<p>Sorry guys! I’ve been a bit caught up in some big projects and the holiday retail season but I’m still here!</p>
<p>I’ll try my best to answer everything:
(I just wrote a nice long post but the awesome forum interface decided it was just going to burp and delete it)
Activities: To be blunt, look elsewhere. We have the typical student government, Christian Club, and Anime Club. Most other clubs are related to business, like the Merchandising Society. I work part time in nearby Times Square, and there’s a lot of other kids like me who work X amount of hours a week at the local H&M, American Apparel or Urban Outfitters for some going-out money, because honestly, that’s where the fun’s at. </p>
<p>Campus life: Again, pretty dead. School spirit is lacking. Although we’re all very grateful to be here, it’s more of an “end justifies the means” type of thing. The campus is surprisingly dead on the weekends because FIT is a huge commuter school. About 70% of the dorm residents are from the surrounding areas(read: Jersey and Long Island) and tend to go home often. Inside the halls, most doors are closed because sadly, that’s just kind of how things are done here. FIT students also have a reputation of being cold, but we’re all just very focused, stressed, and passionate. Honestly, we’re just as lonely and looking for someone to have a good time with too. It takes a few weeks, but you usually find your clique. Dorming and the people on your floor are especially valuable resources to find friends.</p>
<p>Dorms: Like above, they’re pretty quiet. Parties do not happen. At least not in the dorms, usually over at NYU or the bars down the block. I live in Alumni Hall right now, the all-suite Freshmen dorm across from the school. By NYC standards, it’s pretty nice. Cockroaches/rats/bedbugs are rare and things like water and electricity don’t go out very often. Any problems are very quickly taken care of, but the residence halls really lack venues for socialization besides the workrooms, which are obviously full of working students. Another thing, the rooms are made to be “efficient.” Your futon will not fit and is prohibited. I learned that the hard way. Another-another thing, Try and find a roommate through facebook or other resources, if only because FIT tends to attract “distinguished” personalities. Most students end up with problems their first semester and lots of switching around happens.</p>
<p>Safety: A nonissue. FIT is right on 7th ave, aka:The Middle of Everything. I occasionally walk home 20 blocks from work at 4 in the morning by myself, to the horror of my parents, and never once have I felt threatened. There is police presence every 2 blocks or so, and if I’m ever feeling below my best, I can hail a cab literally anywhere and be back to school in under 10 minutes. Downtown from FIT is just as safe, and we never hear of any type of incidents happening at night. </p>
<p>Admissions: Yes, they are unorganized, yes you will rip your hair out and cry. Its the schools’s way of weeding out the weak. Business majors without a portfolio: GPA(85+) and essay are important, extracurrics are valuable outside of fashion, and SATs have some, but marginal pull. They are not looking for the top of the class, but the most prepared for the field and who looks like they can put out decent work. Check your ***** acct. at LEAST every 2 days for updates and call about a month after submission if you still see the status as unprocessed, you may be missing something important. Also, in-person portfolio reviews raise your chances of getting in, as least from what I’ve seen, so if you’re able, do it.</p>
<p>Schoolwork: This is the tricky one: FIT is technically two schools; Art&Design and the Business School. </p>
<p>If you end up an A&D major(anything that requires a portfolio), You have my sympathies. Get ready to sleep 2 hours a night, spend every cent you have on supplies, and have multiple emotional breakdowns. Every Art&Design student can remember their first, including me haha. You don’t have midterms or finals in most classes just because the 3 or so projects you do count for close to everything attendance doesn’t. Over 3 absences and you fail. Period. The work you do will amazing, and it’s what gives FIT such prestige in the fashion world. Make sure you LOVE what you do because you will otherwise go insane. It’s unfortunate because you kind of miss out on living in New York but again, the end hopefully justifies the means. </p>
<p>The Business school is much different, and honestly again, significantly less effort required for the work. Most classes revolve around a textbook, and it’s a lot of reading and papers. Fashion Merchandising majors, hereon referred to as FMMs, are the biggest makeup of the school’s population are often stereotyped as ditzy party girls. A running joke is that you are graded on your shopping receipts and hours of partying done every week. Those who work their asses off will land good jobs, but a good crock of them are destined to be mall store managers or unemployed unfortunately.</p>
<p>The workload issue has created a bit of an unspoken spat between the two schools: A&D majors know their workload is unfathomable to most Business(read:FMM) majors, however the Business school students try to defend their workload as just as hard and “more boring.” As someone who’s seen both sides of the fence, The previous statement is just untrue. A&D students can be outspoken about how some of the easier majors leech off of the “FIT effect” and the prestige associated with the school, and how the easy majors hurt the school’s reputation in the creative fields. If you ever see an Art & Design major, recognized by their ratty studio clothes, give them a hug, buy them a sandwich, and tell them it will be okay in the end.</p>
<p>Internships are not sanctioned by the school until your final two semesters, they will NOT accept it as college credit before then, however the ones offered are pretty cool. I have friends who’ve partnered with Russ-Berry for toy design, Vogue, Harper’s, Elle, Marie Clare for advertising and publishing, Gucci, Prada, Nike, Saks, Bloomingdales, Macy’s and a million other places for design and for merchandising. It’s definitely a cool experience.</p>
<p>…I think that’s everything? If anyone needs more info just lemme know!</p>