Tag Archives: application

My Last Semester:

Where do I even begin…

As my last semester , I look back on my time here, and from where it really all began. A boy, lost in his fashion dreams, taking a risk to move across the country to pursue his dreams. Here’s some excerpts of my application essay to FIT. Reading it again fuels a flame that sometimes gets dull throughout hectic school year, but that is always burning…

The notable fashion photographer and journalist Bill Cunningham once said, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” Coming from a family that struggles to meet every day needs, I live through a reality that is tougher than the average American teenager. My mom is a single mother of two who makes ends meet without a college education. Even though our financial difficulties are a burden, my mother sacrifices everything she earns in order for me to do the activities I love. She continuously encourages me to do my best, and motivates me to be successful in life. Amongst the harsh realities I face, fashion allows me to escape to a world where I have no worries and can exercise my creative talents. At a young age, I knew that whatever I pursued, I would give the utmost dedication in order to be successful and make my ultimate fantasies a reality.

From my earliest memories, I dreamt of living the life of a male equivalent of Carrie Bradshaw, the forever-young and outgoing “fashionista” from the award-winning book and television series “Sex and the City” by Candace Bushnell. Living in New York City, writing for a fashion magazine, and going to fashion shows seemed like an exhilarating life, but I knew it was going to take hard work and experience to get the career I dreamt of. Becoming a fashion journalist would cultivate my passion for fashion…

…The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City is my ultimate fantasy that can become a reality. Since I am a driven, creative, and enthusiastic young adult ready to take on the demand of the fashion world, my fervor and knowledge of fashion will only develop as an FIT student. FIT’s unique Advertising and Marketing Communications program will truly engage and challenge myself to grow infinitely. As I progress in my educational journey once again, I look forward to calling myself a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I am a perfect fit for FIT because I will get down to business in a creative way.

As fashion journalist turned into fashion publicist, I look back in awe. Your dreams may mold into something else, but they will never fade away. Here’s to a great Spring 2018, wishing you all the best!

Mariano

Preparing for FIT’s Application

As a new school school year approaches, Class of 2017 is preparing to apply to colleges across the nation. If you are interested in applying to FIT, here are some helpful tips to speed up your admissions process!1. CHOOSE A MAJOR! – The most important step of the process when applying to FIT, since you’ll begin studying what most interests you on day one. Find the program that best fits your talents and dreams. Remember: since FIT has a dual-degree system, you can always switch into another major for your Bachelors degree! For the list of the amazing undergraduate majors at FIT click here!

2. APPLY! – As a SUNY school, FIT requires it’s applicants to first file the SUNY application online. After you apply, you’ll receive confirmation that your application has been received. It can take 7-10 days to receive the first email from FIT after submitting the SUNY application, so don’t freak out if you don’t get it right away!

Then comes the FIT application. Submitting your supplemental admissions materials to FIT is the longest step! The Academic History and Essay form will be made available online after you have received your email from FIT. To submit these forms, you’ll need to access MyFIT using the provided FIT Username and Password. (Seems like alot but it’s a piece of cake, just be sure to not procrastinate.)

The essay is the most important asset of your application – besides letter grades on a transcript, it gives FIT a chance to get to know YOU and YOUR reason to pursue an educational career at FIT. Your essay should answer the following questions: What makes you a perfect candidate for FIT? Why are you interested in the major you are applying to?

BE CONCISE, COMPELLING AND GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT! (3 C’s will never fail you!)

3. SUBMITTING ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS! – Along with the online academic history and the essay, be prepared to have all official secondary and post-secondary transcripts sent directly from your schools to FIT. For more information on sending in transcripts click here and go to STEP TWO – School Transcripts.

4. ART MAJOR = PORTFOLIO! – Art and Design applicants must submit a portfolio. You will be invited to submit your portfolio once your SUNY application has been received and processed by FIT. Please do not submit any artwork with your application. Business and Technology applicants may not submit a portfolio and materials received for these majors will not be reviewed or considered.

5. AP/CLEP & SAT/ACT SCORES – Official AP and/or CLEP scores, if any, are required when available. Official IB (International Baccalaureate) diplomas or certificates, if any, must be provided by the IBO.

SAT and ACT test scores are not required for admissions purposes. They are, however, required for the Honors Program. They are also required for placement into your English and Math classes at FIT. Use FIT school code 2257 when sending SAT scores, and code 2744 when sending ACT scores.

Check out more information about placement tests and sending scores here.

6. ENJOY YOUR SCHOOL YEAR! – Remember, stressing over an application can take a toll on yourself whether you are coming straight from high school, or are looking to transfer to FIT. Enjoy your school year, and be ready to bare the wait until acceptances are sent out in April!

Pre-College Programs

If you just cannot wait to study at FIT, there are classes available to middle and high school students. The program is called Saturday Live (or Summer Live depending on what time of year it is). One of my friends, who is now at RISD, told me about the classes and I ended up taking five different courses while I was in high school:

Manual Patternmaking and Sewing

Introduction to Fashion Design Industry

Creative Fabric Painting

Fashion Art for Fashion Designers

Fashion Art Portfolio

The classes would run from 9-12 and then 1-4 after lunch. I lived in Westchester so I did the morning Metronorth commute with all the parents who lived in my town. The classes were good for laying down the basics for the courses I would take when I got to college. They were fun and not very stressful, so we could take risks and not worry about failing. You do get graded in these courses, but the grades do not hold any college credit value and are therefore just meant to help you evaluate yourself.

While you certainly could never replace, say, the college level patternmaking couse with the one I took over the summer, the classes were a fantastic place to meet other fashion-focused kids my age, test the waters of various disciplines and evaluate my base skill levels.

I realized that I was set on going into fashion design in college, so I took classes specifically to improve my portfolio. Taking these classes certainly does not guarantee you will get into FIT, but actually working in the classrooms with real teachers from the college helps tremendously. I think it also gives a great sneak peak into what it would actually be like to go to FIT. My Fashion Art Portfolio teacher reviewed my portfolio before I sent it in with my application and then I ended up having her as my Fashion Art & Design professor second semester! She even recognized me on the first day of class. Now, they have even organized the classes into groups so you can see which to take in preparation for certain majors.

–Emily–