FIT vs SVA

Colleges and Universities A-Z Fashion Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hi guys</p>

<p>I was accepted to both of these schools to study graphic design but I cannot decide which one to go to.
As of right now I'm leaning towards FIT because tuition is cheapest and I do very much like this school. My parents are unable to pay for it, so It'll be left for me to pay for when I'm out of college. I got some financial aid but it only knocks about 10 grand off the price of SVA's tuition.<br>
But mainly I'm wondering is am I sacrificing a better education at SVA because of the expensive tuition? And is it even that much better?
I'm thinking I can get just as good of an education at FIT (and I'll love it all the same) as I would at SVA. </p>

<p>So ..... I'm rambling. What should I do? Help!!</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>-Overall SVA is much of a better school (for graphic design in your case)
[School</a> of Visual Arts | Overall Rankings | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/school-of-visual-arts-197151/overall-rankings]School”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/school-of-visual-arts-197151/overall-rankings)</p>

<p>I’m guessing that you almost close to committed to FIT tho.
Just know that FIT is geared and recognized for fashion majors.
FIT doesn’t have the same reputation and status of SVA, since SVA is well known for Arts/humanities course. If you understand what I’m trying to say.</p>

3

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>Fist I’d like to say that I am currently a freshman at FIT studying communication design. I am absolutely in love with my classes so far, and so happy I decide to go to FIT for my degree.
(Just to make things clear, at FIT you study communication design for the first 2 years and then you decide if you want to go into graphic design, advertising design, or packaging design for the last two years.) </p>

<p>I won’t say much about SVA, because I do not know too much information about their graphic design program, but I will speak very highly of FIT’s program. </p>

<p>First thing first, FIT is NOT geared toward just fashion majors. Yes the word ‘fashion’ is in our name, but every program, whether it be communication design, illustration, advertising and marketing ect. is just as good as the fashion programs. (If not better) People who actually know about FIT know that there are over 40 majors beyond fashion design. </p>

<p>In communication design, from day one, you are learning information about the field you will be working in. Most, if not all of the professors are currently work in the field they teach, and they let you know what is going on in the real world of graphic design. (Or whatever field they work in.) The teachers are tough and know what they want, and they are not afraid to rip up your work that took you hours and tell you to redo it. They will push you until they can get the best work out of you. Because your professors work in the field, they have many connections to internships and jobs. FIT is great for networking, and you are almost guaranteed a job straight out of college; and who doesn’t want that? </p>

<p>Generally, I feel like SVA is more ‘Fine Arts’ based, and focuses more on producing “atrsy work” rather than practical work that will land you a job. However, that is my personal opinion. I don’t want to get into a fight over which school is better, but I can say that at FIT you will get a GREAT education in your field of study, and when people see the name Fashion Institute of Technology on your degree, they will hold you with high regards, because people who know what they are talking about, know that FIT is great school with a great reputation.</p>

4

<p>Kimberly thank you! That’s what I really wanted to know, and I’m glad I’m hearing this from an actual FIT student who is studying communication design as well.
May I ask how living in the dorms are? And what about the people/making friends? Anything else you could tell me? :slight_smile: Thanks so much again!</p>

5

<p>You’re welcome! </p>

<p>There are 3 buildings that the freshman can dorm in, Nagler hall, which is all girls with a traditional style room and a shared bathroom for the whole floor. However keep in mind Nagler does not have A.C. There is also Coed Hall, which is guys and girls. This also is a traditional dorm layout with a shared bathroom (separate bathroom for girls and guys) And coed does have a.c. With these 2 buildings, you are required to a get a meal plan. There are also suites available for coed and nagler, which have a kitchen and bathroom, although I do not know any freshman who have those. </p>

