fashion_freak

does anyone have any idea of how successful SCAD's graduates with a fashion design major are? I applied to Parson's Design Management program because of its great reputation and got in...but I wasn't really feeling it after I visited, plus Parson's is ridiculously expensive, even with the Chase scholarship I got. however, I know that work experience and internships are important and there's no way I could get that in savannah or balance out a summer internship with a paying summer job at home in Chicago. For people on here who like to hate on SCAD, I'm aware of the crime rate and the higher acceptance rate, the lack of accreditation, and the faculty turnover. I visited and I just loved it because the facilities were clean, the students were happy/not zombies like at Parson's, and the displayed student work was on par with the student work. I'm not lazy either. I do really well academically and I have taken classes in fashion design at my high school and my local college. I am experienced with still life. However I feel a little shaky with my figure drawing because I still need magazine photographs to guide the proportion and shading of my figures. but like I said I'm not lazy, not a partier, and I'm willing to learn and take the initiative in order to do what I want to do. It's just that the "you have to go to Parsons or FIT in order to be successful" message is freaking me out a little.

fashion_freak

sorry

*...the displayed student work was on par with the stdent work [at Parsons]

kalonity

yeah, I can understand your worries about Parsons-- it is ridiculous expensive even with scholarships simply because it's in NYC. And several of the kids I know who go there party ALL the time, so that's a realistic concern as well.

I can't say anything about scad since I have no personal experience there, though I know one girl who transferred out and another one who goes there and is relatively happy- she says fashion majors seem to work really hard. success rates though? no idea. I did talk to someone who chose risd over scad who says that it's the faculty that makes a huge difference, so you might want to look into that since scad has a high turnover rate.

I'm personally going to risd though, probably for fashion, and I think the whole "parsons or fit = success" thing is bs. You should go to the program you feel like fits you best, and in the end it's what you do and make of it that determines your personal success. I'm sure there are plenty of Parsons grads who don't end up being remotely successful because they didn't work hard and flew under the radar (which seems pretty easy to do given Parsons' enormous fashion dept size). And one of my dad's friends' daughters who went to FIT couldn't find a job afterwards.

again, it's what you make of it! good luck!

caressemh

If you go to an AICAD school, you can always spend a semester at Pratt or Parsons! You don't necessarily have to go to one of the NYC schools to make connections

fashion_freak

what is an AICAD school?

Like the International Academy of Design and Technology or Illinois Institute of Art?

I don't think I could afford to attend Pratt or Parson's for even one semester :-). Honestly, I don't really think I would even like to live in New York after I graduate. I get that it's the fashion capitol of America, but if you've ever been to Chicago, you'd understand that it's like the greatest city in the world. The only place I'd live besides there is Paris..but that's not happening. Plus Mayor Daley is pushing the fashion industry here, so I'm not worried about being able to find a job here in a few years.

caressemh

AICAD - Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design.
AICAD - A Directory of Leading Art & Design Schools

Many of the leading art colleges are part of it, and as part of the agreement you can spend a semester at any one of the schools for the tuition cost of the school you're enrolled in. So if you went to, I dunno, lets say SAIC, but still wanted to get that NYC experience - you could go to Parsons for the same price of your SAIC tuition (probably a bad example since SAIC is $$$$ as well. But you get the idea.) The list of all the schools is here: AICAD - Find a School by Name I think they also have sister schools in foreign countries.

Unfortunately SCAD is not part of AICAD. But did you apply to any of the other schools on the list that are cheaper than Parsons? Maybe they are still a good option.

fashion_freak

RainingAgain? Are you out there????