<p>I need some advice. I'm having a hard time choosing between NY or LA after graduation. I've always wanted to live and go to fashion design school in Los Angeles. I know that I was thinking about Otis College Of Art And Design (I live in Virginia right now, still in high school) and start my fashion design career there but I know that New York City is the fashion capital. I want to be able to get the best education for fashion design, work for some big companies and one day be able to see celebrites wore my dresses/tuxedos at the award shows. My dream has always wanted to be living in Los Angeles. I know that I talked to one of Parsons teacher who graduated from there getting her BFA in Fashion Design. She said that it would be OK if I went to Parsons and then move to LA after graduation. I know that I don't want to spend the rest of my life in New York even though it's a great city. My questions are: </p>
<p>Which school should I choose Otis OR Parsons?
If I do attend Parsons, should I really move to LA after graduation?
What are some great companies I could work for in Los Angeles?</p>
<p>When I was at national portfolio day getting reviewed by Otis and Parsons I saw completely different focuses in the schools. Lemme review them for ya.</p>
<p>Parsons: When I was at Parsons, I was reviewed by this one Tim Gunn turtleneckesque man. He told me that in order to go to Parsons for fashion, you must EAT, BREATHE, LIVE fashion- there has to be no doubt that you want it for the rest of your life and you mustn't have any other side goals besides fashion. Parsons seemed to me to be a more high-class and traditional school...almost borderlining pretentious though :/ .I don't think they welcome much experimental artwork- such as painting on humans with ketchup or so. Take in mind that you still have to take your foundation courses at Parsons. The only reason I would say, yes to parsons would be its great location- but F.I.T has the location at a much cheaper price. </p>
<p>Otis: Is a more commercialised school- aiming on the common audience. They're more loose and definitely open with their content area- I'm sure fashion there would include experimental fashion- such as designing with unorthodox materials- just to break you into forms and such. The LA area isn't so bad in pertinence to prestige in the fashion industry- there are many LA based fashion designers, but it isn't as much of a melting pot as NY is. The people at otis are definitely aimed to giving you a stable job and want you to think about the business aspect if you are entering in say, fashion or digital media. Im sure they have internships and guest lecturers from top companies also. </p>
<p>If you want more of an artsy experience, go to Otis- more pre-professional, Parsons (they give good internships there too I assume)</p>
<p>Other schools to consider for fashion that would be on the more artsy and experimental side would be RISD and CCA. </p>
<p>If I were you, I'd pick otis, just because it's a lot more loosely structured (I'm a looser experimental artist) and I wouldn't want to be burdened with the NY fees of apartments and high living cost. Also, parsons seems to put a lot more pressure on their fashion students than anything. But I think if you want to live in the NY area, F.I.T would be a match.</p>
<p>Go for Parsons. I am a junior fashion design student at Otis and the only reason I'm at Otis is because they offered me a financial aid package I could not refuse, especially when I'm studying something like "fashion design". I feel as though you can get an equally amazing education at both, but the thing that Parsons has over Otis is the major major connections and opportunities for its students. Otis has strong connections with some designers/companies but they're not as "hooked up" as Parsons is, and from my experience with Otis is that you kind of have to hit up the major designers by yourself because a lot of the ones that come in to recruit at Otis are local or just major corporate companies like abercrombie, target, nordrtoms, etc.</p>
<p>Otis is definitely not a breeze, what they do focus on a lot at Otis is illustration which if you're not a strong illustrator or learn to draw while your time there be prepared to go through hell. I'm personally not a strong illustrator, and will never be. And contrary to what was posted above, Otis is definitely not loosely structured. Otis' fashion program is the major money drawer for the school, and is the most toughest, rigorous, and demanding major at the school. You definitely don't have as much creative freedom as you think you would have, I'm pretty sure it's exactly like parsons. Fashion is a business, and Otis definitely doesn't let you forget that. Which ever school you go to be prepared to get no sleep.</p>
<p>In my honest opinion, if money is not an issue, go to Parsons, but that's just me.</p>
<p>The most well known high end designer/companies in LA are Monique Lhuillier, Rodarte, and St Johns Knits.
then you have your companies like bcbg, juicy, guess, etc.