<p>The other building is Alumni hall (the dorm I’m currently in) and these rooms are suites that have 4 people in a room, with 2 separate bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. I think this building is a little more expensive but you are not required to get a meal plan. Me and my roommates cook every night, and it has worked out fine, considering the only thing my roommate knew how to cook was pasta, but her skills have improved since the first day lol.
The only thing about Alumni is that it’s very quiet and you won’t know everyone on your floor, due to the fact that everyone has their own bathrooms so there is no typical dorm socialization if you know what I mean. I have heard that in coed you really get to know your neighbors, but it all depends on what you like. </p>

<p>As for the people/ friends: Obviously you are not going to like everyone, but thats true anywhere. Personally, I feel it is easier for a design major to make friends because of the block scheduling, considering you are with the same people for most of your classes so you really get to know one another. There are also tons of clubs and activities you can do. Last semester I was in Ad Group and I got to visit top name advertising agencies such as Deutsch and Mcgarrybowen, which I thought was pretty cool to do as a first semester freshman.
There are so many opportunities in NYC and FIT definitely takes advantages of them. </p>

<p>Side note: If you’re a girl, don’t expect to find a boyfriend in the school, although there are a few that have found the rare straight men (Lucky them!) </p>

<p>But anyway if you want to know anything else just ask!</p>

6

<p>When did you receive your financial aid ?</p>

7

<p>Ahhh thank you, you’re so nice for answering everything in such great detail! Honestly this has helped me a lot :slight_smile: I actually do have one more question: Are you allowed to have visitors at FIT stay over night? I have a boyfriend (lucky for me I wont have to worry about finding one in the school haha!!) would he be allowed to stay over night on weekends occasionally? Sorry for all the questions!!! Thanks so much for being so helpful. </p>

<p>Zasty34: I only received my financial aid for SVA about two days ago so far. Last week I called and they said they were telling everyone we’d find out the week of april 1st. I got something in the mail to tell me to check my.sva.edu to view my financial aid award letter. As for FIT, I haven’t heard how much they are giving me yet.</p>

8

<p>My ex-girlfriend goes to FIT. When we dated they allowed visitors, like myself to stay for certain weekends or breaks or whatever. You need to get permission and the the visitor will receive like a pass that says you’re visiting for some certain days.</p>

9

<p>I went to FIT back in the early 80’s for textile design. I know that seems like a long time ago but what kimberlyfit15 has said is really perfect. I also can’t comment on SVA but you will get a very good education at FIT and the schools name carries a lot of weight( although I think the word Fashion is over thought of as to what the school is really about) This is important to remember, Living in the city is probably more of an education than your actual degree! I was a straight guy there which was a plus, there were a fair amount of us but not enough as far as the girls were concerned. But the city is a big place and guys from other colleges would always seem to find their way down 27th st. somehow. The teachers will push you too so be prepared to always do your best!</p>

10

<p>Hello,
I just noticed that no one that went to SVA has commented on here and thought i’d add a few thoughts.</p>

<p>I’ve been at SVA for the past three years… I personally do not think FIT has the larger/stronger communication design department, this you will notice when you compare the course registration books. FIT’s design course selections are very small when compared to SVA’s design department course selections. </p>

<p>You can look up SVA’s graphic design/advertising department portfolio here : [url=&lt;a href=“http://gdad.sva.edu/]GDAD”&gt;http://gdad.sva.edu/]GDAD</a> : Mosaica : The Undergraduate (BFA) Department of Graphic Design and Advertising at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), New York City (NYC), New York<a href=“You%20can%20see%20the%20menu%20when%20you%20hover%20over%20the%20upper%20left%20corner.%20From%20there%20you%20should%20see%20the%20senior%20portfolios”>/url</a></p>

<p>Plus, you should look up design annuals, such as Graphis(The New Talent Annuals are the student work annuals), Print, CMYK… etc. SVA always has a number of student work in there, I have rarely seen FIT have any significant number of student work in these annuals. Other schools that have a lot of student work in these annuals are schools such as RISD, California Art Institute, Penn State, etc… </p>

