London College of Fashion

[rockitgirl]

Hey everyone

This topic may or may not have been done already...I have skimmed all 11 pages and if it is here I missed it somehow.

I would like to know what the pros/cons of LCF vs CSM is. Someone told me that LCF is the school that takes those who did not get into CSM, they had a very high opinion of CSM but I think that every school has it's good and bad points. So between the two schools what would be a reason to go to either?

The one thing that does concern me is I know someone who got into LCF and not CSM and please do not think I am being rude here but he is REALLY not very good. He is not very creative, his technical skills are poor, and he has bad highschool grades. I almost felt like they were just filling their quota of offer letters by accepting him and was shocked that he got in. They even told him his drawing and illustration is weak (and I'd say that is his best skill related to design). Although he is more interested in PR than design so maybe this was a factor...?

Anyway I would really like to hear the difference between these schools. International tuition is roughly the same and both produce good grad shows though I read at the beginning of this thread (2006) that LCF grads have beaten CSM grads in competitions.

 

[Katie123]

well to be honest CSMers and LCFers have different reputations in London. CSM does have the reputation of being more criativity-based and teaching you do free your mind etc. basically, the crazier the better. i remember taking a short course i had a friend who did really dark stuff, and our tutor told her "oh this is very morbid. you should apply for CSM they love that sort of stuff". you're not going to be given a lot of theory or designers you should know and books you should read. it's very independent study oriented i think. i know that because a friend studies Product Design and he's missed every single one of his tutorials and he's never heard a word from his teachers, he just does his own thing in his own time and hands it in on the date.

on the other hand LCF is known for being better in the technical part of fashion. It is known for being better in less "creative" careers (in terms of creating garments, prints etc) such as management, journalism, marketing. i know a lot of both types of students and to be honest when i finished my Foundation course i was completely decided on LCF. it's a much more care free environment, as opposed to CSM. me and my friend that studies there always joke saying that you can recognize a CSMer on the streets, judging from their style and attitude. the crazier the style is and the more superior the posture, that's a CSMer (of course i mean from the one's i've met and seen, i'm not saying they're all like that, after all my friend isn't!)

 

[Meg]

For the person who asked above, I did the buying and merchandising short course at LCF and it was good, I enjoyed it. It's not mind blowing or anything, but the instructor was good and it was chock full of good info.

Sorry to hear about all the problems. If people don't respond to your email though - CALL THEM! I understand how frustrating it is, there is a lot of red tape at these places. I think my experience when I was applying was a bit better simply because while I was international, I was living in London at the time so it was easy to stop in at their office to get them to do things. I don't think it would be quite as simple if I was far away. Katie, if I were you, I'd phone them and ask to speak to the head of international student admittance and explain your problem and how you will now be delayed for classes, etc. and see if that gets you anywhere. Good luck

 

[fashionjunkiexx]

hiya i was wondering if anyone could help me?
im about to pick my college courses as im leaving school in june next year and ideally id like to go to uni at either london college of fashion or st martins, but im not sure which qualifications i need to get into the ba hons fashion design womens wear course as its not very clear on the website can anyone tell me what they did at college before going there?
neither my school or the college im going to is that helpful so any advice would be really appreciated!
thankyou!
xx

 

[Katie123]

have you done a foundation degree already? its not mandatory but everyone I know did it. those courses usually help you put up a portfolio for your the course you want. I remember womenswear was extremely competitive, especially CSM, and basically 70% of the people in my foundation at LCF wanted to do it.

 

[HeidiSeaSea]

Hello. everybody
I am applying for the BA fashion management programme this year, and my interview is on next week. Has anybody ever been in such an interview or know about it?
What questions may the interviewer ask, and how should I dress myself?
I am so nervous right now~.

 

[KatieJo63]

Wow! I have so many questions!!!

So, I'm currently a senior at FIT (in NYC), and i'll be graduating in the Spring with a BFA in Fabric Styling ( its mostly Trend Forecasting, as well as a strong focus on Costume History)... I received my AAS in Fashion Design... with that being said, I have every intention of receiving my MA somewhere in the UK next fall... After reading a few of the posts, my head is spinning... LCF and CSM have always been my ideal schools, assuming that I was going to apply for the Fashion Journalism program.. Does anyone have any advice for someone that only knows what has been provided for them in the schools' prospectus??? Are there any other routes that maybe I should look into?? Ideally, I've always assumed I would go into editorials, or styling for production ( which I have work experience in)... I feel as though I'm a small fish in a huge pond of piranhas!!!

 

[Meg]

heidiseasea - if you look back a couple pages in this thread I talk about the interview for the BA fashion management program.

