Tag Archives: academics

Production Management Semester 5 review

We are officially in the upper division. This is where things start to get a bit more intense and you bring all of the information that you learned in your Associates together.

MG 306 – Information Systems: Case Analysis

This course teaches students about computer systems, both the hardware and the software that it takes to run them. Students also work with Microsoft Access to learn about data systems. This is a good class to learn about what the IT experts know. If you are a little week on your computer knowledge, this is a great class to ask questions.

SC 332/032 – Color and Light Science

Ever thought everyone sees colors the exact same? Well think again. What even is color? This class teaches students the scientific perspective of light and color, allowing us to talk about color in technically correct standards, along with learning different color measuring methods so that exact color matches can be met in industry.

MG 311 – Manufacturing I: Equipment Analysis

The first part to the two part manufacturing courses. This course requires students to genuinely understanding how sewing machines work. Students are required to write up reports for several different sewing machine types describing the different parts and the type of machine, how to thread the machine, locations of parts and the mechanical movements of the parts. Students should have an understanding of the machines from the inside out, allowing for them to encounter a machine they have never seen before but have an understanding of how the machine works and what it’s capabilities are. Students also go over different stitch and seam types in the class, learning the industry standard terminology for these. For the final project, students create a pair of shorts with a different range of seam and stitch types while also creating an operations breakdown report describing the construction steps for the shorts.

My final pair of shorts

A surger with the throat plate removed revealing the feed-dogs.

Graduation Stress:

For myself and many other FIT students, the next few months are going to be a whirlwind of emotions and to-do lists. Graduation, the next milestone in life, is in May at we are all freaking out extremely excited. Like other milestones in life, graduation can bring with it a lot of stress.

Here’s some advice I think is really good for keeping me calm as we near the day of cap tossing…

Explore different career and graduate school options and to utilize campus resources preparing students for graduation and a future career. Even if you might not have realized all the resources available to you.

Assess what’s important to you – including skills, interests and values. Learn about or to research different careers so that you are making informed decisions about things that might be a good fit for those skills and interests.

Time management is crucial. Write a pre-graduation to-do list and start working on different tasks gradually, then check them off. The first step is to register for graduation (and know deadlines in general), and the next tasks all depends on your goal. Just remember to not overwhelm yourself with all these expectations at once. Think of what you want to do most and what would be best for you, not what everyone else expects.

At the same time, be realistic. Of course you need to find some way to support yourself after college, so start considering your options now and plan ahead. You might not get your dream job right away, and that’s OK!

A Life Update:

Hello all! It has unfortunately been SO long (5 months, but who’s counting?) since I have blogged. I apologize for the lack of updates, it was one heck of a summer dealing with a family death that had me leave New York City before finals last semester, on top trying to get prepared for this year…my Senior year. Literally feels like yesterday I was writing my first blog and getting accustomed to new surroundings, classes, and activities. Over the last 5 months, I’ve felt and experienced a lot of different emotions. As everything is changing all around me again, as I move onto the next chapter of my professional life, things can get tough, and sometimes it’s okay to breakdown, the most important thing is – getting back up.

Mental health is just as important as psychical health. According to the APA, “anxiety is the top presenting concern among college students (41.6 percent), followed by depression (36.4 percent) and relationship problems (35.8 percent).” No one should cope with anxiety and/or depression alone. Trained and licensed mental health professionals can provide support in helping you to find relief from your symptoms, also right here at The Fashion Institute of Technology.

FIT’s Counseling Center is free to all full-time, registered, degree-seeking students and are private and confidential. Faculty, staff, parents and student groups are also invited to use the Counseling Center’s consultation services and educational resources. The Counseling Center staff are licensed social workers, psychologists, and consulting psychiatrists that provide short-term counseling and professional referrals for students. All clinicians have advanced degrees, training and experience, and participate in ongoing professional development and clinical supervision. To find out more information, or see some questions answered, check out the Counseling Center’s “what to expect” here. It’s great that all students here have the powerful resource of the Counseling Center. Working on improving your mental health is very important, even if you think you’re doing fine.

