<p>I am, where are you in the process?</p>
<p>My daughter has her application, transcripts, etc submitted. We took a tour last week of the "campus" and we will go back down to NYC from maine for a portfolio review sometime the next few months. She is interested in architecture/product design. She really liked the location and the facilites but Dad was not as pleased as she. Her decision though.</p>
<p>How come you didn't like it?</p>
<p>well...
I'm the Daddy.
It seemed kind of cramped? narrow corridors, drawing tables jammed in. Small. Mostly women--75%. Same for New school. She would like a better mix. People seemed a bit cold after the warmth I felt at Pratt. These are pretty shallow impressions and it was a very rainy day at the end of the semester and everyone was getting ready for the end of term party. But...it would not top my list.</p>
<p>The dorm we walked to was several blocks away and the woman giving the tour assured us that she routinely made the walk at 2 AM with no problems. I might be from the woods, but she is playing the odds in my estimation. Nice neighborhood and all, but 2 AM in NYC and I am not walking alone. And I have a black belt.</p>
<p>On the other hand--reputaion and quality are terrific. A neighborhood that most New Yorkers would kill to live in- The village and 5th ave. But that neighborhood costs 3k more in room/board as a result. My D wants to have the city experience after growing up in a very tiny town in Maine. 3500 people. The IS the big city life. You walk out the door onto a movie set. And Parsons is a great school academically and deisgn-wise.</p>
<p>I would be interested in other's impressions to set me straight.</p>
<p>Hi Glichte,
Personally I felt the same way about Parsons and so did my D, that is why she didn't even apply there, however it does have wonderful programs and a great reputation. My friend's D who goes there did have problems with housing. She was placed in a dorm by the Seaport and had to tke the subway to classes. Another friend's D lucked out and got a dorm by Union Square. Keep in mind that housing is only guaranteed for two years there. Lack of campus was an issue for my D. That is why she ended up at Pratt.</p>
<p>Cama</p>
<p>See I was admitted to Pratt for fashion, I just sent in my application for Parsons today, and FIT last week. The problem I have with Pratt is that it doesn't seem to have as much recognition as Parsons does for fashion. That's a concern for me, because I want to have the best opportunities, and just everything at my fingertips after graduating from a school, and I might have my conception of parsons wrong, but isn't Parsons the place to be if you want fashion and you want those connections?</p>
<p>By the best, I mean to say #1 school for it, I know that FIT is also good, but I want the best, and I'd be totally clueless as to where attend if I got accepted to all three in NY. Just because I don't know what will get me better opportunities by the time I graduate.</p>
<p>If you are going into fashion, the recognized number one school is FIT. No one doubts that. However, FIT is just one building and is a small school without any campus. Pratt will give you a very good art and fashion education and a campus life. Although Pratt may not be as well rated as FIT in fashion, they are a well-known art school that has a different feel than FIT. You really need to visit all possible schools and get a feel for each school. </p>
<p>Also, Parsons, FIT are city schools. I personally liked the campus of Pratt. Another school that you should check out would be RISD. RISD doesn't have the same reputation for fashion as FIT, but it is ranked number one in the country by US News and World Report for overall art education. It is a very well recognized school in both the US and outside of the US.RISD also has a very different feel being in Providence R.I. and next to Brown. RISD probably gives the best overall liberal arts education among the bunch since kids can take all their liberal arts at nearby Brown University, which is an added plus.</p>
<p>From a friend who is a retired art director for a VERY big NY agency--If your goal is to make it on the fashion scene--FIT first and then Parsons and make your splash within 2 years. Really get noticed. </p>
<p>If you want to be a rounded individual with multiple options, explore opportunities and yourself and also have a very successful life in fashion, Pratt and RISD.</p>
<p>It is your call. The GREAT advantage to Parsons over FIT in my opinion is the foundation year. You will have a grounding as a designer and artist first. You will be exposed to other ideas and subjects that you will always draw on as an adult.</p>
<p>As far as being scouted by big design houses. They go to all of these schools and search for talent. Just remember that they talk to the professors first so impress your teachers by asking, listening, following up and getting things in on time because that is what they will judge you on as well.</p>
<p>glichte,</p>
<p>My daughter chose Parsons over Pratt because of the foundation year. Also, she preferred being in the city.</p>
