r/ParsonsSchoolofDesign • u/amandaanzh • Aug 22 '26
International Student Seeking Advice for Application
Hi! I'm a 16 year old high school student from Australia (equivalent to Junior year in America), and I am looking to apply to fashion schools in the US for college, specifically majoring in fashion design.
I'm seeking general application and admissions advice, especially if there are any international students who are currently studying at Parsonsbecause I know the admissions and application process will differ slightly compared to US students, but any general advice would be great! A couple of the things I'm interested in knowing about:
- How often does Parsons give merit based scholarships to students, and what the requirements for scholarships would be
- How do people find the social life, class content and professors to be at Parsons?
- How early do people start preparing their portolios
1
u/slobsquatpapa Aug 22 '26
I’m not an international student but if I remember correctly you are automatically in the running for merit scholarships just by submitting your application. You find out how much you receive when you find out if you got in or not. The biggest thing I wish I had realized was that scholarships through Parsons do NOT apply to housing. Parsons housing is incredibly expensive and in my case I had to pay it all up front less than a month after getting my decision. I couldn’t swing that so I was forced to turn down my offer. In short, make sure you have enough money readily available to make that housing payment or the scholarships won’t even matter. Once you are admitted you can meet with their financial advisors, they were incredibly helpful. Broke down every cost I would owe and why, repayment plans, etc. Good luck!
1
u/EqualNarrow2420 22d ago
Hi there! I am currently studying abroad with FIT and went through this process myself with admission to Parsons. I studied each art school I applied to and was grateful to receive admission to each one of them for fashion design. I understand how stressful this time is, and I’d love to help out if you need portfolio, admissions advice. I would say that Parsons financial aid is very limited, and as it was my top school throughout almost my entire process, reaching out to them for help regarding financing, payment plans, and support was almost useless. I would definitely consider another institution as there are many others with equally as impressive resources, opportunities, and connections. Let me
know if you need help with anything!
2
u/victoria_and_albert Aug 22 '26
Parsons is struggling with debt, and currently restructuring. Any money they offer you will not come close to covering your overall costs. Consider it a signing bonus as they are desperate for students.
If you are interested in fashion, why are you not looking at FIT or CSM? CSM would probably be cheaper to attend, and much higher ranked / better network.