The Student Room Group

where do i go from here

im 18 and im nearly finishing a diploma in fashion design and textiles and obviously ive got to start thinking about universitys but i have now decided that i dont want to be a fashion designer anymore i want to be a stylist and there are no courses on how to do that its all wih work experience but to do that they want more educated people like with a degree in fashion and to do that ill have to retake maths just to get into a univeristy then spend maybe 2/ years and i didnt really want to go. i want to work but cant seem to find anywhere. im willing to travel but my tutor says i must go to uni. any ideas??
Reply 1
You don't have to goto university. Although, I would highly recommend it, just for the experience. If you're driven and sociable, you'll have the time of your life. Although for your overall objective, I'd suggest perhaps something more vocational is the avenue of choice.

Have you searched for many courses at university? I'd suggest that as your starting point. See what's out there, something might just take your fancy.
I think that you might find it easier to get into university than you think. Why not take a look at the UCAS website, pick out some courses that appeal to you and then call the institutions and explain your maths situation. I bet that many will let you in without maths GCSE. You certainly don't need an AS or A level in maths.
Reply 3
It might be worth looking at the London College of Fashion website and see what courses they have. It will give you experience in the industry and possibly some good contacts for when you become a stylist :smile:
Reply 4
Universities can make exceptions. I got grade D for my English GCSE the first time I took it, for reasons I won't bore you with. I was so worried that no uni would take me as they all state that you must have at least C in Maths and English. I contacted the Admissions Tutor at Birmingham (the uni I wanted to go to the most at the time) and he said I would still get an offer as long as my AS level and A2 predicted results were up to scratch, as GCSE English wasn't essential for a Physics degree. I was so relieved. In the end I resat my English and got an A but unis will obviously consider people on individual merit even it they don't meet all their GCSE entry criteria so it's definitely worth contacting them and asking :smile:.
Reply 6
Punctuation. It's wonderful.
Reply 7
Nix!
You don't have to goto university. Although, I would highly recommend it, just for the experience. If you're driven and sociable, you'll have the time of your life. Although for your overall objective, I'd suggest perhaps something more vocational is the avenue of choice.

Have you searched for many courses at university? I'd suggest that as your starting point. See what's out there, something might just take your fancy.

What a ridiculous idea. That's a ****ing expensive 'experience'.

OP, have you thought about what establishments you might like to work for? Have you telephoned them to see if they have any apprenticeship schemes? I think the best thing you can do is contact them and see what THEY say is the best thing to do...not ask your tutor who has probably never worked for them...
Reply 8
Angelil
What a ridiculous idea. That's a ****ing expensive 'experience'.

OP, have you thought about what establishments you might like to work for? Have you telephoned them to see if they have any apprenticeship schemes? I think the best thing you can do is contact them and see what THEY say is the best thing to do...not ask your tutor who has probably never worked for them...


Firstly, language.

Secondly, no it isn't a stupid idea -- it worked for me. I'm having the time of my life, I'm gaining a degree and I also, something which I lacked before university -- now know what I want to do.

Besides, I don't really care what your beliefs are on the matter, but the undeniable fact of life is that we only get one shot so you better make the most of it. **** expenses, money is and always shall be just a means to an ends.

Keep your flippancy to yourself.
Don't go to uni unless you really want to. Uni is a big investment and risk most of the time and it's not worth being miserable and wasting it.

I find it hard to believe to be stylist someone has to go to uni. I’m sure most stylists haven’t. There's just a lot of competition for every job now so it can take time to find employment.
I'm currently doing a foundation degree in Makeup Artistry, as I want to be a specialist makeup artist. This career is very similar to yours OP, as it's a vocational rather than academic route. Speaking from personal experience, apprenticeships don't come around too often and without a degree you may struggle to be taken 'seriously' when starting out in the fashion industry - it's a dog eat dog world and a degree goes a lot further than you think.
It's worth looking into foundation degrees as they tend to be more vocationally focused. www.foundationdegree.org.uk

Edited to add: There are courses out there that deal with fashion styling. Leeds Met do a FD in Fashion Styling. Have a look on www.ucas.com for more courses.
Reply 11
Nix!

Besides, I don't really care what your beliefs are on the matter, but the undeniable fact of life is that we only get one shot so you better make the most of it. **** expenses, money is and always shall be just a means to an ends.

Keep your flippancy to yourself.

Funny, I thought this was an opinion forum. Therefore my beliefs on the matter are as valid as yours.
Secondly, while you only get one shot at life, you don't only get one shot at university. I know many friends who for several reasons have gone later and there's absolutely no point in the OP rushing into it if she's not even sure she wants to go.
Thirdly, I wasn't being flippant, I was being deadly serious. There's absolutely no point in being sucked into the Blairite belief that everyone has to go to university when it simply isn't the case. I'm pretty sure you don't have to go to university to be a stylist.
Fourthly, you can watch your language as well. Mmmm, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning.

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