Anyone with opinions on Kent State vs SCAD for Fashion Design major?
My daughter got into 8, which thrilled us, but looks as if she has narrowed down to two. However, they are vastly different schools in almost every way:
public v private
semester v quarter
large v small
cold v hot
My daughter is a homeschooler from a a small town in the deep south so I am guessing these will be vastly different experiences? She did see SCAD last year while on vacation with a friend but has not seen any other schools.
We would just so appreciate if anyone has any experience with either or has good knowledge about that program in each! They both seem to be highly regarded for that major.
Thank you.
A good friend went to Kent for Fashion Merch w minors in cultural anthropology and Sustainability (B.S.) and had an incredible experience. She did travel abroad trips to Hong Kong and Italy, interned w Seventh House in NYC one summer, and is now getting her Masters at U Madrid. She choose Kent over FIT, RISD, and Savannah to get the full university experience over just the art school experience. So she met a wide variety of kids, with many majors and had a much more well rounded education. More cisgender guys too if that is an issue.
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Also University of Delaware has a 4+1 program in conjunction with FIT in NYC. My daughter is considering this. Masters in 5 years. Great opportunity.
What is the cost difference between the two? Coming out of undergrad with less debt will help give flexibility that an 18 year old sometimes cannot comprehend yet. It allows them to take a job in an area that may cost more.
SCAD is a magical place for some. They do a great job selling it and there are great opportunities, but it sounds like people at Kent are able to have unique experiences as well.
How easy are both for her to get to and to get home? Travel time adds up when you need connecting flights, etc…are their flights to Akron or will she need to get to Cleveland?
Kent Gave more aid and is more affordable but a family member has stepped in to help if SCAD is a better fit. I guess I wish she had been able to see Kent to know more but we just couldn’t feasibly work it out for loads of reasons.
They are both highly ranked but I think the sheer size of Kent maybe intimidates her a little? Coming from such a small town, anyway.
But I guess the biggest thing is just the program in general for her and we know of no one that knows anything about Kent State, being where we are from (Mississippi) and not much more about SCAD because most folks here go to state schools.
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My S19 started at SCAD, but realized it was not the major he wanted so transferred because there were not other things he was interested in.
Have her look at the courses for both colleges and the requirements. That can help them decide sometimes.
There were lots of great things about SCAD and I recommend it to others all the time. It is a very different culture and life than much of the south and some kids are overwhelmed by that. At least she will not be surprised by the heat on move in day. 
Kent State has lots of options if she decides to switch majors or wants to double major or minor in something not arts related. SCAD is focused on careers in the arts.
If she wants to experience seasons as my D21 did, she can certainly get that in Ohio.
SCAD is spread out all over the city and does not have a traditional campus, but they have their own shuttles that go all over the place. It takes some planning initially, but they get the hang of it. If she decides on SCAD go to the orientation for parents. It was very impressive and professionally done.
Kent State looks like a beautiful campus and very traditionally laid out with a true campus experience.
She has big dreams and you are a fabulous parent for supporting her. I am sure she will do great things at either location.
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thank you for your kind reply!
We saw yesterday where that area of OH had snow and that did NOT help her feelings about KS! THe appeal of a traditional campus appeals to her but when she did the virtual tour of KS, she was a little overwhelmed with the sheer size of it. Again, we are small town people, and so I think she was/is concerned about how she gets to her classes because I don’t think a car is feasible for us right now. (Her car is older and small and NOT winter weather appropriate).
The only minor she is interested in is historical costume design, which cut out some fabulous admitted schools for her (her #1 initially was SAIC). SCAD seems to hit all her buttons except for cost, perhaps, but we are working on that.
Thank you again!
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Feel free to PM any questions about SCAD and Savannah. We live about an hour or so away and spend a lot of time there.
No need for a car at SCAD. You can shuttle or walk everywhere.
Hello, 4;
We are faced with the same decision, except my daughter is a transfer.
My daughter applied to Kent last year as a freshman and had her transcripts miscalculated, making her scholarship less than it was supposed to be. It was sort of corrected, she did not end up with the scholarship the net price calculator said she should have had. I could not get a straight answer from Kent about it.
After they moved their orientation online and required the vax, my daughter punted and attended a very small LA school that was guaranteed to meet in person with the intent of transferring.
This year she reapplied to Kent and then added SCAD and Delaware. It’s mostly about the cost and ability to get her to school (we are in PA) so Kent or Delaware would be easier travel. Kent now offered her “Pre Fashion”. We have a scheduling appointment in June and if they put her in remedial classes, and not a full schedule of design classes, she will not be attending. In addition, every time I call with any kind of question, I get no answer or a different answer from them. So I would say if you choose Kent, you must be on top of things and probably must ask for everything in writing.
We visited SCAD. We both loved it. We are a little worried about her being so far away, the intensity of the classes, and the cost, but it looks like a great place to study fashion.
She just applied to Delaware and hasn’t been accepted yet.
I think she is most interested in the garment construction courses. She likes to sew. If in your research you felt that some of the schools were heavier on actual construction, please let me know! That is what she is after.
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