Becoming a Buyer?

[vintageamour]

i'm actually going to FSU (because I have a full scholarship from bright futures- the only positive thing about going to school in florida), to go into their fashion merchandising program. i've talked to a few people who have done it, and it sounds like it's going to be great. i'm very excited about it . what about you, ALaFramboise, parsons or FIT? i'm uber jealous!

xoxo, lauren

 

[ALaFramboise]

WHY!?! Fsu?! Try your hardest to get into FIT please, my love. Brightfutures i hear may not be covering most of anything due to our great master presidents younger brother making a major monies allocation mistake upon implementing the "Bright Futures" program.

 

[jolie917]

One of my best friends who I met while interning at Betsey Johnson here in NY graduated from FSU in Fashion Merchandising. She absolutely loved it there, as I did at LSU's Fashion Program. Yes, FIT would be fantastic but a FULL scholarship at FSU is spectacular as well! Congratulations!

 

[vintageamour]

yes, i'm quite excited about it, and it's good to know that they have great connections with comanies as reputable as betsey johnson. best of luck to you in your career & thanks for the support!
xoxo, lauren

 

[seeing_double]

Just want to give out salutations to everyone on the board, i've been reading this all quite throughly and i'm thinking about hopefully becoming a buyer later on in life (and hopefully not making the wrong choices as i have seen some truly naiive people have been doing!!)


At the moment i'm a highschool junior, with basically no life doing the most ridiculous A.P. Courses since i go to school in Florida and have an alarming, inate fear that the redundant and despised school system may drag me under.Thus it being so (for lack of a better word) scary, i try to force myself to take the most challenging classes possible so that when i do apply to college, i'll shine.

I have a couple of quick advice questions to ask of you all, and hopefully i'll get the answers i've been craving for, instead of the fluff i've heard others around me tell me about buying (Oh it's so beautiful, it's the best, so much clothes!!!!....HAH! My emotions to all of this ----> )

First off, i was thinking about applying to FIT for their program (plus, the school itself is realativly cheap) or, god willing i get the financial aid i need, Parsons School Of Design as well. Is their any type of specific program or school you would reccomend?

Also, the math. What type of math do you use on a consistent basis? I'm currently in algebra 2, math not being my strongpoint, but when used in context to real life sistuations, i can certainly do it. In a way, i've been cheating my way into learning marketing/merchandising math now, since i've bought myself about 4-5 books to learn all the basic formulas and things like that.

And last but not least....Training programs?! What are your thoughts on such things...should i rely on internships (hopefully!) training programs, or even Monster.com, etc to procure my first job?!

Thanks So much for your time if you've actually sat down to read this!!!


-Michael.

I'm looking at both of these schools at the moment too (in the midst of finishing my essays and getting everything completed) and although I can't answer everything...there are a few questions I can...

First off...at FIT you apply for direct entry into the Fashion Merchandising Management Program. There are three areas of study within this program (which basically directs your studies to what you want to do) and retail buying is one of the three. For Parsons you apply direct entry as well into the Design and Management Program. There couses are not AS specific to buying, however this is good in a way as it gives you more options.

Regarding your math...I have been to information sessions and tours, open houses at both school and they both emphasized the importance of math in buying. The dean of admissions at FIT told me that math was a very important factor in their selection process...more so than english or history for example (obviously). I am not exactly sure what constitutes an acceptable math student to them though (I myself am in AP Calculus II and got a 720 on my SAT Math section and when I told her she seemed a bit shocked - does anyone hear a horn tooting?) Anyways...Parsons did not really talk about grades too much. I do know the course is limited to a bit less than 300 students at Parsons, wheras FIT takes in 2000+...so one could assume your grades mus be outstanding to get accepted to Parsons. Parsons also HIGHLY encourages an interview which gives you a chance to show them what sets you apart from the rest...wheras FIT does not conduct interviews.

Training Programs...good but IMO not needed at this point. I work retail and it came in handy greatly for my essays, and I'm sure it looks great...but internships and summer programs aren't going to look THAT great IMO...but I could be wrong.