<p>My nephew also chose Parsons over Pratt, mainly because of location (his major: illustration). He also chose it over RISD (didn't actually apply there, but I'm positive he could have gotten in) for the same reason.</p>
<p>Glichte,
More impressions of Parsons and Pratt
My daughter wasn't assigned to a dorm but a Salvation Army building for women. It was meant to be temporary but when they offered her dorm space, she turned them down to stay at the SA. It's a nice area and only one block from classes with plenty of restaurants nearby. She's actually said she would be perfectly happily staying there
for the four years.</p>
<p>She raved about Parsons after she took the tour and thought the classrooms and equipment were much better than at Pratt. I don't know because I didn't do the
tours, we went off to do our own thing. I sent her with my Sister-In-Law (grad
of Harvard design school so I respect her opinion) to see Pratt and Parsons when she was making her final decision and had been accepted at both. The funny part is she wants to go the fashion design route (though now she is seriously thinking costume design) and hasn't been able to visit the building.</p>
<p>The Parsons staff we met during Orientation were very nice and helpful (not cold to us). We never spoke with anyone at Pratt (we only made a quick run-through at the
tail end of their open house after a long interview at Parsons) and when they offered
my daughter a couple of large scholarships, she decided she should give the school
a thorough look (hence the return visit with Sister-In-Law).</p>
<p>She never applied to RISD, though she did attend their summer program (concentration in sculpture) and oddly enough it was there that she started thinking about fashion design. Some of the other students on her dorm room floor were doing
the fashion design concentration (which she had never even thought about before) and she ended up helping them with some of their projects. She thought it was great fun, hard work but much more interesting than architecture, interior design or industrial design.</p>
<p>Ahh I'm so confused. I don't know what to do. I'm already planning and I haven't already been accepted to Parsons or FIT.</p>
<p>So first I hear that if I want to do fashion, the most recognized school is FIT according to TaxGuy and glichte, but then why does Parsons have more famous alumni than FIT? I also have heard that Otis College of Art & Desing is another school that supposidly education wise is better than all of them, that even students from Parsons transfer to Otis. I personally always thought Parsons was the place to be just due to the many designers that have turned out. But now if they accepted me at all of them, I would have no idea where to attend.</p>
<p>I'm the type of student who works hard and I want to attend the school that has the best resources and opportunities, that way I can apply my hard work and take advantage of them. From all of the schools which one would give me this?</p>
<p>No one said Parsons was a bad school. You note, "why does Parsons have more famous alumni?" First, did you count the alumni? Also, I think that Parsons is smaller than FIT,but I could be in error. Also, FIt is known primarily for fashion. Parsons has other good programs too such as design etc.</p>
<p>Liek,
Anyone of these schools would be good for fashion. FIT ... you start taking fashion courses first year. No foundation year. Very well connected to the industry. Calvin Klein alum. etc... Other strong programs Fashion merchandising, only school to offer perfume industry degree with great career opportunities, is FIDER accredited for interior design, one of only a few schools to offer major in toy design. Portfolio requirements are different for fashion. Freshman dorm right across the street, guaranteed for first year only.</p>
<p>Parsons... great rep also for fashion and also well connected in the industry. Might be some problem with housing. You do not start taking fashion until second year, first year is strictly foundation. Known for fashion, illustration etc. has interior design program but not FIDER accredited. Much more expensive then FIT especially for in state students. Fine arts portfolio is utilized/ different from FIT</p>
<p>Pratt... Also good for fashion but different foundation year for fashion students. Start taking some fashion courses foundation year. Housing guaranteed all four years a subway ride away from SOHO. Other programs it is known for Industrial Design ,Arch. Interior Design FIDER accredited, Computer Graphics and Art education etc. Gives a significant amount of scholarship based on merit and portfolio. Also has alot of famous alum and is also well connected to the industry. I tink portfolio for fashion is a combo of fine arts and fashion just like their foundation year is.</p>
<p>I think for the most part being in the city, as all of these schools are will give you ample opportunity for internships. Each school has a different feel and the best thing for you is to visit if you can. It is really a personel preference and you cannot go wrong with any of them for Fashion. All of these schools have great overseas programs as well.</p>