On another note, I look forward to sharing all of the great experiences to come this year! I will be posting every Friday, so be sure to peep in at the blog as some really great events and even application season for prospective student approaches! Thank you all for reading, and always feel free to comment any suggestions, questions, or just opinions!

Mariano

Why FIT is a Fit for You

During my junior year of high school, my parents began to encourage me to look into colleges for my desired major of advertising and marketing. By the end of my senior year, I had applied to a total of 20 colleges in which I was accepted (I clearly kept my options open.)

Although I don’t suggest applying to more than 10 schools, it exists as one of my greatest accomplishments and gave me a broad perspective of what to look for when it came to my home for the next four years. I had accepted admission into Penn State and withdrew my deposit as soon as I got my acceptance letter from FIT. I knew in my heart I would have opportunities here I wouldn’t have anywhere else.

For starters, FIT’s major and related area courses are designed to have students delve into their choice of study from the very beginning. As an AMC student, I started taking marketing classes while completing prerequisites for other courses within my first semester. This allowed me to learn about the industry much sooner than I would have if I went to another school with a different structure.

In addition to major area courses, the professors teaching students are industry professionals. The professors I have had at FIT have worked in their field for 30+ years and have many connections within the industry. Networking with professors for potential internships, jobs or event opportunities is a great way to get your foot in the door when it comes to industry experience.

One of the main reasons I chose FIT over every other school I applied to is because it is located in the heart of Manhattan. Arguably the business capital of America, Manhattan is the centerfold of opportunities to make a name for yourself. Traveling among brand headquarters every day, while representing the FIT brand, demonstrates your potential as a college go-getter looking for future job opportunities post-college.

New York City is the world’s most competitive city full of endless opportunities. FIT will prepare you for the workplace and prove to employers just how valuable you are!

Melinda

Presidential Scholars

Joining Presidential Scholars is great and everyone should apply. Being accepted is based off academics as well as community service, but you can only apply before the freshmen and junior semesters.

Being part of the Presidential Scholars, or “Pres Scholars” as it more commonly known, requires you to go to about one meeting a month on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 pm. Every Pres Scholar also has to take one honors class each semester. I have taken Mayan Art and Culture, Art and Patronage in the Italian Renaissance, Sociology, and History of New York Architecture. These classes have been by far some of the best classes I have taken at FIT. Only Presidential Scholars and students who get special permission can take honors classes, so the size of the classes are not so huge. Also, the classes are specialized and the teachers are always amazing, often the most celebrated professors in the school. Taking these classes are helpful in finishing a minor if you choose to do so. I have recently finished my Art History minor and am in the process of finishing a Fashion Studies minor.

Irene Buchman

Irene Buchman, who is in charge of the Pres Scholars, is very focused on the liberal arts. Even though SUNY requires certain liberal arts in order to graduate, Professor Buchman really stresses the importance of broadening your horizons beyond fashion and business. Every meeting has a speaker who is a specialist in their field, but is never from the fashion industry. Buchman thinks we have enough fashion in our brains already, and she is probably right.

One of our colloquia last semester

Pres Scholars also get some advantages in registration. Every semester students have to register themselves for the upcoming semester by getting up at an ungodly hour and praying they get the classes they want before all the slots fill up. However, Presidential Scholars meet with Professor Buchman about two weeks before everyone else signs up, and chooses the block they want. This almost ensures not only you get the classes you desire, but also that you do not have trouble graduating because of unfinished SUNY requirements.

Pres Scholars in Panama!

However, the best part of being in Pres Scholars is definitely our access to Professor Buchman. She knows everyone in this school, I mean everyone. If you ever have a problem with a class, or need a recommendation or anything like that she is a great resource. There have been many times Professor Buchman has graciously helped me when I turn up to her office unannounced and worried. Friendly, intelligent and incredibly generous with her time, Professor Buchman is the rock of the Presidential Scholars.

Oh yeah, the cookies are great too.

–Emily–