Tag Archives: portfolio

Aaaaannnd BREAK!

Hello Everyone,

It’s that time of the semester where we are granted a much appreciated week of (hopeful) rest and relaxation! Although I fully support taking time to decompress and catch up on your favorite TV shows… it’s always a good idea to use some free time to get ahead. Here are just a few helpful tips on how to stay ahead of the game when break rolls around!
Get Ahead of the To Dos: After a few days of unwinding, I always check my to-do list on while break. Not only do I check for what I had assigned over the break, but I like to see what projects I will have to tackle in the next few weeks. This helps me get a head start to the tasks I will have to take on. I can use my time to create my personal portfolio for job applications as well. In the end, I have more time to relax and feel less stressed completing my work.
Get Ahead of the Job Hunt: More recently as a final semester senior, I have been using my break and free time to consider my future (eep!). Whether it be an “end-goal” career or internship to get a foot in the door, it is always good to keep updated with positions currently listed in your field. Spending some of the free time I have to prepare for my post-college life has allowed me to explore my options and decide what I want to pursue after undergrad. Of course, FIT’s Career and Internship Center that is a useful tool for this process as well.
Get Ahead of the SLEEP! As silly as it sounds, I have been using my time to catch up on more than emails- break allows for the necessary recuperation time to finish the semester on a high note. I been able to enjoy time with family, friends, and map out a plan for my last weeks of college.
How do you spend your breaks? Hopefully some of you have been able to unwind, and maybe even hit the beach… I know that’s my first stop during summer for sure!

Best break wishes,
Annmarie x

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!FIT1. 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–