Pratt Institute

Pratt was the only choice. It was a mix of everything I was looking for: NYC school with a real campus, fashion design program amidst a plethora of artistic majors and a focus on both conceptual and technical. I'm very happy I went here but understand it's not for everyone. I'd say half of my teachers I totally loved and the others were meh. I really enjoyed the liberal arts classes  offered and appreciate that Pratt requires a proportionate mix of them in your schedule.
Career services was a joke however. Before I graduated I went there multiple times for help to find a job and they basically just sent me to the job-posting website. I have a creative job now that I love which was recommended to me by someone I had interned with. I originally interned for my current employer before getting hired. I think Pratt should continue to stress the importance of internships and require them as early as freshman year. I aso think the fashion program should incorporate photoshop and illustrator earlier than they did for my class.
Pratt is what you make of it. It can be very collegey and campusy if you'd like. Or you can be more independent and immersed in NYC life. Or a mix of both as in my case.
I look back at my time there and think fondly of my education and experience gained and wish I ate less at the cafeteria.

Coming from a community college, I realize the incredible difference in quality. You really learn so much in places like these. But most of pratt's teachings are more "fine arts" than "commercial," just keep that in mind when you choose schools. It would be more about concept and ideas than technique.

Just to let you know, the area is expensive. the people who work here have their share of bitchy(bursars, registrars). As for student population: 65% are hipsters, 30% are koreans and 5% is everyone else.

This school is best to go to for: industrial design, interior design, and architecture. It's decent in: graphic design, and illustration. and those departments are our biggest department. (though I would recommend sva for illustration) It could do better in: fashion (just go to FIT, its cheaper too), film, 3d animation and interactive media. (though I do think that maybe, our interactive department has more potential than sva. but I think sva is better for 3d animation).