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When People Think Fashion Design School – They Think Italy

Think of all those fine leather shoes, the smart looking dresses, and
the attractive hats that the rich and famous wear everyday. Most of us have
admired them, but have you ever thought of designing them yourself?

If you have, chances are you know that today the highlight in the world of fashion
is Italy. Just mention that something is Italian and everyone will know that,
if you are talking about fashion, it belongs to the top of the line.

And everyone knows that for that very reason the best fashion designer schools
are in Italy. But because there are so many good ones, how do people go about
selecting the right one?

If you are thinking of traveling to Italy to attend one of the many schools of
fashion design, here are some tips that may help you decide which one will
best meet your needs.

1- School Background:

Some schools tend to focus on one or another area, and that is important
when making your selection. What field interests you the most? Are there any well
known designers in that field that have graduated from that school? How well
have other exalumnae fared after graduation? The school mission and goals are
important aspects to understand, as they will inform you about what you should
expect to achieve there, and what the school expects from its students.

2- Word of Mouth:

Besides learning about a school from their own publications, another way to
find out what it is truly like is to talk to graduates from that school, or
others that have attended there. Find out what positive and negative experiences
they had, and what they liked and disliked about it. Then consider what you have
learned and weigh the pros and cons. Keep in mind that not all schools are
made for everyone, and not everyone is cut out for all schools. Compare your
own goals and interests with what you glean from others’ experiences.

3- Finances:

This will obviously be a determining factor in your selection process. Check
the fees carefully to ensure that all possibilities are covered. Are all
the expenses listed, or are there any hidden fees? What about room and
board? Do you have to find an apartment on your own, or does the school have
anything available for students? Are the materials included? If not, will you
be able to afford the extras? Or can you work and study at the same time and,
if so, are there jobs readily available? Don’t be afraid to ask, for you do not
want to discover that you have unexpected costs once you are in Italy.

4- Entrance Requirements:

Most schools have a specific list of qualifications needed in order to be
admitted into their school. Be sure to review this list carefully; some find that
a checklist can be very helpful to ensure that nothing is missed. Gather
and send all the necessary documents together. This will save you and the
admissions officer time and additional expense. It will also allow you to
understand whether or not you do possess the required conditions, and
will allow you to concentrate on the schools where you are more apt to be
admitted.

If you have the appropriate qualifications, and are determined to get into
the Italian school of fashion design you have selected, the tips listed
above will certainly help you obtain your goal. It may not be easy to gain
admittance, but with clear and concise guidelines your dream of becoming a
renowned fashion designer may become a reality before you know it!

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How to Train Your Dog Yourself

State of Mind – Start training in a positive, calm state of mind. Don’t start a training session if you are going to be or even feel rushed, or have other things on your mind that influence your emotions. Dogs are sensitive to our feelings and body language and know how we feel better than we do at times. Your state of mind during training will influence your dog’s performance.

Enough Time to Train – Often, training sessions can be too long or too short. It’s going to take many sessions to get the desired behavior from your dog. Some breeds learn faster than others, so you have to know where your dog ranks in mental stamina. If you force a bored dog to train, you will likely cause the dog to lose interest in the training and become bratty and disinterested. Remember this – 10 one minute sessions are more effective than 1 ten minute session.

Don’t Stop Training Once Goal Is Achieved – It’s tempting to stop training altogether after a dog masters a behaviour and just expect the dog to retain the skill whenever you want to show it off. However, you won’t be very impressive if your dog is out of practice. You don’t have to continue with numerous formal training sessions on a daily basis, you can relax a little. It’s best to surprise your dog with the command on a random walk or during play once in a while to reinforce the learning. It makes it fun for you and the dog, which also helps strength the bond between you both.

Don’t Repeat Commands Seconds Apart – We are all guilty of this at some point. Being inpatient and asking the dog do something like “sit”, too many times before the dog follows through with the action. What happens when we use the word “sit” 7 times before the dog actually sits, is we are training the dog to wait until the 7th “sit” command 7 times before they follow through. Yes, dogs are smart and manipulating if you let them. What you want is an immediate response to the word “sit” after saying it just once.

Train in Different Spots – You want to train your dog in a variety of different areas and situations, so they get socialized to distractions. This is the best way to solidify your training and ensure reliable follow through with commands. The dog will enjoy the challenge and it will keep training interesting!

Use Treats occasionally – Providing treats at unpredictable intervals, but not EVERY TIME maintains the focus on learning the new behavior and not on being food focused. Remember that your dog wants to work for you and make you proud. So don’t underestimate positive reinforcement through praise and pats.

Have Confidence – Dog’s can sense insecurity and it makes them scared because they see the fear as an unpredictable threat. Do what you need to do to feel in control. Use Positive self-talk before a training session, take your dog to a professional so you can learn together, train in different areas, attend different venues. Be motivated to learn with your dog and have fun!

Know Your Dog – The biggest determinants of a dog’s learning style are going to be the breed, or mix of breeds and the personality. Is the breed a high strung, energized breed? Or a gentle lap dog? They both require very different training approaches. A bold, social dog will require a different approach then a timid or fearful dog. You will have to tail your training style to fit your dog’s breed and personality. So get to know your dog, train, practice, have fun and enjoy yourselves outside and in!