Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
The Vibe
Always on the grind
What it feels like going here
Forget Gossip Girl. FIT is what you would get if Constance Billard came to life. Located in the heart of the concrete jungle, students of the Fashion Institute of Technology brings in the new trends before anyone else. If you see someone with a cool fit walking down Midtown, there’s a high chance that it’s someone from this school. If you know someone who goes to FIT, you better make friends with them. You might be looking at the next Calvin Klein. The location’s great and the staff is awesome; but nothing is given for free in the city. FIT students are always on the grind, working on projects after projects. They don’t ask for what they want, they fight to win it. Like what Serena said, “Don’t let people tell you who you are. You tell them.”
Alumni
Living up to its name, FIT has many alumni who made it big in the fashion industry. Calvin Klein and Michael Kors are two of the many famed fashion designers who walked through the halls of FIT. Some alumni can be seen on the big screen pretty often. Oscar Nuñez, known for his appearance on The Office as Oscar Martinez, or Karen Allen from the famed Indiana Jones series stand out among others.
Where they hang
Being near 12th Avenue, FIT students have easy access to the piers on the Hudson River. It’s rarely crowded, and the view of New Jersey across the calm river makes it a great place to take a quick breath, away from the loud, chaotic city of Manhattan. The Highline is another great place to sightsee. Stretching from 14th to 34th Street on 12th Avenue, the public park shares a unique design, due to it being built on top of an old railway. It’s a famous landmark in the city, so if you don’t really vibe with huge crowds, it may be a better idea to visit around closing time, which fluctuates throughout the year.
New York is filled with museums. There’s at least one museum for every 10 streets. The MET, the Whitney, the Museum of Modern Art… there are so many to choose from. Aside from the grand collection of exhibits, these museums also host many events, like the Lunar New Year festival at the MET, where people dance around the entire building. Some of these museums grant free access to SUNY students, like the MOMA, and others have occasional discounts for their tickets, so it’d be great to be on the lookout!
Kona coffee roasters is a great spot to study, chill with friends, or just get a nice cup of hot latte. The Hawaiian latte is **chef’s kiss** a must-try. The interior is warm and calming, making it easy to focus on that essay you need to finish before your next class starting in two hours. Also, Manhattan is known for its bar scene. Of the hundreds of bars in the city, Anytime Billiards stands out with its niche interior and a pretty nice set of pool tables. It’s technically a dive bar, but it’s not as crowded, nor is it as loud, so it’s the perfect place to visit if you just want to grab a drink, and maybe play some pool with your friends on a night out. The food is also pretty good (especially for a bar), so even if you’re not into alcohol, it’s still worth stopping by to try the chicken teriyaki rice bowl, which is only $9.
Q&A
How much are students partying?
“FIT is not as well known as other schools in New York for hosting parties. Students love partying as much as the guy next door, however, and there’s always at least one to crash in the city that never sleeps,” FIT senior Minseo Kim said.
What will you get in trouble for at your school?
“It’s ESSENTIAL that students go to class. FIT’s classes are designed so that most of the learning experience is conducted during class periods, so missing a class would be critical to the student. Most classes also take attendance too, and you don’t want to get points taken off by skipping class,” FIT sophomore Anna Lin said.
How much sex are students having? How is safe sex encouraged on campus?
“FIT students are very sexually active. Due to this, the school provides free condoms in dorms, and sends out occasional emails about the importance of safe sex.” Lin said.
What would you tell incoming freshman about your school?
“Be ready to do some work. But don’t forget to give yourself room to breathe,” FIT senior Yubin Ko said.
What’s one thing FIT students love the most about their school?
“Everyone loves the location. It’s near Ktown, Penn Station, the Hudson river, everything. No school has a better location than us,” Kim said.
Student reviews
“FIT gave me a lot of real life experience. The student-run boutique, “Style Shop,” helped me learn what the fashion business wants from me. There were a lot of core classes I had to go through, which wasn’t quite what I was expecting. But overall, it’s been a pretty good few years,” FIT senior Yubin Ko said.
Top 3 Majors
1. Fashion and Apparel Merchandising/Design
2. Communications
3. Commercial and Advertising Art/Marketing
Top 3 Most Popular Student Organizations
1. Costume Design Club
This club goes deeper into learning about the field of costume design. Students have the opportunity to learn about, and make their own costumes.
2. Anime club
The Anime club meets weekly, to do screenings of various animations, play games, or hold debates about anime-related topics.
3. Kwave Kpop Dance club
This club not only teaches kpop dance moves, but also recruits members to form cover team squads. Practices are held regularly.
Getting in
Due to its wide variety of majors, a student’s approach to applying for FIT would also vary depending on what they would want to study. Excluding artistic majors like Fashion Design, however, FIT tends to focus on extracurricular activities and the personal statement, and puts less emphasis on the academic records. The most important thing applicants should focus on is storytelling, and showing personality. Students should focus on correlating each extracurricular activity, and spending some time explaining how each activity was helpful in their essays.
Stats
Location: 227 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
Tuition & Fees: In-state: $6,170, Out-of-state: $16,750
Total Cost on Campus:
Undergrads Enrolled: 7,871 (Fall 2022)
Grads Enrolled: 254 (Fall 2022)
Total Enrolled: 8,125
Acceptance percentage: 51.7%
Percent Admitted who Enroll: 52%
Enrollment: 4,666 (Fall 2022)
Percentage of Male Students: 18%
Percentage of Female Students: 82%
Percentage Receiving Financial Aid: 53%
Percentage Receiving Federal Grants: 50%
Percentage Receiving Federal Loans: 53%
