This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Kent State chapter.
Many students who chose to pursue their degrees in fashion turn to
Kent State University because it’s one of the best fashion schools around. The
program is nationally ranked thanks to their phenomenal faculty members and alumni; these things set them apart from other fashion programs.
When choosing colleges, many fashion-driven students pick Kent because of their outstanding study-abroad opportunities. Students have the chance to go to Florence, New York City and Hong Kong for an entire semester; there’s also a program in Paris at the
Paris American Academy for a month over the summer.
We will be uploading content every week in October giving you an overview of the various programs with insight from real students who have completed them.
Let’s kick off the series with
New York City: the fast-paced fashion capital of the world. We spoke with fashion students from Kent State University who participated in the semester-long program, as well as the summer program, to give us better insight into their experiences in the big apple.
Meet Brittany Bradley, 21, a fifth-year senior pursuing a fashion merchandising major with a marketing minor. She completed the program last spring.
Her Campus: When did you attend the NYC Studio?
Brittany Bradley: Last Spring; I left in January and came back in May.
HC: Did you have an internship while you attended the NYC Studio?
HC: How many classes did you take?
Brittany: Four. Product Development, Planning and Buying, a media class and a NYC field study.
HC: What are some pros of your experience in New York City?
Brittany: I had an awesome internship for my first time interning. I got to go to Fashion Week. It was awesome; I had the opportunity to be around male models the whole time. I love New York; just the atmosphere is great. There’s always something to do; the food is always good.
HC: What were some cons of your experience in New York City?
Brittany: I could have had better roommates.
HC: What advice do you have for KSU fashion students who are about participate in the program?
Brittany: Explore whenever you can because I didn’t tour anything. On random Saturdays, we chose to go to a few musesums, but I never toured the Statue of Liberty or Ground Zero while I was there. Also, network as much as possible while you’re there, wherever you are. Even if you don’t have a profession, make business cards with your information on it because you never know who you’re going to meet. I met amazing people while I was out there, especially the designer I worked for. It’s all about who you meet. Don’t just stick to your KSU peers, branch out and meet others!
Next, let us introduce you to Amy Kessler, 20, a junior public relations major with a minor in fashion media. She attended the NYC Studio this summer.
Her Campus: How long were you at the NYC Studio?
Amy Kessler: I was there for two months. I left May 30 and came back August 2.
HC: What kind of classes did you take at the NYC Studio?
Amy: I took Fashion in the Media, where we basically made a magazine there. It was so cool to learn the process of fashion magazines and we were also able to go see
GQ and
Elle, and visited Conde Naste. It was such a great experience to go to the offices and see what they look like. I also took a study tour class where we went to see landmarks in the city. We saw Stoll (a knit-wear factory) that demonstrated different practices of knitting. We went to the Met, and a China exhibit, to show how designers are inspired by chinese culture.
HC: Tell me about your intership in New York.
Amy: My internship was a fashion public relations internship where I learned how to do press clippings to edit and send to clients or editors, I ran errands, researched venues for press events and I wrote PR pitches to send to editors.
HC: Why do you think experiencing the NYC Studio is vital to fashion students’ careers?
Amy: If people don’t take up this experience, you will miss out and be clueless as to what the fasion industry is actually like. People don’t realize it’s bang bang bang, crazy fast paced. It’s the fashion capital of the world, why not go and experience it?
HC: What were the cons of NYC?
Amy: It’s SO SO SO expensive! It’s ridiculous how much money it really is and the difference in prices of something as simple as a gallon of milk are crazy. There, it’s $4, and here it’s $2. I also didn’t like how everyone is so fast-paced and angry all the time. I saw it rubbed off on me, and you become anxious all of the time because everyone around you is in such a rush.
HC: What were the pros of NYC?
Amy: I liked the fact that it was just a different atmosphere then I’m used too. I’m glad I can say I lived the New York experience and now I can see where I want to live. I love how diverse the people are there, it was so different to see the transition from Kent to New York and I can’t wait to go back and see it again!
HC: What is your advice for KSU fashion students who are about to go to the NYC Studio?
Amy: For internships, start planning and researching and looking into them now. Luckily for me, I chose one and applied and got it. I knew girls who had an internship and then the internship dropped them, so keep in contact with them if they give you an internship!
Mekeighla and her friend strike a pose looking chic as ever in the big city.
Lastly, we’ll end with Mekeighla P. Castillo, a junior fashion merchandising major who is currently getting a taste of The Big Apple. Her Campus got the opportunity to sit down and chat with the fashionista over a FaceTime interview.
Her Campus: What made you choose the New York City program?Mekeighla Castillo: I knew that going to New York and gaining firsthand experience in the fashion industry would give me an advantage over the competition. I also wanted to treat this like a test run to see if I could live and make it in the big city, and so far, I feel like I was made for it.
HC: How do you think this experience will further your resume/career in the future?MC: Having that you attended class and interned in NYC on your resume will speak volumes to employers when it comes to gauging how you deal with pressured situations in the real world.
HC: Pros of living and studying in New York?MC: The biggest pro is that I am immersed in one of the fashion capitals of the world. Inspiration hits you at every corner and it’s never boring. You have access to all that you can imagine just a couple of blocks away. Networking opportunities are in abundance here in the city and you are always meeting new faces.
HC: Any cons you’ve come across so far?MC: The cost of living here is ridiculous! I definitely would not be able to afford living in the city unless I had assistance in paying my rent and a job that pays more than an entry-level salary, which is almost impossible unless you know someone here.
HC: What’s been the biggest adjustment for you so far?MC: Learning how to budget and schedule my days efficiently has been tough for me. Like I said, costs are SO high here and you really have to practice willpower when it comes to spending on your wants versus your actual needs. Balancing an internship and classes has really forced me to manage my time better. Back in Kent, everything I need was on campus. It wasn’t difficult to get somewhere or to someone on a short notice. Here in NYC, that’s not the case whatsoever.
Mekeighla in front of her favorite stoop that she passes by every day.
HC: Your favorite thing about New York?MC: I’ve always been a city girl at heart with life and excitement in my veins; NYC is just that for me. There’s never a dull moment and there’s always somewhere new you can go explore. I also come from an artistic family. With that being said, the amount of artistic creativity that’s in the atmosphere speaks to me on a personal level; I can never get enough of it. Ya know, they say home is where the heart is—and NYC stole mine a long time ago.
HC: What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far while studying there?MC: So far, it’s been my internship and getting to work with a company who partners with company giants. I intern with the Lion’esque Group, a pop-up that helps businesses build temporary locations to display their newest merchandise and lines. Just recently, we actually worked with Sally Hansen and brought their Perfect Mani-Match Gel Polish to SoHo! I think that’s a cool thing that I get to say I was a part of.
HC: What’s something you wish you had known beforehand?MC: Honestly, I wish I had known just how expensive it actually was going to be. While they warn you it’s going to be costly, you don’t really understand just how much until you end up buying $8 gallons of milk and $11 bottles of cinnamon spice. It just blows my mind.
HC: Any advice for other students considering the program?MC: PLAN! Start saving at least a year before your trip or as soon as possible; that way, you can spend your time in the city comfortably. Know all of your expenses, know the cost of groceries, and know the area you’ll live in. Do as much research as you can before you get here. But also, don’t take your time for granted while you’re here. Know that the experience will be like nothing you’ve ever had before. Most people either love or hate the city—but even if it’s not for you, you will have benefitted greatly by studying in NYC and experiencing fashion at its best. Personally, I hope to return one day and stay for good, but we’ll see what the future has in store for me!
For more information on the New York Studio, click here.
