A lot of young aspiring models make the mistake of paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars for modeling school when it really isn’t necessary. If your goal is to become a supermodel, it’s not worth it. Most modeling schools are run by well-trained salespeople who know how to tap into your dreams and how much people are willing to pay to make them come true.

This is not to say that there are not benefits to attending a modeling school, because there are—as long as you don’t have huge expectations. There are many modeling schools out there that are not outrageously priced, and that can help build your self-confidence and gain knowledge about the fashion and modeling industry. To even get noticed by a modeling agency your personality, not only your look, must shine through, which a modeling school can help you with. Just make sure you do plenty of research on a school first—read complaints, success stories, reviews, etc.—but more importantly, follow your instincts.