DREXEL UNIVERSITY - Philadelphia, PA

DREXEL UNIVERSITY

3141 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University was ranked in June of this year #6 in the country for Fashion Design, #3 in Design and Merchandising in the nation and #2 on the east coast by US News and World Report.  

Drexel's motto "Science, Industry, Art" and school was founded by philanthropist Anthony Drexel in 1891 to provide "educational opportunities in practicing arts and science"

 

Comprised of three campuses - Philadelphia, South New Jersey, and Sacramento California, the main campus in Philadelphia is the fashion campus and it is comprised of 74 acres.

What sets this school apart from the others is the mandatory Cooperative Education Program.  This paid work with industry leaders and you earn class credits for you internships.  By graduation a student could have as much as 18 months of real work experience to put on their resume!  

The average co-op salary for six months is $16,000 - so you have the potential of graduating with a good resume, references, and a bank account.

Some of the participating industry leaders are Michael Kors in NYC, Destination Maternity in Philadelphia and - Mimi's favorite - Alexander McQueen in London! 

Students have the opportunities for Co-op Education starting in their sophomore year.  For the fashion students this is a minimum of six months creating garment design, product development, textile design, production and costume design.  Mimi has a strong interest in costume design so it suits her well that in freshman year students will be taking costume design I & II.Freshman's will also be taking a course called The Drexel Experience.  I think this would be helpful to navigate around an urban campus, learn how and when to do the co-op, and for some to think about their major.  I imagine most in coming freshman would probably groan about this at first, and then realize how helpful it turned out to be.

The first year would also cover some fashion basics - intro to drawing, construction skills, flat pattern design, and figure drawing I.

If someone already has a lot of experience in this, would he/she be able to move up a course level like a math major who has already completed AP Calculus in high school?  I think that warrants a e-mail from me.  So that leads to - admission requirements!

Although Drexel accepts the common app - they prefer a student to use their own on line app.  Accept if your school is using e-Docs or Naviance to send transcripts than you have to use the common app.  They want to see your SAT/ACT and want 2 letters of recommendation - and one has to be from your high school guidance counselor That's a first as a requirement.  The admissions board wants an essay - 250-650 words about why she wants to be a fashion designer.  This has to be done on line - no paper will be excepted.  The application can take up to 4 weeks to be processed - which we feel is really not that long of a time.Portfolio requirements are very basic - a maximum of 12 drawings - any medium.  These need to be sent via HighSchoolPortfolio.com and images will not be returned.

This is by far the less complicated of all her school choosing!  That's a nice break for her.

Drexel also offers Early Decision, and it's non binding!  Another first!  The application deadlines for early decision is November 1 and regular admissions deadline is January 1.

Another interesting thing is Drexel has a partnership with the Dublin School of Business and School of the Arts.  Even as early as your fall freshman year - you could study in Dublin Ireland!  This doesn't apply to fashion students but to many other majors like drama, psychology majors, political science, and economics. 

 Drexel campus that where the School of Media and Arts teaches Fashion Design.

Drexel looks like a very promising school.  Top rankings, Cooperative Education resulting in paid internships for at least six months not only acquiring college credit, but credit on your resume and (if you earned it) recommendations from fashion industry professionals.  Looking good!

Pam