<p>What can a student do if she wants to double major in fashion merchandising and economics at a top school? None of the really prestigious schools (like UChicago) offer ANY fashion-related majors. The best schools for that are art schools like Parsons. ='(
Can anyone relate?
I don't even think really good schools have 'fashion clubs' or anything like that...Uchicago does though. They're not really concerned with things like fashion I guess.</p>
<p>have you looked into RISD?</p>
<p>Exhibit A of why you dont pick colleges based on 'name'</p>
<p>OMG I'm having the same problem.<br>
I'd love to do fashion design/business as a side or supplementary thing, but there are almost NO SCHOOLS that have top academics AS WELL AS a fashion program.<br>
huskem55, its not the name, its the fact that I want a challenging and motivating academic education while still being able to pursue my passion. </p>
<p>I've only found 2 options for us rare fashion AND academic loving people:
1) Cornell. They have a Department of Textiles and Apparel in their College of Human Ecology. They offer concentrations relating to design, merchandising, and textile science.<br>
2) Brown. Offers cross registration with RISD.</p>
<p>My problem is that I am not so sure I'd be able to survive Ithaca. I'm a city girl.</p>
<p>Washington University at St. Louis has a fashion major in its school of art. I assume it's possible to take courses in it if you don't major in it.</p>
<p>i'd assume nyu has some good connections in the city? you should look up some fashion designers that you like and see where they (and people who work for them) went to school.</p>
<p>I don't think RISD has a fashion merchandising program. </p>
<p>You could do Gallatin @ NYU.
or FIT, but that'd require some committment to fashion. </p>
<p>I don't think Parsons actually has fashion merchandising, but The New School DOES offer cross registration with Parsons and operates similar to Gallatin. Sure, it's not a 'ivy' but honestly, if you have the skills you're going to get recognized. </p>
<p>You could also just major in Econ and get your masters at a place like FIT.</p>
<p>huskem55: from what I know, most successful fashion designers attended design school, usually Parsons or FIT. </p>
<p>patois: FIT/Parsons is fantastic if you want to go into fashion. There are only 2 problems: 1) They don't offer particulary stellar academics (from what I know), and 2) You have to be 100% sure you are going into fashion/art b/c they don't offer other majors. I, on the other hand, would like to minor or take courses in fashion/art while pursuing a major in the social sciences. </p>
<p>The other specification that makes this hard for me, is that I am NOT going to the Midwest. This is one thing I have decided FOR SURE. It's just not for me: My friend recently told me that she wouldn't allow me to, because she was afraid I'd commit suicide. I prefer to stick to the coastlines. </p>
<p>so that rules out St. Louis
I might just take summer courses @ FIT or something.</p>
<p>As patois mentioned, Eugene Lang College at the New School is one possibility. It offers a dual degree program with Parsons or, if not, you can just take some Parsons courses, or check into the possibility of a minor in fashion at Parsons. While the New School is not the most prestigious academic school, it is a fairly good school with interesting courses.</p>
<p>The only other possibility I know of is University of Delaware, which offers a fashion major. However, if you're not interested in St. Louis (which is a pretty nice city), I'm not sure that you'd enjoy Newark, Delaware.</p>
<p>Also, if you do end up going into Fashion, 9 times out of 10 that Parsons name will get you in the door. So it's worth investigating the possibility of a dual enrollment. </p>
<p>Also.. you just meet so many people at Parsons. I'd say out of all of the arts schools, that's probably the best circle you could be in regardless of whatever you want to do in fashion. One of my bosses went to Parsons and he's now a top NYC model casting director - most of his clients are people who went to parsons. Young notables, too, like Vena Cava, not just random kids who want to be fashion designers.</p>
<p>I don't want to sound like I'm pushing you towards Parsons or anything, I just figured I'd interject some personal experience :)</p>
<p>Shuanggu, the fashion industry is broad and diverse field. Successful people have degrees in all sorts of disciplines. If you know you want to design, then go to design school. </p>
<p>If, on the other hand your interests are more general, e.g., you just like clothes, think you'd be good at merchandising, think retailing or brand management sounds exciting, like the idea of sourcing product from all over the world -- then I'd suggest you get an undergraduate degree from best college you can get into and don't worry about trying to "learn" the fashion industry in a educational environment.. </p>
<p>So much of what we do in the industry involves analysis, evaluation, articulation, both written and oral -- interpersonal communication and team playing skills that are exactly what you acquire in college, whether you study economics, history, biology or art history. </p>
<p>My advice is to study whatever appeals to you and allows you do well. During the summers and holidays you can get a job with a retail organization or an internship at a corporation that develops and markets a brand. These companies are basically looking for bright, aggressive young people with good communication skills, advanced taste level and a willingness to learn.</p>
<p>Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>
<p>I have a friend interested in exactly that, and I know his top choice is Parsons and his second choice is NYU.</p>
<p>thank you momwrath for your ideas.
I've already applied to several unis for fall 2007...none have fashion.
I really wanted to go to Parsons for a while but then I dont' really have the talent, so I just wanted to work in the Fashion industry in the future..probably in retail etc after getting an MBA.
It would really be nice though if I can get a really good academic education and maybe be able to do a minor in fashion to actually learn about it before I go to work, so employers know that I actually have some knowledge about the field.
Didn't apply to Cornell cuz it's too out in the country...I need the city to be nearby..at least suburbs.</p>
<p>btw I didn't apply to any schools in New York ='(
so outside courses at parsons are out of the question even if that was possible</p>
<p>You should look into the Retail program in the Business School at Syracuse. It's the most business-oriented of the Fashion MErchandising programs my DD has been looking into and one of the few that is housed in a business program (the others seem to be in either the Art dept or the Consumer Sciences school). Check it out, and good luck.</p>
<p>ETS: Its location should satisfy your need for a city setting.</p>
<p>Plannergrl</p>
<p>"I don't even think really good schools have 'fashion clubs' or anything like that...Uchicago does though. They're not really concerned with things like fashion I guess."</p>
<p>Yes, you are right. People at most top schools -- students, faculty and administrators -- tend to not value highly an interest in pursuing fashion.</p>