Central Saint Martins or London College of Fashion?

Asked by kraka (44

) April 28th, 2009

I’ve just returned from London and have been accepted to both colleges: BA in Public Relations at the London College of Fashion and BA Fashion Promotion and Communicaions at Central Saint Martins. I hear so many amazing things about each college but am having a hard time deciding which to attend! I need to make a decision soon.

I hear that Central is THE school and you must be a more independent student, that it focusses more on creativity and design, plus it has such a high fashion reputation globally with a who’s-who of fashion alumni. I am told it is very difficult to get in and that I could be seen as crazy for even questioning whether I should accept or not.

Now, what I hear about the College of Fashion that it is more focussed on the business side of fashion, that they are less on the creative in comparison and more technical, and it too is a highly respectable school with as many if not more ties in the industry.

I will be entering as a mature student and feel I am highly creative with strong ambition. I want to become a better writer so journalism is a big pull in these courses, but my strength is visual design. (I know I would be successful in page layout, photography, styling and textile design but not sure how confident I would be in actual clothing design – which is obviously why I am going for promotions, PR and communications.)

My biggest goal is to be able to graduate and get work in the industry – preferably to stay in London but am open. I want to make the right decision: anyone have any history with either school or who can help with this?
Thanks in advance!

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4 Answers

I refer you to one of my favorite pulp songs… hoping it helps lighten your mood before decision time (i honestly have no knowledge of either schools and wish i could help more).. enjoy. (BTW song is “Common people” by Pulp).

She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge,
she studied sculpture at Saint Martin’s College,
that’s where I,
caught her eye.
She told me that her Dad was loaded,
I said “In that case I’ll have a rum and coca-cola.”
She said “Fine.”
and in thirty seconds time she said,

“I want to live like common people,
I want to do whatever common people do,
I want to sleep with common people,
I want to sleep with common people,
like you.”

Well what else could I do -
I said “I’ll see what I can do.”

Dr_C (14339

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@Dr_C: LOVE that song.

@original question: This is kinda like the Parsons/FIT debate. Parsons focuses more on the design aspect of fashion and FIT focuses more on construction. My current roommate is from Dubai, where she went to a British high school. Most of her classmates went to college in Britain, and she applied for school there as well. What I’ve heard from her is that CSM is the superior school.

TitsMcGhee (8281

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Oh yes, that song went through my head ever since I have been accepted. I date a Greek but I wouldn’t describe my dad as loaded. Similarity ends there!
I was thinking about how this must be like Parsons vs FIT. It’s a good point. But I’m still flip-flopping hourly on my choice.
Thanks for your answers and keep’em coming!

kraka (44

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well im wondering if you could help me with more info cause i havent applied yet and would love to have further info. if you could help me out, here’s my twitter so we connect twitter.com/icamilandrea

camilandrea (1

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