For anyone who has participated in Parsons Summer Intensive Studies Program, what was your experience like? Was it worth the money? Were there any other summer programs with different design schools you were looking at? Why did you choose Parsons? Has Parsons helped you get to where you want to be in your life in regards to your career?
I am almost done with my summer intensive study program… so far it has been absolutely horrible and a complete waste of money. Everyone in my class agrees with that assessment too. I was planning on doing this summer program then applying to transfer over to parsons from georgetown (where I go currently) and I would absolutely not do that now. I am in the sewing and construction class, and the teacher has been late every single day, verbally abuses all of the students to the point of tears and is completely unhelpful and unwilling to teach and work with students. We were suppose to learn how to sew, do draping, pattern making, crocheting, knitting and so forth yet we have not even made one single garment yet, and the class is basically over. I chose parsons because it was my dream school, has a great rep and produces amazing designers. Yet it has made me completely re-think even going to art school. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY HERE!!! I also signed up for a second class here this summer, which got canceled last minute leaving me with wasted internship and job opportunities I could have done instead had I known the class would have been canceled earlier. My friends in the other classes have had similar horrible experiences this summer, everyone basically agreeing that they would never step foot in parsons again. Try FIT or Pratt for summer courses, I will be trying them next summer. Definitely don’t do parsons. It’s a hot hot hot mess.
They overbook the classes too so that there aren’t enough sewing machines for everyone, leaving the class in two different rooms. This past week the prof only went into my room once a day for five minutes, leaving our half of the class to just sit and do nothing for hours, or do random pointless exercises like cutting out randomly shaped fabric pieces and sewing random sides of it together to “See what happens.” He also would put on random fashion documentaries so he could leave class for three hours then come back. Again, please do not spend your time or money on parsons summer courses!!! Sooooo not worth it. All it left me with was frustration and a low bank account.