Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Los Angeles

[BurtsBee]

^Thank you so much, I'm less worried now I got accepted and start in January!

 

[kimberwyn]

^Congrats! Hope you like the school.

 

[barbiedoitbetter]

hello everyone!!
im applying to FIDM
im from italy and im really worried that being foreign would be a point against my acceptance. besides they require work experience but im attending my last year of high school and i dont actually have a chance to have these oùkind of experience.
please give me all of your advices!!!!!!!!!
thank u

 

[agnès38]

barbiedoitbetter : I got a friend, French, who's got accepted at FIDM for next fall. This year she's in high school in California so maybe it was a good point for her. But I don't think because you're foreign it will be against your acceptance.

 

[barbiedoitbetter]

barbiedoitbetter : I got a friend, French, who's got accepted at FIDM for next fall. This year she's in high school in California so maybe it was a good point for her. But I don't think because you're foreign it will be against your acceptance.

Thank u so much!
I really hope to get in.. Im applying fòr jan 2010 but i still didnt send all the stuff because i have to wait till i have the toefl exam!
How was ur friend s project?


I really need advices, experiences and everything pleaseeee

 

[agnès38]

I don't know. I didnt see her. But i'm not sure she has to send a project because she applied to Merchandise product development. I'm sorry I can't say more, but don't worry do your best and you'll got all your chances !

 

[barbiedoitbetter]

I don't know. I didnt see her. But i'm not sure she has to send a project because she applied to Merchandise product development. I'm sorry I can't say more, but don't worry do your best and you'll got all your chances !

Thank you!!
Lets hope
!

 

[kimberwyn]

hello everyone!!
im applying to FIDM
im from italy and im really worried that being foreign would be a point against my acceptance. besides they require work experience but im attending my last year of high school and i dont actually have a chance to have these oùkind of experience.
please give me all of your advices!!!!!!!!!
thank u

FIDM requires work experience now?? Hmm. Anyways, my roommate was foreign and I knew a couple of others. Its not at uncommon at the school.

 

[saann]

I was looking at the website and saw that they had a stylist for film and television program

anyone know anything about it?

 

[ohbittebitte]

I went to FIDM and I wished I went to Otis.

 

[Denimpixie]

Hi all! So, I have heard some good and not so good things about FIDM. My friend in LA told me that people there think it's a joke, which I am thinking is because of the ease of acceptance and its reputation with The Hills. However, I currently work in PR and want to move to LA to get into fashion PR specifically. I have a ton of PR experience, but am considering going to FIDM to get my professional degree in Merchandise Marketing in order to add a bit more fashion experience to my resume. However, I don't want to go to a school that makes it hard for me to get a job after I graduate because it just looks like a fluff school. And if I can't put it on my resume, then what's the point?

Any advice??

 

[barbiedoitbetter]

I have my phone inetrview in 3 days and im freaking out!
someone please give me some advice such as what they're gonna ask me or how long it will last! thank you in advancee

 

[buhlack7]

Hi all! So, I have heard some good and not so good things about FIDM. My friend in LA told me that people there think it's a joke, which I am thinking is because of the ease of acceptance and its reputation with The Hills. However, I currently work in PR and want to move to LA to get into fashion PR specifically. I have a ton of PR experience, but am considering going to FIDM to get my professional degree in Merchandise Marketing in order to add a bit more fashion experience to my resume. However, I don't want to go to a school that makes it hard for me to get a job after I graduate because it just looks like a fluff school. And if I can't put it on my resume, then what's the point?

Any advice??

Hi,

If you already have all that PR experience, I say just tackle the business, apply for a few jobs and move to Los Angeles. If you feel you are ready of course!

There is nothing wrong with furthering your education and I feel that at FIDM, you can definitely learn a lot from instructors who are industry professionals. And during your stay at FIDM you'll definitely develop a great network.

Also, the library and resources available at FIDM is just amazing!!!

But it is all what you make of your education and how you take advantage of it.

The rest of the world has the ridiculous misconception that FIDM is all about the Hills and LC. She doesn't even go to the school and yet they film it as if she did.

Let me just tell you that the acceptance rate is equally as high as the drop out rate.

A lot of rich kids attend the school thinking it's just another extension of the Hills and shopping, but then they meet industry professionals such as Lo Presti, Perelman, Antebi and Veros and they come running back the hills!

I swear! Lauren Conrad gives my school AIDS!!! Almost all my instructors say so! It's quite funny actually!

But yeah, I don't think FIDM will hurt your resume. As long as you know what you are talking about and you mean business, FIDM should just be sugar on top.

If you have anymore questions, feel free to contact me.