<p>That's a really helpful summary, Cama. I think another consideration for Liek might be how certain she is that she wants a fashion major. If possibly she wants to go into some other art or design area -- or at least to keep a range of possibilities open -- then a program like Pratt's or Parsons might provide a broader foundation, and yet ultimately a very fine entree into fashion (and into the NY fashion industry) if that's where she winds up. Just as your daughter did, most students change their majors once or twice in college, even those who specialize in the arts.</p>
<p>I'm 100 Percent sure I want to do fashion, that's why i just want to have the best opportunities and connections i can get, and i just wish to know what school from all three will offer me that. I don't mind Parsons foundation year, i don't mind's Pratt's either. As for housing, my parents plan to get me a condo out near by, and I'm out of state so FIT's tuition will still be higher for me, but still cheaper than Pratt and Parsons, so I guess what's the best choice. If you guys were going into fashion, and doing nothing else but fashion, what school would you chose from all 3 for best future career opportunities.</p>
<p>Hi Liek,</p>
<p>It's difficult for anyone here to provide solid advice for a few reasons. First of all, although your passion for fashion is clear, you haven't been admitted to all three of these schools yet, so you have time to get more information. Second, you haven't told us much about your art or fashion background, and so although certainly your admission to Pratt is very promising this leaves open whether you might really benefit from or want to get a broad art/design background -- or keep your options open for future. Third, as I mentioned above, most kids change their majors at least once, and so it's quite possible that you will find something that is more attractive to you than fashion once you move into college. (But once you commit to an art school, you already close off a lot of options -- certainly this was one concern that we as parents had when my daughter declared after her soph year on high school that she wanted to go to an art school.)</p>
<p>Another factor that ultimately will matter more than your choice between one of these three schools (and the internships/connections that you might get) will be your own portfolio. It's your portfolio, your accomplishments and ideas while a student, that will market you, even more than the school you attend. Your ability to come up with new designs, products, ideas and to present them effectively both digitally, in pics, and in oral presentations will be the main factor that determines your initial success on the job market. </p>
<p>Also, however, judging by my daughter's experience, having a broad range of skills can help in the job market and your career as well. In her current job, my daughter is using her training in graphic design just as much as her training in industrial design (her major). Although she's not currently focusing on environmental design as such (which is where she wants to go eventually, and she took a lot of relevant coursework for this), she's networking by being involved in a group ("O2") of ecologically-oriented designers in NYC (this across many design fields, not just ID). So having an ability to converse across media, across specializations, can be useful, too.</p>
<p>My feeling is that you can launch a good career in fashion from any of the three schools. You will also find that the students interact, and students from outside NY also migrate there in all kinds of art/design fields. And after your initial job your movements are not going to depend on which of those schools you attended.</p>
<p>Thank you mackinaw, I guess I am getting a little ahead of my time without having been admitted to parsons and fit yet. I've been in a fashion magnet at my high school for the past 3 years and a half, and like I'm really thankful that I had this opportunity because without it I don't think I would have ever pursued and interest in fashion. To tell you the truth, I am unsure of what I want to do in fashion. Like from personal experience, I don't see myself as the type that sits down and sketches lines or stuff like that, I'm more hands on, and I think I'd better serve like say as a stylist, or a creative director who chooses what goes into a collection and what doesnt, and picks themes and puts them together. I jsut want to do fashion. And I'm not one of those types that likes shopping and who will end up dropping out because it's not what I caught up to be. I know that foundation year is like general studio art, which I'm ok with it, it's just that doing general art like painting and drawing is not my interests. Based on this, I'm pretty sure I'll be recommended to go to FIT, where I wouldn't have to go through that, but if I"m accepted at all of the schools, when I see myself at FIT, I imagine myself regretting not having choosing Parsons, and when I imagine myself at Parsons, I imagine myself being happier than having gone to FIT. Well maybe this is a prejudged feeling, and when I go visit in spring break i might end up liking fit better than parsons. As for Pratt I would first attend Otis here in Los Angeles before going to Pratt, and I'm already in at Otis.</p>