<p>I completely disagree with kimberly that SVA produces more fine-art work. Although students may be pushed during sophomore~junior years to produce experimental work, in senior year the entire program is geared towards making practical work. (Freshman year is mostly about fine-art work though, so you could try to be a transfer student in sophomore year from FIT if you want to opt out from that part. I have to say freshman year was totally different from what I started to learn in sophomore year… Freshman year is not groundbreaking learning, but from sophomore yr you know why SVA produces great student work.)</p>

<p>Also a strong benefit of going to SVA is the connections. SVA holds annual Portfolio shows at the Art Director’s Club, and also holds screenings for interactive/motion graphics(it is part of the graphic design department. You can also check out SVA’s motion graphics department work on Vimeo), and has luncheons for seniors where you can meet employers. </p>

<p>I do know that FIT’s faculty is excellent; however SVA’s faculty is quite famed. Legendary designers such as James Victore, Milton Glaser(the I <3 NY logo), Stefan Sagmeister, Louise Fili, Paula Scher, Ivan Chermayeff are some of the great instructors at this school(If you google them you will find that you have seen quite a lot of their work in your everyday life). I myself have listened to quite a few of their classes and have found it extremely inspiring.</p>

<p>And I have gone to FIT before… (I still take credit summer courses there to cut education costs) their facilities are not very great compared to SVA’s(although i have to say SVA seems to have budget problems too)… plus I have found FIT’s work to be underwhelming for the communications department(and their course selections also). </p>

<p>I honestly recommend you go to SVA, or at least transfer to SVA after your freshman year at FIT if you want to cut costs.</p>

11

<p>thank you. I will definitely keep that into consideration. I already sent my deposit into FIT and I think I made the right choice but I will also keep an open mind as to transferring to SVA after freshman year if I find the program lacking. Financially FIT seemed like the best choice and I did really love the school and I really feared of coming out of college with a pile of debt since SVA was ridiculously expensive.
Anyways thank you so much for the advice, I really appreciate it!</p>

12

<p>No problem! I am glad to hear that you have made your decision. FIT is a great school also. </p>

<p>One thing I do want to tell you though, is that what you do in the next few years might make your life a lot easier(at least job-wise) in the future. You should really spend all the time you can at Strands(art bookstore near union square), libraries and such looking up historical/contemporary design work and really really doing design work. (Believe me, spending 2~3 days without any sleep is a joke for hard-working students, at least at SVA… During the last 2 years I have spent at SVA, I have spent at least 40 hours at school each week doing school projects(I usually spend more than 100 hours a week during midterm/finals)… I have to say I didn’t have too much of a life, but now I stand in the lucky position of several companies offering me full-time jobs although I am only a Junior.)</p>

<p>Plus you should really check out interactive design(Web design, app design and such) and Motion graphic design while you are choosing courses for your Design BFA degree. (I don’t know about how FIT works but they are both a sub-category of Graphic Design at SVA) EVERY job/internship I’ve been to basically SCREAMS for people who know these areas… </p>

<p>And one more thing, one program I do recommend applying after you have gotten your BFA degree is Cooper Union’s typography program. It is a one-year program(and of course, being cooper union, tuition costs are cheap) and it produces amazing typographers(Dana Tanamachi, Jessica Hische, etc… if you don’t know these people I seriously recommend googling them since you want to go in the graphic design industry). </p>

<p>I know I’m getting so far ahead by telling you these things since you are only going to be freshman, but I’m just trying to give you a heads-up. (Honestly I was pretty much partying every night in freshman year too, I only started being workaholic after I got into my sophomore year…) </p>

<p>Anyway good luck!</p>

13

<p>FIT is the number one college in the world in textile design-that is a given. I don’t believe our friends at Parsons or Pratt would argue that point. So…if you are interested in an education in textile design, you know where to go. I graduated with a degree in TD and was courted by Ditto Repeats, Studio 9, and Martha Stewart before starting my own label with Polo Ralph Lauren. Maybe some people discount an FIT degree because so many of our most famous students dropped out to start their own businesses.</p>