Then you have a lot of little high end LA designers that are really popular in LA, but i'm not sure if across the world such.</p>
<p>Everyone is telling me to choose Parsons. Liek0806 do you think Parsons could help me get a job over in Los Angeles? I know that probably most of my job opportunities will be in New York but I would prefer to work in Los Angeles. I know that one of the Otis students are interning at Armani Exchange so that's probably a good fit for me in LA to work there after graduation.</p>
<p>I feel as though wherever you go Parsons will have a connection somewhere. You getting a job depends primarily on your work and what you do at Parsons. I've seen students from Otis, go to New York upon graduation and work for major designers out there. It's just easier if you study where you want to work, especially if you know that a company you are interested in recruits from the school you're attending. If you want to work for NY Designers then your best bet is to go to Parsons, if there are la designers or companies you're interested in your best bet is Otis.</p>
<p>At Otis for example, the one major LA company that probably takes a couple of graduates every year is BCBG. But that isn't to say that if a company doesn't recruit at Otis you can't get a job with them. A lot of the fashion industry wherever you go is networking and just knocking on many doors.</p>
<p>Liek you said that it's just much easier to study where you want to work. Since I want to work in Los Angeles, is Otis better for me than Parsons? I just thought that Parsons is better education wise but I would rather end up working in Los Angeles instead of NY. But then I wouldn't mind Otis since I'm not that big on living in NY.</p>
<p>Parsons definitely has a more prominent name than Otis I would think. If you're looking in NYC don't forget about Pratt! They're a top notch school too. Pratt is in Brooklyn.</p>
<p>I Don’t mean to be rude by slightly changing the subject but I have somewhat of a similar situation. I am currently an undergraduate fashion design major studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I am about to finish my second year in May. I have done a variety of classes at this college such as Illustration, Fashion History, fabric studies, fashion business and manufacturing classes , metal arts and jewelry, knitwear, construction 1&2 and conceptual design 1&2. Several months ago, I felt as though it might be time to get an internship in order to get more of a ‘hands on’ experience in the industry. Plus, I think it’s really important to do at least one while your in college. The only issue was that I was in SF , which has a very low volume of possible fashion internships. In the main, there are freelancers and others who are comfortable with working corporate. Sorry… I’m not. As far as it goes interning for a freelance designer in SF it’s rare to come by, and to add,my contact book isn’t too thick, yet. So I’ve thinking about transferring to Otis. A couple days ago, I got my acceptance letter! I’m pretty stoked about the college and the large amount of opportunities in LA. I’m familiar with the city as I grew up there… so, getting around wouldn’t be a problem. aha. My only concern is whether I will be making the right decision by transferring to Otis over the Academy of Art University ? I’ve read various student reviews but its the same old rant about the cost and lack of community. I’ m looking for an outsider’s opinion, now. There are several things I like about the Academy and that is the amount of fashion classes they offer. For instance, millnery, shoe design ( not construction,though), 6 different levels of construction,flat pattern and draping, corsetry, metal arts and jewelery, tutu and costume construction , sustainable design, all sorts of illustration and croquis classes, and knitwear ! However, I am bothered by the lack of “community” as they say, and I stand firm to what I say about doing work experience in the field, while I’m still in college. And, unfortunately , SF can’t really offer me that right now. And, then there is Otis. I expect it’s a highly qualified education and I admire the college’s focus on creative and experimental development . But, I also know that there are fewer classes offered than the Academy of Art’s wide range of specified courses. So , this is where I’m stuck because I want to learn everything I possibly can because its my passion. Would someone be kind enough to help me out with a bit of advice ? It would be really appreciated !
Thanks for reading ,
Teenie</p>
<p>This is the first time ever I read the post someone actually goes to AAU in this forum.
what made you go there in the first place if you grew up in LA and the fashion being passion?
I know nothing about fashion but my understanding is that you are lucky to have any jobs, corporation or low end dept store brands.
Doing internships, isn’t that the whole point, have worst experience in the field to figure out if you really want to deal with these pathetic people doing those pathetic jobs or work harder /better/quit so you won’t have to become one of them?
Do you need to know how to make tutu,hat, jewely and shoes at the same time? It sounds like local 92 Y’s arts and crafts catalog.
in how much of the depth you get to learn in the classes that runs semester long, or even year long?
Could you be keep sampling classes into junior year without choosing what to become, what sort of designer or pattern maker or production folks, or this is designed to become THE designer?
AAU is the mystery… do tell more! how are the kids, dorm, life in general?</p>
<p>I was happy to hear your review of AAU. My daughter is planning to apply there as well as Parson and FIT and Pratt. My concern is that she needs to be in NY for the contacts and internships. She attended the summer program at Parsons this summer and I tell you, it was quite expensive beyond tuition and board for one month. Personally, I love San Fran as a city and would feel better about her being there over NY or LA. I do agree you should got to school in a city where you think you will end up working, especially in a field like fashion design. So tell me, what are fashion design majors doing after they graduate from AAU?</p>
<p>As to your question about transferring…if you like AAU, why not finish up there and go to LA or NY and do summer internships? Then you will have the best of both worlds.</p>