Prior to Ryerson, I also attended then Kwantlen University College’s Fashion Marketing Certificate program which was a great precursor to this program. I must admit there was a vast difference between the two programs, Ryerson being that much more intense.

You need decent grades and a portfolio to be submitted. You can find out more details on their website.

Ryerson's tuition at that time was based on work load % so taking 5-7 classes would still be the same price. So I always took a higher course load. That's how I maximized my tuition dollars. You can also apply for grants and bursaries based on income and expenses.

There are also opportunities for you to enter in competitions and receive scholarships or prize money. Shiseido, Flare and McGregor were also annual competitions embedded in the program to encourage students to understand deadlines and marketing campaigns. I won the Shiseido competition for my year and with my group members, we had also won the McGregor Marketing Competition too!

With the exception of the program changing its curriculum requirements during my 3rd year (and implementing it without notice -which i think is illegal), the fundamental courses that were required provided a well-rounded approach to Fashion. There was enough variety to allow each student to chart their own fashion course.

The curriculum was always changing and with new heads of programs coming in, I found the transition to my 3rd and 4th year very encouraging. New higher level courses were being offered that looked at fashion more as an academic discipline and gave us more variety for our degrees. Your last year is mainly comprised of a written and creative thesis, and a major reorganization of your portfolio to showcase during the Fashion Communication event.

I think the school definitely gives you insight to what employers expect, given the types of projects we were assigned. For example: develop a private label, create a mood board for the upcoming season, art direct for a fashion spread, create a magazine-format show, were just a few relevant projects. There were many industry professionals conducting courses and with their background and knowledge, their advice was immensely crucial to guiding our careers. Year after year, we learned how to keep improving our portfolio for it to be utilized in the working world. But, you have to take ownership of the program and design it to work for you. Otherwise, you’d just be throwing your money away. So as Tim Gunn says “Make it work!” Don’t waste your time if this is not what you want to do. You’d be occupying a space from somebody that might really deserve the opportunity. There are waiting lists for people trying to get into the program because of the school’s reputation and success of the alumni.

The absolute best part of the program was the critiques that we were engaged in within class. The implementation of these critiques really taught us how to analyze our work. With art being so subjective with no right or wrong answers, critical input from your peers is crucial. It really helped us gauge ourselves against one another. Throughout the experience, there were several fashion competitions with Flare, Shiseido, and McGregor Socks that were involved each year.

The worst part of the program was the inability to fast-track or take a semester off without being penalized to stay back another full year. People in the program who had credits fulfilled from other institutions still had to remain in the program for the entire length of the program, even if their last year was only comprised of a few credits. Some students who were gravely ill for merely one semester had to repeat an entire year of courses paying more tuition than necessary. However, I think some curriculum changes have taken place since I graduated, so this many not be as relevant anymore.

Most of the instructors while I was there had been in the school for many years, their experience dealing with students was evident. The part-time faculty was staffed with industry-related instructors who were doing it to give back to the community and loved what they do. Teachers are always a hit-or-miss but try to make great impressions with the faculty members because they can offer you sincere guidance. Never be afraid to get more help.

Facilities in the school are fairly sufficient although I’ve been told the program has since grown quite large. While I was attending Ryerson, they had just opened 2 computer labs for our program and it was just enough to accomodate most class sizes. However, everyone seems to have their own laptop and can work on it while in class so equipment doesn't seem to be as relevant as it once was anymore.

Being versatile in both Mac and PC is also very important because your time will be split between both computer labs. Also, simple knowledge of sewing is very useful! This is a really hands on program, so knowing as much as you can beforehand will help; but the great thing is that you’ll also learn how to adapt those skills and use them in the workplace.

In 4 years, you will be exposed to the different areas of fashion whether it may be fashion illustration, web design, publishing, styling, marketing/business, photography or even fashion journalism. As each year progresses, your strengths become more evident and your specializations become more in-depth. Countless industry professionals help create a standard and let you know where you should position yourself in the industry. Although very grueling at times with project due dates and lack of sleep, I wouldn’t pick any other program in Canada. Ryerson is a great school and when you’re tucked into the heart of Toronto, there’s no doubt that some of that downtown buzz will give you a nice push into real city life.

To find a job in fashion is not especially difficult, but I’d say target a good company and pay your dues. As you become more experienced and qualified, it’ll become easier for you to climb the corporate ladder. Many friends in the program ended up working for their favorite companies while still in school. A few years since graduating, I’m hearing about their successes writing articles for Flare, working in textile companies, TV stations, setting trends for labels like Holt Renfrew, Puma, Urban Outfitters, or Le Chateau. The caliber and quality work of my peers is incredibly encouraging and exemplifies how this program nurtures our raw talent, ideas, and propels us to succeed in the fashion world.

Ryerson is located in the heart of Toronto, and anything remotely fashion related would always trickle into our school. We’d be at every event; volunteering, representing, and most of all learning. If anything, it was hard NOT to be part of the fashion scene in Toronto. As the largest city in Canada, the event list from the annual Fashion Week to the Film Festival meant bigger opportunities to meet and mingle with the who’s who of the industry.