Hope this helped!!!!

 

[ALaFramboise]

Ahh. Don't make me cry!!! hah. This year i'm in Algebra 2 (period. regular. PAH!) And next year (senior year) i plan on taking Trig, as well as AP Stats?

AP Calculus 2?! I seriously almost passed out.

Oh! And about GPA's....Which one do you think they really stare at? I'm currently at the 4.5 Weighted, and around a 3.0 Unweighted without all the glamour of extra points.

 

[seeing_double]

Haha....don't worry too much about it. With the number of applicants colleges see...it has alot to do with timing and luck really.

Regarding GPAs...the numbers you gave seem a bit off. I myself have a 4.6 weighted (In all AP classes) and around a 3.7 unweighted. The gap between the two for you seems large....but maybe they do it differently in FL. Anywayz....so far all of the colleges I have sent my transcrips to have only recieved my weighted GPA. Given, anything above a 4.0 is clearly weighted...but still. FIT, being part of SUNY, also requires your guidance counselor to fill out a for estimating your class rank and/or percentile. Just a heads up.

 

[ALaFramboise]

Thanks for the info, you really sent only weighted GPA in? I seem so confused, since Florida seems to be soooo centered on FLORIDA only schools. I'm going to send yah a PM since i don't want to flood the board with my college ramblings.

 

[devon_jay]

Does anyone know anything about getting into buying/merchandising in Canada? Toronto specifically? what are the qualifications like?

 

[styleoverfashion]

^ devon, i'm wondering about the same thing.

i don't even know where the first place to look is.

my goal is to cozy up to my SAs because i'm sure they know more about the industry than i do.

are you doing a fashion-specific program?

i know a few girls at fanshawe and they get placements every now and then at like holt renfrew and such. and a girl from ryerson told me marc jacobs posted internships in their career center.

 

[devon_jay]

no im just getting my BA right now and when i graduate, thinking about taking the merchandising program offered by Seneca. I just want to know if its completely necessary to have that diploma, and how much prior experience i need in the industry... (because i have none! lol)

 

[good in red]

Does anybody know the average income that a buyer makes at an average department store like Macy's?

 

[ALaFramboise]

i can't give you an exact sum, but lets just say that you'll make more money at a place like.... a dollar store, then perhaps a place like prada! It's strange but true, read a couple of posts back and you'll see someone in the UK who's situation is JUSt like that.

 

[jolie917]

Agreed. Us fashionistas don't make much.

 

[ALaFramboise]

heh. but is it all worth it?! i think oui.

 

[danceras]

wow i just read the entire thread because im focused on hopefully becoming a buyer [when i grow up tehehe]. i'm currently a junior in high school and taking, what I think, are the appropriate steps to getting into FIT. Originally, I wasn't planning on taking math my senior year and just taking alot of marketing and economics classes, but now I'm rethinking that decision. I was turned off by the idea of another year of math considering that honors pre-calculus is kicking my butt. Also, I believe one of the colleges that I'm looking at has a prerequisite of 2 years of math- it was either FIT or LIM.

 

[Bran16]

Online Courses

I was curious, does anyone know of any credible, fashion merchandising degrees or courses that you can take online; with all courses taken over the computer or by correspondence? Does anyone have experience with such? Can you be hired as an Assistant Retail Buyer, or Retail Buyer with this?

 

[ALaFramboise]

ha! Can you belive tht after a serious dose of speaking to a bunch of design and management students at parsons, i tottaly feel like going to FIT only.....it seems much more true to life.

 

[seeing_double]

^what makes you say that?

 

[sarah2410]

Hi I'm new to TFS hi everyone, Ive just read this thread and found it very informing. I am due to start university this september and have a place on a fashion buying degree however I am concerned that if a career in buying didn't work out I would be limited by this focused degree.

I know I could choose to do a business degree which would widen the areas I could work in but fashion is my love and I would very much enjoy that more however I am just worried I could not go into other areas with the fashion buying degree If there are no openings here in the UK could really use some help and advice thank you!