<p>Hi! I am an arising high school senior in Long Island
My situation right now is kind of complicated.
I am highly interested going into fashion field. It's something that makes me happy when i do it. It feels like everything will be alright when i do it. I'm so sure about this that i felt like i was born to do this. And from few inputs around me i got pretty positive feedbacks regarding my design. I WOULD DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET WHERE I WANT TO GO.
The thing is, my mom literally abhors Fashion design. She thinks it's very light thing to do and she thinks it will ultimately have negative effect on my personality. Aside from her objection, even if i am allowed to go to fashion schools like Parsons or FIT, my passion for philosophy, music, science, and architecture is too big to give up. Also, i cannot afford the art schools because their scholarships are all merit based. I don't believe i can just learn "how to fashion" and survive in the industry forever. I want to be a renaissance man with humanity background. That's why i wanted University.
So in that sense, Cornell really is ideal for me. I have good enough - I think - academics. I have 5 AP credits under my belt and i'm taking 6 more this year (I scored 5 on all of what i took). I have 800s on SAT 2 math 2, Physics, Biology, and 780 on United States History. My SAT right now is 2100 which i will take again soon. I am drum major of my school marching band and first clarinet in our school's Wind Ensemble. I have leadership position in photography club. So cornell would be perfect - except that their fashion ranking is way way behind parsons. Plus, it's located in Ithaca which makes it really hard to be exposed to the fashion culture or internship opportunity in major companies. My mom and i reached the point where she would let me take architecture as a major and fashion as my minor - which is one of the most selective course in the world too.
At this point, everything is full of uncertainty and my head is exploding. I am so lost about what i should do. If anybody has any sort of input, please please please comment anything. Any input is good input and i will thank you forever.
Thank you!</p>
<p>Hey now, Ithaca is extremely fashionable! But you’re right, there are no major fashion companies here. And Cornell definitely is not known for its fashion design. But its architecture program is top-notch, so if you’re interested in that and could later work it into your fashion design, then I think that’s a very viable route. </p>
<p>First, put architecture to the side. Architecture is not a field that you should pursue unless you’re 100% sure of it. As an undergraduate you could either pursue a B.Arch which is a 5.0 year professional degree or a 4.0 BA or BS in architectural studies. With the BA or BS you will need to get an M.Arch which adds another 2.0 to 3.5 years. Either way, it’s a serious commitment which it doesn’t sound like you’re ready to make.</p>
<p>Cornell is a wonderful university. Their Fiber Science and Apparel Design program does allow you to take a broad range of courses. It’s a respectable option, but is more focused toward the administrative, technical and industrial aspects of of apparel industry. It is definitely not cutting edge fashion. </p>
<p>Cornell offers a minor in architecture but I’m not sure that they offer a minor in fashion design. At any rate, I think it would be very difficult to pursue a B.Arch and minor in fashion or anything else. The B.Arch is extremely intense and focused.</p>
<p>What you need to address now is whether you want to study fashion design at an art/design school or at a “full service” university. You are right that the design schools like RISD, FIT, Parsons have the best connections to the fashion industry. You are also right that they are stingy with financial aid. </p>
<p>You shouldn’t assume however that you’ll get NO aid at all. I think you need to research need based aid further to get more information on what you may be eligible for. You also shouldn’t assume that you won’t be able to study other liberal arts subjects if you go to a design school. All of these schools offer electives in a wide range of subjects. </p>
<p>If you want to be a fashion designer, you should study fashion design. Studying architecture to please you mother sounds like a recipe for two unhappy people.</p>
<p>I think you should keep looking for a compromise: a full service university that offers a creative design program and that might work for you financially. The Brown/RISD combined degree would be ideal, but it is insanely competitive. Some other ideas would be Syracuse, Cincinnati, UofTexas. </p>
<p>Alternately you could get a BA degree in something that interests you, like art, art history or architectural studies, then get a supplemental fashion degree later.</p>
<p>Cornell admissions is not a given for anyone. You didn’t mention what your GPA was. </p>
<p>I would seriously look into University of Cincinnati DAAP program. Has both architecture and fashion design. And you would probably get merit aid. </p>
<p>Take a deep breath. Then remember whose life it is. Choose your own college (yes, not a design school) because you might not major in architecture or design after a couple years. </p>
<p>Drop the issue of what you’re going to major in. Let that lie dormant. Talk about all the great opportunities you will have in college and what you will make of them. You’ve been obsessing about the major but college is so much more than a major or even academics. The friends you make will last at least as long as you have a career. The opportunities to do meaningful projects and research, the chances to try out the you-who-is-an-historian or -biologist or -news reporter or -musician. That you are your school’s drum major demonstrates you have this kind of imagination. 
Change the conversation to be about your blossoming into an adult with so much potential, so many things he wants to do.</p>
<p>Take another deep breath. Create a list of colleges your family can afford. Run the net price calculators and talk to your parents about what they can offer you each year in support. Figure out how you will pay for college and keep what you can afford in the fore of your thinking.</p>
<p>Chances are your mom loves you, you know, and wants what she thinks is best for you. This is a time in both your lives where you are learning to let go of each other, and it doesn’t have to be accompanied by a lot of drama if you’ll both keep your emotions in check.</p>