Cooper Union and F.I.T

**timpaatkins** · December 13th, 2005, 06:36 AM

So, Ive just sent my applications to FIT, and Cooper Union. Im pretty sure I wont get in to CU, but I thought Id apply anyways, to get some experience, and then maybe next year, who knows.. I also applied to FIT, for their Fine Arts AAS, it appealed more to me than Illustration.

So anyways, I was wondering if we had any students from these schools, and would you like to share some experiences, of course regarding portfolio pieces and stuff like that?

Also, regarding my personal letter to FIT, its 2 pages long, Im thinking is it too long? What are your thoughts on this?

I visited both these schools when I was in NYC in November, and spoke to students and faculty alike, but youre opinions I value highly!

Any input is much appreciated guys

cheers Tim

**WhizBang** · December 13th, 2005, 08:09 PM

Wasn't FIT one of the schools documented on the TV show, 60 Minutes as being a diploma mill? If memory serves me correctly, they commented on something along the lines of "the closest some of the (fashion) grads get to working in the industry is The Gap".

So I only hope you're not thinking about going there for fashion.

**Elwell** · December 13th, 2005, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by WhizBang

Wasn't FIT one of the schools documented on the TV show, 60 Minutes as being a diploma mill? If memory serves me correctly, they commented on something along the lines of "the closest some of the (fashion) grads get to working in the industry is The Gap".

So I only hope you're not thinking about going there for fashion.

I don't think your memory is serving you correctly at all. This sounded so wrong to me I googled it and couldn't find anything. FIT is one of the most respected schools in the country for fashion design and related industries and, as part of the State University of New York system, hardly a diploma mill.

**Elwell** · December 13th, 2005, 08:31 PM

That said, I'm not particularly impressed with their fine arts department. But then again, I'm not particularly impressed with most fine arts departments.

**jrr** · December 13th, 2005, 08:57 PM

i watch 60 minutes religiously and they did not do anything on fit. what they were talking about were those art institutes that are springing up all over the place.
fit is a fine school and extremely affordable.

**WhizBang** · December 13th, 2005, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by Elwell

I don't think your memory is serving you correctly at all. This sounded so wrong to me I googled it and couldn't find anything. FIT is one of the most respected schools in the country for fashion design and related industries and, as part of the State University of New York system, hardly a diploma mill.

I wasn't sure, so thanks for the correction.

So it's boo hiss to all of those Art Institute places, right?

**Storyboard Dave** · December 13th, 2005, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by WhizBang

I wasn't sure, so thanks for the correction.

So it's boo hiss to all of those Art Institute places, right?

I found the article about 60 Minutes here...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in670479.shtml

The place to avoid is the Brooks College in Laguna Beach according to the article.

**gavin** · December 14th, 2005, 12:01 AM

So Proprietary colleges suck basically.

I wonder if this is the case for the School of Visual Arts?

**Elwell** · December 14th, 2005, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by gavin

So Proprietary colleges suck basically.

I wonder if this is the case for the School of Visual Arts?

No, it's not.

**timpaatkins** · December 14th, 2005, 03:38 AM

Thanks for the heads up guys, glad FIT wasnt a part of that! I have done lots of research though, and knew that it was a good place.

Elwell, what I like about their Fine Arts AAS is that it leads to animation and interactive design, amongst other things. Now Im not sure though how hard enrty is, or how many they accept. Hopefully Ill have a chance, Im working my ass of now trying to get together some good stuff for my portf.

I already have a degree in Graphic Design so i think the Fine Arts AAS will be a really imprtant compliment to that.

**goldenavatar** · December 14th, 2005, 09:29 AM

I think the 60 Minutes peice was about schools like Catherine Gibbs, and similar schools like them on the east and west coast in regards to the arts fields. Anyways, good luck tim, sorry I wasn't free enough to meet you when you were in NYC. I'm sure I'll have another chance when you get accepted to a school here.

**Storyboard Dave** · December 15th, 2005, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by Elwell

No, it's not.

Definitely not. SVA's been accredited for as long as I can remember. The school's in that the 60 Minutes article seem to be on par with truck driving schools where they give you a diploma that means nothing other than you've attended their place.

**B Prodigy** · December 26th, 2005, 02:23 PM

Anyone else going to FIT?

**bRyaN** · December 27th, 2005, 03:38 PM

I'm go to FIT...

And the Fine Art program is not that great unless you want to get into arguments over the significance of a piece of cheese on top of a model of the earth(i'm not kidding)...

the Illustration program has it's moments....the only thing i did not like at all was Barbara Hanlon....she is soo full of herself, i was surprised we were able to fit anybody in the room....

the illustration program leads to both Toy Design and Computer Animation..
And you do a ton of drawing, i finished 2 100 page newsprint pads and 3 50 page ones...

you got to take everything in stride, and filter out the bullshit...some professors have no idea what's goin on in the field today..

but overall i'm having a great time here...