Student Guidelines for FIT Visiting Student Program
Fashion Institute of Technology
State University of New York, New York City
The visiting student program at the Fashion Institute of Technology offers selected students the opportunity to take course work at FIT without the necessity of a formal transfer. All Visiting Student programs are on the AAS Degree level only. If you are interested in FIT, you should attend any scheduled informational meetings and consult with your academic advisor.
FIT Majors
The following majors are available at FIT:
One-Year Programs
- Accessories Design — Fall only
- Advertising & Marketing Communications — Fall/Spring
- Advertising Design — Fall only
- Fashion Merchandising Management — Fall/Spring
- Fashion Design — Fall/Spring
- Jewelry Design ** — Fall only
- Manufacturing Management * — Fall only
- Textile/Surface Design — Fall only
- Textile Development & Marketing* — Fall only
* May involve a schedule split between day & evening classes.
** Jewelry design applicants must have completed six credits in art history, and courses in general drawing, sculpture, and basic design.
Eligibility for FIT Visiting Student Program
- The following requirements must be met to be eligible for the visiting student program at FIT:
- Students must be full time, matriculated and registered at a college or university officially designated as a participating institution.
- Students must be in good academic standing with a MINIMUM CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4 point scale and be free of all probation at the time they are recommended and up to the time they register at FIT.
- Applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA during the regular semester preceding their attendance at FIT.
- Applicants must have completed a minimum of sixty (60) college credits prior to beginning the Visiting Student Program.
- An art portfolio evaluation is required of all applicants who select a one-year design major.
- All applicants are advised to file early and complete the application process as soon as possible. Admissions decisions are made on completed applications. Space availability may be limited.
Applying for FIT Visiting Student Program
If you are interested in attending FIT, the application procedure involves several steps:
- You must meet with the officially designated liaison at your institution BEFORE you file your application. Applications, catalogs, etc. will be distributed to prospective Visiting Students by their liaisons at their home schools. You can access the FIT catalog (Academic programs) and application (Apply) on the FIT web site. If your home school approves your request to participate in the Visiting Student program, your campus liaison will sign your completed Visiting student response form (available from your school liaison).
- All applicants should file a State University of New York (SUNY) application, available from your home school liaison, or on the FIT web site. Recommended application filing dates: October 1 for the spring semester and January 1 for the fall semester.
- An official transcript from your HOME college must be sent with the SUNY application to the Application Processing Center. If it is not possible to send the official transcript with the application, then mail the official transcript to FIT Admissions.
- An essay must be included with the application. The essay must be attached to the completed Visiting Student Response Form. Both should be mailed with the SUNY application and your official college transcript to the Application Processing Center with the processing fee. If you apply online, send the transcript, essay, and Visiting student response form directly to the FIT Admissions office.
- FIT will schedule portfolio evaluations for design applicants after receipt of the application. Applicants submitting portfolios late in the semester risk being closed out of admission.
Other Facts About the FIT Visiting Student Program:
There are several other things you should be aware of if you are intending to apply to FIT under the Visiting Student Program:
- The Visiting Student Program is not meant to be a "trial transfer." Therefore, both FIT and the home school expect that you will not request to transfer to FIT following the completion of your visiting student program.
- All one-year programs must be taken as they appear in the catalog. FIT Department Chairpersons must approve substitutions for similar courses already taken.
- Housing applications are sent with the acceptance letter. Dormitory space is assigned on a first come, first served basis and is not guaranteed. FIT Housing Office will assist in locating or suggesting off campus housing if you are unable to be housed on campus. Students living off campus may participate in our cafeteria food plan.
- Visiting Students must be enrolled in class at their home school during the regular semester preceding their attendance at FIT.
- Visiting Student applicants should take care in selecting their major at FIT. Majors CANNOT be changed upon arrival at FIT!
- Visiting Students are not eligible for FIT institutional aid. The home college should process any Financial Aid requests.
- FOREIGN STUDENTS: Students attending their home institution an F1 student visa will have to effect a transfer of schools with FIT's Foreign Student Advisor Amaldo Vidal. You must notify the Foreign Student Advisor at your home institution of your intentions and report to the Foreign Student Advisor on FIT's campus within ten days of the beginning of classes. In addition, you will be asked to submit a Confidential Statement of Finances, verifying the availability of $22,315 per year for your study at FIT. International students whose native language is not English must have completed a college level English composition course at an accredited U.S. college with a grade of C or better at the time of application. FIT might request a copy of your TOEFL score and completion of an English Proficiency Report.
- FIT reserves the right to select those candidates who, in its opinion, are the best qualified.
- FIT's AAS Degree will be awarded following the completion of the one-year program and after the Bachelor's Degree has been conferred by the home college. Your final transcript indicating receipt of the bachelor degree must be mailed to the FIT Registrar at the appropriate time. This will initiate the award of the FIT associate degree.