Hotel Management? Help, please!

Question

I'm a 22 year old woman who recently came to the conclusion that retail just isn't going to cut it. While I knew this before, it's just been an ever increasing weight in my life that hasn't self resolved yet.

I've been looking into Hotel Management, since I've always enjoyed people, and seem to deal with them well. I feel I'm a well spoken, organized and goal oriented person who would succeed well in the industry. While I know all this, I run into a few snags.

For starters, I never took my SAT'S in high school. When I was 17 and graduated, I thought I knew everything (typical) and figured I just never would want to go to college. Now, having more experience in life, I realize I couldn't have been more wrong.

But where do I start?

Is it imperative to take the SAT'S in order to get into a hotel management course? Do you need to have a certain grade point average?

I was always a good student, but never applied myself (a mistake I'm paying for now).

I know the hours can be long once the position is acquired; is it worth it? Is it a rewarding career? What's really required in order to even begin such courses? Is there a demand for the position?

Any information regarding the subject is very much appreciated!

Thank you so much!

Answer 1

You have options to enter college.

1)  you can take SAT or ACT tests.   Go online to find local schedule and cost.

2)  Pick out one or more 4-year schools with a Hotel Management program you would like to enter.   Read the curriculum and understand the required coursework.   Then apply and enter a community college.    Most community colleges have no entry requirements other than tuition costs.    Look for classes that satisfy first and second year basic course requirements at the 4-year schools.    If you achieve high grades at the community college, most larger schools will accept transfer of your class credits at the community college and waive the requirement for SAT or ACT test scores.      Be careful choosing the community college.   BEFORE you spend tuition money, check with the larger 4-year school to make sure the class credits from your community college will transfer and how much credit you will receive.   Don't waste time and money if the 4-year school does not recognize the community college coursework.

I had a similar experience as you in high school.    I didn't apply myself and never took the ACT or SAT exams.    Years later I wanted to enter college.      At a community college, I scored very high grades for two years worth of credit and then transfered to University of Michigan.    Finished with a BS degree.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Hotel Management is usually offered at the local community college so I would start there. I don't know if you even need a SAT score to get in. They do some placement testing anyway.

Go for it and see where it takes you. U never know, u could wind up in Las vegas running a monster hotel.

Answer 3

The beginning courses are done at a junior college.  All you need to start there is a high school diploma or to pass the GED.  It will take two years if you go full time and will get you some sort of an AA depending on the program.

Two years may seem like a lot, but when economies get tight, one thing that dies fast is anything related to tourism, like hotels.  In two years maybe the field would look better.

Check out what hotel managers actually do.  Most of it is paper shuffling and meetings with other employees.  If you want to work with people, check out what the concierge does.  Good ones get amazing tips.