My name is Shelstie Dastinot. I studied fashion design at Syracuse University with a minor in retail management and a concentration on fashion communication. At UAL I did the Fashion Product Design Semester. My course was divided in six modules with four required and two electives. As my electives I chose to take fashion styling and footwear design. I am passionate about sustainability, adaptive design, and plus-size design. Beyond clothing, I am also interested in handbag design, footwear design, and fashion merchandising and product development.
How did you find out about UAL study abroad?
I found out about the study abroad programme through my school’s study abroad centre. I'm very lucky that my school has a very strong connection with UAL. We had a UAL representative actually fly out from London to Syracuse, NY to tell us about the programme. This was super helpful as she clarified questions related to visas, getting around London, affording London, and she also told us about the scholarship.
What was the application process like?
To apply to the UAL Study abroad programme, I applied through the UAL portal provided by the school. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, so I applied as soon as I could. I applied in late September, and I received an offer I think like 14 days later in early October.
What was the accommodation process like?
Once I accepted the acceptance offer, I was able to begin the accommodation process. I suggest applying as soon as you are able to if you want to stay in UAL’s accommodation. It was honestly not very easy as the school actually ran out of housing when I applied due to the volume of students who applied that year. So instead, I had to stay at a hostel for the entire semester. Still really enjoyed it and if you want to meet new people all the time I recommend it.
