Just one year ago, I was thinking of what I would do after graduating college, having just one semester left at The University of Texas in San Antonio. Not knowing what was coming, I started to think ahead, and structure a process which would position myself for a career that I would love and enjoy. While surfing the internet on my computer, I came upon this incredible and unbelievable three-month program called the Vogue Fashion Certificate at Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design in London.
The program was a full-time course load focused on Public Relations, Fashion Marketing, and Business, which was a perfect fit for me having obtained a bachelor in Communication Studies. The application process was very selective and availability was very limited with only 30 slots available, so I had no time to loose.
Everything happened so fast, and less than a month later I received an acceptance email. With the permission and blessing of my parents, it was only a matter of time that I would be in London, where I undoubtedly would have the best three months of my entire life. Condé Nast College is located in the heart of the city in a new, fresh, and beautiful building. Oh and did I mentioned free copies of Vogue every month?
The library was full of all the Condé Nast Magazines you could imagine, and free for the taking. The shelves were stuffed with fashion coffee table books, which we used to research for our projects and class work. My classmates were from all over the world, from Italy to Australia, in fact there was even one from San Antonio, Texas! Small world, right? The courses were very well organized, and we had three major projects to complete in order to pass: A well-researched blog, the creation of a Condé Nast Magazine, and a realistic business concept. Not only were these projects extremely fun to do, but I had the opportunity to go beyond my knowledge and think like ‘Vogue’, forever being one step ahead of the fashion/communication world.
Because Condé Nast is a world-renowned brand, we received the VIP treatment while in London. My classmates and I attended London Fashion Week, toured the Vogue House and learned what goes in to making a magazine. We were the first ones to attend gallery openings, such as Vogue 100, and also had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers. Alexandra Shulman, Editor-In-Chief of British Vogue, Supermodel Erin O’Connor and Creative Director Robin Derrick, were some of the amazing guest speakers we had the opportunity to learn from. However, the best part of attending a guest speaker presentation was having the opportunity to have a one-on-one consulting session with the speaker!
These three months were some of the best of my life! Even though Condé Nast College is relatively new, it is rapidly growing. In fact, they are now offering a Bachelor’s degree! The school offers week or summer courses as well. So if you’ve completed your 4-year degree, and would prefer not to attend a full three-month course, you can easily choose another option! I highly recommend taking advantage of this or any other opportunity that comes your way, you never know where it might lead you!
XO,
Fernanda
