Should I go to grad school?

[KaraDanielle11]

I'm graduating from college this year. My major is communications and I really want to go into fashion magazines. Right now I'm an intern at a local Boston magazine (but not in the fashion department), and I am attending the Teen Vogue University in NYC (mostly because I think it will be fun, and I'll get to listen to Tim Gunn talk for an hour, and I love going to NYC for the weekend whatever the reason) but should I be considering grad school? I assumed I'd go to grad school in NYC or Boston for journalism or communications but do fashion magazines really want a masters in journalism or are they looking for something else? There don't seem to be too many fashion marketing graduate programs...I know parsons has an associate certificate degree but isn't that a step down from having a bachelors? If I went to an associate program after graduating college won't it look strange?
I'll probably take a year off before going to grad school (if I do) but do people who work at the fashion magazines normally have their masters???
Also, would having my masters mean that I would make more money when I go into a magazine (the way it would in other industries)? I know that shouldn't be important but NYC and Boston are both incredibly expensive cities to live in and with about $100,000 in undergraduate student loans to be paid back I need to be logical.
I know this is a big mess of a post but any advice anyone might have for me would be greatly appreciated!

 

[fourboltmain]

I think if you have the opportunity and drive to do a masters, do it. Not many people have the chance, and it' sonly going to help you.

 

[discostu]

Not sure about fashion mags, but I used to work in journalism, and it definitly seemed experience was valued much more than advanced degrees. In fact, most people I worked with (I worked in public radio) not only didn't have a masters, but often didn't even go to J-school. As it sound like you are still in school, talk to your advisor. Maybe he/she can even put you in touch with someone in the industry just to find out what they vaule most. Good luck

Also, look into volunteer/internship opportunites. I worked nights waiting tables, while interneing during the day at a radio station. this ultimatly led to a real job. People always like free labor, and it's a good way to get your foot in the door!

 

[criticsdarling]

It's possible to get a job at a fashion magazine without a degree related to fashion. For instance, when I interned at one big fashion mag, there was a Religion major as the Fashion Assistant. Alot of it is just getting your foot in the door the first time.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

I presume you've read this before:

The people who do the hiring in the newsrooms echo these sentiments. "A journalism degree doesn't really carry much weight," says Jeanne Fox-Alston, the Post's newsroom recruiting director. "In fact, we are a little bit concerned when we see that someone has taken a lot of journalism classes." "If you can write, then you can figure out how to write journalism," says Peter Kovaks, the Metro editor for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The headhunters at The New York Times put it even more bluntly. "It really doesn't pull any weight," says a staffer who works for Carolyn Lee, the assistant managing editor in charge of hiring at the Times. "All we are about is ability and experience." One could go on. When Dean Isaacs worked for The Washington Post, he himself used to discriminate against the people he now instructs. "I stopped hiring people from the Columbia Journalism School, " he says. "They thought their sh*t didn't really smell. They were a constant morale problem."

 

[PrinceOfCats]

Surely if you have an internship though, you could talk to an actual journalist about this.

 

[KaraDanielle11]

^^ Yes, but I intern at a local magazine. I wanted advice with a more fashion slant. And I don't want to stay in Boston forever...I'd like to work at a major fashion magazine in NYC.

 

[smartarse]

a degree is great an MBA is exceptionally great if you want to plant yourself in a high profiled publication. they'll consider an application from someone who can write and have a knowledge in fashion.

 

[smartarse]

let me rephrase that... they'll consider an application with a background in writing and a knowledge in fashion.

a degree is great an MBA is exceptionally great if you want to plant yourself in a high profiled publication. they'll consider an application from someone who can write and have a knowledge in fashion.

 

[somegirl]

Grad school (MBA, MA) WILL NOT help you get that internship or job. Nor will you get paid more. Trust me.

I would recommend getting some sort of post-grad certificate or something though in New York, but only because most of the biggies like Conde Nast or Time Inc. will only hire interns FOR SCHOOL CREDIT.

 

[smartarse]

the likes of Conde Nast or any Fortune 500 (in NYC) will take on mostly undergrads for internships. For hiring is what i stated 2 posts up.

I personally don't take on interns who are grad students because those in that level already hold paying jobs.

*footnote: if you want to get your foot in the door with any "fortune 500" co. I suggest you get a work experience after graduation (for undergrad). going straight to grad school and lacking the work experience will backfire on you.

 

[somegirl]

i interned at Conde Nast as a graduate student last summer (fashion). my friend who was already in a post-grad diploma also was interning there.

 

[morgan38]

A master's degree will almost always increase your earning, especially if you want to work for a high profile publication. So, if you have the opportunity to go to grad school, I would strongly suggest you take advantage of it.

 

[smartarse]

conde nast's fashion division is broad. unless you , you don't have a fulltime job on your resume interning as a grad student or post grad make sense. but then again, most of the interns in certain divisions come from prominent families anyway

 

[babes99]

masters/internships

i graduated with a BA 2 years ago with a major in communications... i am now currently attending parsons working towards my AAS fashion marketing degree.. i wouldn't be worried about having a BA and going for the AAS degree as well b/c 99% of the people in my program have a BA or BFA already.. some even have masters and been to law school etc. so far i think its been a good experience.. mainly putting myself in a position that can help me get a job... with all of this.. i landed an internship at Donna Karan. so i think that going back to school helps a little.. but i also have to add that i didn't aquire any loans from my undergrad. in georgia we had the hope scholarship and i was lucky enough to escape schools without any debits.. i was concerned about the cost of school b/c 40k is a lot to swallow.. but everyone is different!
hope this helps!

 

[Miss Gallo]

Grad School in NYC

So- I went to school at FIT for Fashion Merchandising. I am thinking about going to Grad School. Does anyone have any sugg or experiences at certain schools located in NYC? I haven't decided what I would study- I need to do some serious research.

thanks in advance

x

 

[nyc_art_style]

The topic of grad school for those who work in fashion is of great interest to me as well (especially in NYC, well ok only in NYC).

I want to work in fashion magazines, but I'm terrified that if I go to grad school I'll miss out on a great full time job that I'll need in fashion to work my way up.

Also does anyone have any thoughts on Columbia's graduate arts program?

 

[frieda]

Do any Grad Schools have fashion journalism classes/concentrations? maybe F.I.T?