 

[chel4mdavali]

Hi all! So, I have heard some good and not so good things about FIDM. My friend in LA told me that people there think it's a joke, which I am thinking is because of the ease of acceptance and its reputation with The Hills. However, I currently work in PR and want to move to LA to get into fashion PR specifically. I have a ton of PR experience, but am considering going to FIDM to get my professional degree in Merchandise Marketing in order to add a bit more fashion experience to my resume. However, I don't want to go to a school that makes it hard for me to get a job after I graduate because it just looks like a fluff school. And if I can't put it on my resume, then what's the point?

Any advice??

i won't deny that alot of people in LA think of FIDM as a joke and not a real school, but i have a couple friends that go there and it's really just how you handle your education. If you take it seriously then others will take you seriously. I don't think having FIDM on your resume will have any negative affects. My friend's sister-in-law went to FIDM to study graphic design and is now a very successful web designer. She even got her present job because of reccomendations from her instructors at FIDM. So don't let it's reputation of "The Hills" school blind you. In essence it's a decent school but i think it's reputation because of the tv series and it's high acceptance rate gives it a bad name.

also it's not like LC really went to the school, i know they used to cancel some classes because of filming. good luck!

 

[starrygurlrox]

What about Otis College of Art and Design in L.A.? How is it regarded?

 

[Olivia]

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd start this thread back up...

I've graduated school with a BA in English, and I'm considering going back to school for Fashion Merchandising. I'm looking at some schools in Vancouver, closer to home, as well as FIDM.

I'd really like to attend FIDM because it may help me get my foot in the door in the US. I'm Canadian and getting a Visa is a hassle.

Any new thoughts about the school? I agree, everything is what you make it, but I could save a bit of money by staying closer to home. I'm willing to spend that cash if it's going to help me out in the long run, but I want to make sure it's worth something before I do.

Also any details about the Merchandise Marketing program would be fab. Thanks!

 

[BetteT]

I can't address FIDM's Fashion Merchandising program.

But I would think that any merchandising program (not geared to any industry in particular) would still put you in a good position to do the work. It's mainly math, statistics, and learning how to to get ahead of the buying trends so that you have the appropiate amount of the right kind or merchandise in your stores ... but don't over stock. The theory and the tools are the same no matter whether it's cosmetics, fashion, or auto parts. So, you might consider any retail merchandising program, if that will widen your option.

I am thinking that it might not be to your benefit to come to LA to study merchandising. However, if you plan to move to LA (not NY) and want to do retail merchandinsing here and nowhere else, then it might make sense. We have tons of retail here in L.A, but most of the major stores are not headquarted here. So, you might have a chance at working for small boutiques (if they even have a merchandiser) ... but I don't think being in L.A. would help you with the major stores ... Barneys, Saks, Nordrstom, Macys ... if you want to get a position where the decisions are made.

Food for thought .....

 

[slowframes]

Restarting this thread up because I'm applying to FIDM's Apparel Industry Management/Fashion Design Program.

Any new thoughts on this school since 1+ years ago? Do people still think this place is a joke?

I've applied to FIT, Parsons & FIDM so far, but I have the most confidence in FIDM's admissions team. I'm an international student (from Asia), and FIDM was the only school to have sent a representative to speak to me. They also sent me a package full of information about the school, and answered any questions that I had readily.

Compared to that, I had severe problems contacting the admissions team from FIT, and had to call in just to ask a simple question of whether or not I'm considered a transfer student. That made it quite hard for me due to time zone issues...

Anyone here who's graduated/is currently studying at FIDM and wants to give some input? x:

 

[kimberwyn]

^I went to FIDM and loved it, and I've never gotten a negative response from people in the industry (I've only heard it here, and I'm still waiting for someone to support their arguments against the school lol) and I meet more people who went to FIDM in the industry than any other school.

My roommate from Indonesia, and she applied to a lot of the same schools you did (as well as CSM). I cant compare it to other school though, I can only give my experience!

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Another English major planning on heading back to school here; I'm between Fashion Marketing and Fashion Merchandising, but I don't want to go back until Fall 2014/Spring 2014 at the absolute EARLIEST, so I have time to decide.

I've been looking at a host of programs, both domestic and international, and FIDM is the most curious of them all for me. The school ranks highly on Fashionista's list, and definitely seems to have name recognition; however, when I stalk Linkedin, it seems like all the Fashion Merchandising grads are sales associates at Wal Mart and Saks! Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with that, but if I'm spending thousands of additional dollars for my education, I'd definitely like to get a more lucrative position (as well as one more closely related to my major).

Any FIDM alums wanna defend their school for me? Cause at this point, I'm thinking of just applying to the New York schools and a handful in Europe (Polimoda, Instituto Marangoni, ESMOD, LCF)