NYC: LIM College, Dreams Becoming Reality

Hey there, ladies and gents!

Much love from NYC, I hope all is well for you wherever you are.

My summer here is dwindling down, and I get a little sad just thinking about it. But my momma says that she's taking me back here for Christmas Break (now that the cat's out the bag, she can't go back on it now... right?).

But who cares, I'll be back here within the next few years regardless, because I'm more determined than ever to get into my dream master's program.

Tonight I went to a limited seating LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, for those of you unfamiliar) College Master's Conference/Open House.

It was amazing. Inspiring. Eye-opening.

Basically everything that happens when you're whole life comes into focus? Yeah, it all happened. Right then and there.

All this hard work, all of this soul searching, all of this finding myself... well, I found it.

I've been on the path of long-term education for my entire life. Especially when you have a mom constantly saying, "Oh but when she gets her master's, oh when she gets her doctorate...."

Thanks Momma (no sarcasm, I mean it).

I'm addicted to the thrill of getting good grades and succeeding at things. I'm just going to guess that it isn't the world's worst addiction, so I think I'll shred that check I had written for rehab....

But basically, I figured it out tonight.

After College of the Ozarks, I intend on attending LIM College for Graduate Studies in the Fall of 2016 to pursue my MPS (Master's of Professional Studies) in Fashion Marketing.

I am also looking at the MPS in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management. It's a decision I'll have to finalize soon, but for now I'm enjoying having options.

Here is a few photos from tonight's open house:



Credit given to the @LIMGraduateStudies
Twitter page for this photo. :)

Information card, and an information packet.
#InfoOnInfo

Before the presentation started.
So helpful and beneficial!

The Director of Graduate Studies speaking to us!
Such a nice woman.
(Credit goes to the @LIMGraduateStudies Twitter page!)

AH! I came out of the conference over the moon, ready to conquer the world.

Grossly cliché and "cheesy," I know...

I learned so much tonight, but I was never overwhelmed. I was just super pumped and excited.

I'll try to breakdown what information I am able to share for ya, mainly on the program I'm interested in!

First off, LIM College is 75 years old this year, and has been educating fashion-forward students since the 1940s.

There are 4 master's programs:

MBA (Master's of Business Administration) with Concentrations in Fashion Management and Entrepreneurship [You can either go one route or the other, or take a mix of both.]
MPS in Fashion Marketing
MPS in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management
MPS in Visual Merchandising (new program, focuses on store design, mannequin set up, understanding what customers look for in a store, how to make clothing/stores/designs/atmosphere/etc. visually appealing to the consumer)

Like I said, an MPS in Fashion Marketing is looking to be the front runner right now.

All of the programs can be completed in the course of one year (there is a summer session, which I am totally happy with).

If I pursue the marketing route, I'll take classes along the lines of public relations, social media, customer strategy/insights, luxury brand management, media marketing, cause marketing, and even management.

This will open the door for me in numerous areas. From managing special projects to even becoming a buyer, LIM can offer me all of the skills I need to be top-notch in the fashion industry.

By choosing LIM for my graduate education, so many doors will be opened.

This college has so many connections! From Betsey Johnson to Kenneth Cole, CEO of Saks to CEO of Nicole Miller, CEO of Aeropostale to CEO of Bergdorf Goodman, CEO of Nautica to CEO of Giorgio Armani... it's basically endless.

I'll be able to connect with a lot of really important people, giving myself the opportunity to maybe even work for one of them in some way! No guarantees, but a girl can dream.

Plus, we complete internships, in which LIM helps us connect with top fashion houses to get great experience in our field of study.

Plus, there is housing, which I might partake in, unless I find a roomie (*cough* Molly Matney *cough*).

Plus, also from a different perspective, this makes me feel slightly grateful for the college that I go to currently.

While College of the Ozarks is not your overall typical college experience (work/class/convocation/cheer/REPEAT not class/fun part-time job/party/REPEAT), it's allowed me to build my resume even more, focus on keeping a high GPA, and will allow me to graduate debt free.

It's such a unique opportunity, but it has also allowed me to keep my options today open to any master's program I want.

Why? Because I haven't had to pull-out a student loan, dip too far into my college fund, or borrow any money of any sort.

So while I know that loans, college fund usage, etc. will likely occur during the course of my master's program, it would be the same with any program, anywhere in the United States.

Part of choosing to further your education is also choosing to cut corners here and there, and making sacrifices (loans, etc.).

But the money you will make by furthering your education, the shine that will appear on your resume, how you will stand-out, and just the fact that you took the time and money to learn more...

Will. Be. Totally. WORTH IT.

AH! So much more information, so little time. :)

If any of that sounds interesting to you, I'll be happy to share more with you. Just message me and I'll try to relay as much information as possible.

I want your dreams to come true too!

Much love.