How to Prepare for Interior Design College

Applying to and attending an interior design school is a great way to jumpstart your career as an interior designer, but where do you begin? There are some very straightforward ways to set yourself up for success when preparing for school that can make all the difference when getting ready for the first step in an exciting career such as interior design.

My Interior Design Experience

Twelve years ago I graduated from an interior design school and life has been full of adventures since embarking on this journey.  Perhaps in sharing my story I can help you avoid the same pitfalls along your exciting interior design school experience.

Following the checklist below will help you prepare for success!

1. Participate in activities and classes that set you up for success.  While still in high school, or even later if you are a transfer student, seek out activities that will help you gain skills and contacts in the interior design field. If your school offers sewing, take that class. If there is an afterschool club related to the field, join. You are both building your resume and gaining valuable skills that will help you not only get into an interior design college, but will give you an advantage once you are there.
2. Do your research to determine your options.  Choosing a college sometimes seems like a daunting task. Take advantage of online directories and services that make that task a little easier by narrowing down colleges that have programs you are interested in, are near you locally, or that you qualify for. Narrow your list down to a handful of schools, between 5-10, that you are interested in, and decide from that list which schools you want to apply to.
3. Select an Accredited School.  Make sure that you chose a school that is accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER).  While you do not need to graduate from a school with the FIDER stamp approval to work as an interior designer, choosing to do so will give your employers confidence that you went to an institution that voluntarily had all aspects of their program reviewed by industry professionals.
4. Put together a portfolio and resume.  If you have done previous design work, or have previous experiences, interior design schools that you apply to will want to know about it. Put together a simple portfolio of your work and list your previous experiences on a resume. You can get help setting these up online, but in general, simpler is better. This can give you a leg up over other applicants and set you apart in the application process.
5. Gather and send in all necessary paperwork in a timely manner.  Interior design programs will likely have a list of necessary paperwork to be gathered and filled out. Take the time to address each school individually with exactly what the school requires. You don't want to be disqualified because of missing paperwork! Likewise, observe the due date of all applications and paperwork, and know that if you miss the deadline, you might have to wait until the next semester to reapply.
6. Take your time and choose the right school for you.  Once you have received your acceptance letters, decide which school is the best fit for you. Look at the specific degree programs each interior design schools offer, and where they are located. If price is a concern, then make sure and research tuition costs and available financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
7. Don't waste your summer!  The summer before entering college might seem like the perfect opportunity for a good time, but don't waste it. Many schools offer summer programs to get you off on the right start.  You might be able to find a local internship at an interior design firm, as well. If all else fails, at least take some time to look over your first semester's class topics, so you're ready to go when the semester begins!
8. Take the AutoCAD Class  One more final thing I wanted to emphasize.  I know most of these tips are about how to prepare for school, but once enrolled at a school, take the AutoCAD application class, a computer aided design program.  I'm glad I invested in learning the user friendly program because it put me at advantage with my first job out of college.  I had to work with in-house architects and engineers who depended on AutoCAD for their role in the design projects and being able to contribute my part using the program really facilitated the efficiency of the project completion.  Another great perk of this added knowledge is that you may be able to negotiate a higher paying salary when you start in comparison to those that do not have training with the AutoCAD program.