By Anjali Tandon | Welcome Center Student | Parsons School of Design | BFA Fashion Design Major
Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Narciso Rodriguez. These are just a few notable alums of Parsons School of Design’s prestigious Fashion Design Program. The thirteen-year-old Anjali, with a burning fire in her belly and a dream of making it big, was enamored by the idea of being included in this esteemed list. What started as an infatuation stemmed into five years of a dedicated goal, with every step being in one direction and one direction only: attending Parsons, majoring in Fashion in the Class of 2024.
One thing was clear: to be among the best, I needed to put my best foot forward. With continuous research, speaking to current students, religiously doing my due diligence and putting up a plan of action, I began my Parsons application journey. As a teenager, one thing I was always proud of was my sense of self and the reassurance that I had in myself that I could achieve my dreams if I worked hard enough. So, with my big dreams, my self-validation and a whole lot of support from my friends and family, I worked on my portfolio, worked on my academics, and put in every ounce of effort that I had to make my dreams come true.
I applied to 15 schools all over the United States. With constant follow-ups, essays, and back and forth with every institution I applied to, I knew that Parsons was all I hoped to materialize.
Out of the 15 schools, I heard back initially from 14 of my choices. I was ecstatic: I had gotten into all! This reassured my belief in myself and my application, waiting eagerly for the last and the most critical decision: Parsons. After countless sleepless nights constantly refreshing my email, I hoped to get my admission letter the entire month of March. I applied in the Regular Decision pool but couldn't understand why so many people shared their Parsons admission online, but I hadn't received mine. Hailing from India, March is when you have a pivotal standardized exam that the Central Board evaluates. With the pressure of that, I was even more anxious about why I had not received my decision.
It was a momentous time for the world, when COVID-19 lockdowns were imposed. On March 24, 2020, I was notified that the Central Board Exams were postponed. Binge-watching a show on Netflix, both my parents entered my room with tension and apprehension, which was unusual for them. My dad sat me down and began to reassure me that they were incredibly proud of me and that nothing could ever shake the sense of pride that they had as parents for me. “You didn’t make it to Parsons, beta (a term of endearment in Hindi for one’s child).” My heart sank, I had questions, I had anger. Does hard work not mean success? I put in my all; why did I fail? The Anjali, who never doubted herself, was clouded in self-doubt and shame. I felt like a failure.
With months of the lockdown holed up in my room, questioning myself and wallowing in self-pity, my parents came to me and asked me to pick myself up and, accept the truth and strive towards changing my destiny if Parsons was my most genuine dream. I had given a decision to another prestigious school, which I had to defer due to the lockdown. For the next six months, I made it my life’s goal to work on my application and prove to Parsons why it was a perfect fit.
I scheduled a call with an Admission Counselor who reviewed my application. I took notes and criticism constructively and worked to change my fate. I made revisions to my portfolio, picked up sewing and knitting, learned how to embroider, took up online courses, an integral one being Fashion Design by Marc Jacobs on Masterclass, and finally reapplied.
Two months later, at 4:00 a.m. Indian Standard Time, I refreshed my email. There stood an email at the top of my inbox stating an update to my application. With a calm yet nervous mind, I logged into my application portal and read the letter.
“We are happy to welcome you to the Class of 2025.”
What? This is a dream; I am imagining this in my sleep.
I reread it.
“We are happy to welcome you to the Class of 2025.”
I was overjoyed. I ran down the stairs and woke up every member of my family. I couldn’t believe it!
With humility and gratitude, I was proud of myself, not only because I got into my dream school but also because I did not give up. Even though the gratification was delayed, I could not thank my parents and stars enough for giving me the opportunity and strength to persevere and make my dream a reality. The New School and Parsons School of Design have given me the life I envisioned, the resources to channel my strengths to the fullest, and lessons that will always stay with me in every facet of my life.
I am and will always be Parsons Proud!
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