do every day, what we do in our role- Mm-hmm.
and, you know, I’ve, I’ve experienced it firsthand, so it’s so impactful for me.
So it’s just being that person there to support one another, to let somebody know you’re not alone.
You have somebody in your corner.
You have somebody that believes in you.
Even if you feel like the world out there is, is not for you or against you, know you have people in your corner.
So, being that person that always motivates and inspire others to be better and become better.
Right.
And, and making their day, ’cause one day can turn into that person’s whole life- So true.
being completely different, and that’s so impactful, and that’s why I love w- what we do.
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, I think th- you’re talking about something that’s like that butterfly effect- Right.
Mm-hmm.
and it is huge, because a lot of our students, there’s a good portion of them that don’t have cheerleaders in their lives- Yeah.
and the fact they have all of us- Yeah.
once they get here, to be that cheerleader, I think is tremendous.
Erin?
Yeah, I’m gonna piggyback off of that a little bit, because, um, you know, I don’t really think of us as daymakers.
Uh, we do make people’s day, but more than that, uh, and every employee of Tricoci University, from admissions to educators and student success advisors to COO and CFO, we’re, we’re life makers.
We’re future makers.
I love that.
It goes so far and ab- above and beyond- A day.
a, a day.
Yeah.
That’s awesome.
That’s beautiful.
Well, you know, we’re honored to have you guys here.
We love it.
Thank you guys.
Happy to be here.
We love talking with you guys.
Thank you so much.
It’s been too long, so the fact that we get to spend this time together is incredible.
So, and thank you guys for joining us on the Daymakers podcast with Tricoci University.
Yes.
Thank you.