The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

If I could do it all over again I would not go to FIDM, but i did, I did well. It's painfully easy, construction takes time, and its exhausting, but there is 0 academic challenge. If you don't already have a degree go take your general eds at a community college, and really think about whether FIDM is worth the money, because it is A LOT of money.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2010

Faculty Accessibility: A, Social Life: C

I attended FIDM in LA for 3 quarters right away in summer after graduating high school, [technically one year] and decided to transfer out because I did not enjoy the experience and I thought i wasn't getting what I paid for. NOT to say that FIDM is not for you. I think if you are a fashion-design major that is PASSIONATE about learning to design and SEW and REALLY want to succeed than this is right for you. It is not as hard as FIT but it is challenging if you pick the right major. The favored majors - with students I know - are Fashion Design and Visual Communications. They can be VERY challenging esp. if you are not used to doing a lot of HW. [SO i have heard at least] Graphic Design is a really good major too so I have heard.

My BIGGEST recommendation would be DO NOT come here until you can go for the PROFESSIONAL designate program (you have a previous degree) BECAUSE for one thing, it will be CHEAPER and you get rid of all the stupid general education classes but you do work harder (but if you've been to college you should be ready to IMHO). ALSO you will have decided at that point that you want to know more about that ONE subject with a college degree under you belt before and have that previous college experience done with. At FIDM in LA it really can be all about networking and VERY professional state-of-mind because its preparing you for real industry jobs and there are a lot in LA !

I decided to go to FIDM from the east-coast because I loved business and fashion and I wanted to put the two together. I started out in Product Development but changed to Merch. Marketing my second quarter, I only had one class that didn't count towards my new major. [The Merch Marketing major was the biggest joke of a major at the school -IMHO] I did have to take general education classes like College Mathematics (easier than 9th grade level), Critical Thinking (basically an English class) to name a few, but all general ed at FIDM is a waste of time. The [mostly] professional professors were very into what they were teaching and how we could learn it. [The general education teachers are usually less interesting or involved but the teachers overall get a thumbs up - they do usually hold other jobs and are SO interesting most of the time.]

My grades at FIDM for all 3 quarters were 1 A, 3 Bs, 1 C with five classes every quarter I maintained the sameee type of grades and now I am transferring to a SUNY college ? but not FIT. So if you wanted to know if I am smart enough to say all this crap, there - You be the judge.

One big problem is the way the "year" is set up. The whole quarter system sucks because if you really want to MASTER something, it takes longer than 10 weeks. But it does help if you hate a class because its not that long. Also, the classes are 2.5 hours long - too long - and only once a week. This sucks because you are sitting there and trying to absorb or stay focused but the school rule is NO water or food in classrooms (i know, high school all over again?!) and it gets VERY dreary by the time you've sat through 2 or 3 classes in a row. You do get a 15 minute break in each class but it is often not enough time!! the morning class time to the lunch class time there is a big break but after 12 the classes can be scheduled all in a row and THAT will WEAR you right out.

Also to consider, Long Beach college has a great Fashion Design [i think that was the major] program and the students come out with great designs, so I have heard.I think if you are a DRIVEN fashion design, visual comm. or graphic designer than this might be the right school for you. HOWever if you are unsure, do NOT come here, take some time at another university before or AT Least talk to some girls in the program you want to go into. There are also a LOT LOT LOT of rich, spoiled bitches here - but its LA what do you expect you're thinking - with fake everything and drama up their ass and its easy to get sucked into the club scene i guess... just remember how much you're paying for this education though !!

1st Year Female -- Class 2011

University Resource Use/ spending: A+, Extracurricular Activities: F