To be honest, it was very quick and easy. It's comprised of a maths test as well as an interview with an admissions director. The math was like grade 2 math, no joke. Perhaps more surprising was that all the people in the office were amazing at my good score (8/10, messed up on two fractions/percentages questions!). Seriously, one of the questions is basic addition. However you aren't allowed a calculator so if you can't work things out on paper it might be an issue.

The admissions dean was very warm and welcoming and we just had a brief chat and he asked me about my goals/interests and I also explained to him why I wanted to be in the program and what about fashion retailing appeals to me. He asked what other schools I was applying to and at the end he basically assured me I would get in. I don't know if being an international student (and therefore paying higher fees) had anything to do with it but there you go. Don't be nervous, browse through trendspotting forum for a couple ideas on recent trends and just make sure you know why you want to attend the program.

 

[HeidiSeaSea]

heidiseasea - if you look back a couple pages in this thread I talk about the interview for the BA fashion management program.

To be honest, it was very quick and easy. It's comprised of a maths test as well as an interview with an admissions director. The math was like grade 2 math, no joke. Perhaps more surprising was that all the people in the office were amazing at my good score (8/10, messed up on two fractions/percentages questions!). Seriously, one of the questions is basic addition. However you aren't allowed a calculator so if you can't work things out on paper it might be an issue.

The admissions dean was very warm and welcoming and we just had a brief chat and he asked me about my goals/interests and I also explained to him why I wanted to be in the program and what about fashion retailing appeals to me. He asked what other schools I was applying to and at the end he basically assured me I would get in. I don't know if being an international student (and therefore paying higher fees) had anything to do with it but there you go. Don't be nervous, browse through trendspotting forum for a couple ideas on recent trends and just make sure you know why you want to attend the program.

Meg, Thank you very much for your answering.
I had the interview this afternoon, and luckily, I was admiitted.

 

[gossiping]

i'm planning to do the foundation styling & photography next year...anyone got any tips when it comes to my portfolio? i only really have photography projects so far (also no work experience - it's been impossible for me to find ANYTHING because i live in the middle of nowhere!)

 

[Charismatic]

Study Abroad

Has anyone done a study abroad. Im interested in either the Fashion Design Semester (likely next fall) or the Summer School, and figured I'd see if anyone has any advice...

 

[miji4u]

I might!! I applied for one course so we'll see !

 

[emily.]

I had the interview this afternoon, and luckily, I was admiitted.

Congratulations!

I'm thinking of applying there next year for the fashion management course but I don't know...I'm nervous haha.

 

[Charismatic]

I might!! I applied for one course so we'll see !

What did you apply for and when?

Im a textiles student right now, at a school without any fashion program. It would be nice to do fashion design in the fall, because it doesnt seem to be that much more expensive than the summer program (and I would get to choose some of my courses, which would be awesome), but the cost of living in London kinda worries me.

 

[gossiping]

^ same worry for me, I mean I live around an hour from London so it looks like i'll be commuting if I get in! Especially with the way things are at the moment, price of accommodation looks set to be going up. Does anyone know anything about the halls of residence at LCF?

 

[Charismatic]

^ same worry for me, I mean I live around an hour from London so it looks like i'll be commuting if I get in! Especially with the way things are at the moment, price of accommodation looks set to be going up. Does anyone know anything about the halls of residence at LCF?

I dont even want to think about the cost of living in London (both housing and general living), but Im really confused about the living situation for LCF study abroad, and if it would be better to go with housing through the school, or to look for a place on my own. I feel like this is all stuff I should work out now, in order to figure out if I can even afford to apply..

 

[gossiping]

well i'm assuming they'd give priority to students from abroad for the student housing!!! looking at the areas they are in from the campus though...I don't mean to sound like a snob but I really don't think I would fit in well around there! yeah I suppose you can just apply though and find out if you can even get in before deciding about housing? I think the student ones are always a good fallback...

 

[Charismatic]

well i'm assuming they'd give priority to students from abroad for the student housing!!! looking at the areas they are in from the campus though...I don't mean to sound like a snob but I really don't think I would fit in well around there! yeah I suppose you can just apply though and find out if you can even get in before deciding about housing? I think the student ones are always a good fallback...

Im not too concerned, but Im trying to put together information to put a case for it towards my mother (who pays for my college tuition and rent) to see if she would be willing to help me out with it, and if so, how much...

Oh well, we will see, Im going home for a doctors appt today, so I will see her and bring the subject up...

 

[gossiping]

well, good luck! if there's hope for anyone it's you! haha

 

[Charismatic]

Thanks! I just got done talking to my mother, and she thinks its a great idea and is willing to help me pay for it! So I guess Im gonna start getting my stuff together to apply for the fall!