<p>So, I love art and I enjoy designing clothing.<br>
Though I can't take the school art classes because they just don't fit into my schedule, I take art classes outside of school, keep a sketchbook of my own, etc.
Some other things I do/am doing this summer:
--Taking more art classes
--Taking art and design courses at FIT
--Working for a paid internship with a local fashion designer
--I hope to start selling some pieces online, and if I'm successful, creating an online-based clothing business (it would be couture, handmade to fit, and expensive, because I don't have access to mass-manufacturing)
--Will possibly take IB Art Independent Study senior year, because, unlike AP Art, there are no prerequisites</p>
<p>Academically, my focus is history and english. Examples of involvement:
--Mock Trial
--Regional and State winner of National History Day
--Social Studies and Language Honor Societies
--Winner of various regional essay contests
--Published in school literary magazine
--Editor of school newspaper</p>
<p>My question is if my passion/involvement in fashion design be considered unique by selective colleges or will it be dismissed as frivolous?
I don't want to go to a fashion or trade type school, because I don't really think I would like to pursue fashion design directly. Somethings I might be interested in are majors in business, art history, sociology, anthropology, journalism or history. If I chose art history, sociology, anthropology, or history, I would focus on the influence of history on fashion/fashion on history; fashion/beauty in society/its effects on society. If I did journalism I'd probably aspire to write/edit a fashion magazine or be a fashion columnist for a major newspaper. If I did business I'd be involved in a clothing company as a buyer/marketing, etc. </p>
<p>So is this a legitimate "passion" or "interest," or would it be considered substandard to someone interested in, say computers, at the same level?</p>
<p>No, that's really awesome. Genuine artistic talent isn't "frivolous" at all, if you pursue it with depth/passion. I know a girl who was really really brilliant in school (her strength was math) who was also interested in fashion design. She went to a selective fashion summer program in high school, because she was considering fashion as a career. She eventually decided not to go the fashion route, and now she goes to a top Ivy and is majoring in math. She still loves designing though, and she definitely thinks her unique passion helped her get in.</p>
<p>Thats cool. Yeah I'd probably consider it as just a hobby, or a related career, but I don't think I'm cut out for the life of a designer.<br>
do you, by any chance, know what summer program she went to?</p>
<p>oh I also forgot to add
--I'm going to try to get involved in the costume design for our school theatre's plays and musicals</p>
<p>That sort of thing can get you into Stanford, if you show a strong passion (as you do) that is demonstrated in ECs and awards and that can be linked to your intended major.</p>
<p>^^Two things
1) Thats the problem, how would I be able to show the link between fashion design and my intended major. Where on an application would I be able to include that?
2) Why Stanford? or did you just mean a selective school?</p>
<p>"1) Thats the problem, how would I be able to show the link between fashion design and my intended major. Where on an application would I be able to include that?"</p>
<p>Your ECs/awards/whatever would ideally indicate a propensity for fashion design; you might put your intended major on the paper, and you'd bring the two areas together in your essays.</p>
<p>I mention Stanford because, from what I've seen, they place a huge emphasis on passion/focus.</p>
<p>kyledavid80, do you know any other selective colleges that emphasize passion as much as Stanford? And how do you know Stanford places a lot of emphasis on passion? Any examples? Thanks</p>
<p>It definitely makes you unique!
I was kind of in the same situation, except with painting (majority of my awards/ECs were in art).. but it wasn't going to be directly linked to my major (computer science / engineering). I just sent in some photos of my paintings to schools that welcomed additional material.. and my common app essay focused on how art affected my life.</p>
<p>No, it won't be dismissed as frivolous. As long as you don't present yourself as a Gucci/Prada whore, and are truly * passionate * about the creative process of designing clothing, there is NOTHING frivolous about designing clothing. See if you can enter your stuff into competitions, or put some of your stuff on websites and try to get into contact with businesses that sell designer clothing. </p>
<p>In addition, there are many examples of people on CC who didn't have the most awesomely, mind-blowing stats, but had a strong passion and it showed in their ECs/awards/essays/major. (I would cite a specific person but don't have their permission.) So see this:</p>
<p>I don't know of specific colleges that have explicitly stated their emphasis on passion, but I'm sure there are many, especially among the top colleges.</p>
<p>fhimas...do you have ANY ideas for competitions?
I've been looking forever....the only ones I seem to find are for colleges students.
or should I just enter art competitions?</p>
<p>Otherwise, check out, <a href="http://www.artsawards.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.artsawards.com/</a> - it's this great national competition for all kinds of arts. You should DEFINITELY enter that - the deadline is (I think) November 1st of your senior year. You'll find out before you apply to colleges or at least early enough to let them know that you've done well (if that happens). </p>
<p>Art competitions would be good –– though I can't imagine that the competitions that you see wouldn't be open to high school students. I'd recommend just calling the competition offices and just asking them. The worst they can do is say no. </p>
<p>Good luck! The artsawards one though - you DEFINITELY should enter that.</p>