Art school or University?

[featherlight53]

I have been planning on going to my hometown art school CIA (Cleveland Institute of Art) all year long. Well, when it finally came down to it, it turns out that i needed an additional 5k of loans still. My grandpa, being the only person in my family that could cosign for me refused, and pretty much said that I had to go to Kent state. Well, CIA sent me another package with more money in it, and now i can afford to go there. All should be dandy right?

The thing is, now that I've seriously been considering Kent, I've been thinking a lot more about the loan and other some other factors. At Kent, i would still have loans, about 30-35k after 4 years vs. around 70+K at CIA.

I don't yet know what field I want to go in to, but if I went to Kent, it would almost only be worth it to go into Graphic Design because they are pretty strong in that program.

I really want to go to CIA, but I'm torn because I want to do what's best for my future.

In the end, i guess im asking if going to art school will balance out the amount of loans I will have left over from it?
Also, will I have to go to graduate school if i go to either of these schools?

[michitak]

The only thing that really stuck out there for me was, you saying you arent sure what you want to do.

Why don't you go to a community college and try to figure it out? You shouldn't need loans for CC, and if you do they will be minimal.

Don't throw yourself into any sort of program until you are sure, especially when loans are involved.

[whatshisface]

I have to second what michitak said. Especially if you aren't sure what you want to do. I knew I wanted to go to art school but I
a)wasn't sure where, and
b)wasn't ready for it
so I went to my local community college, got some GE out of the way and built up my skills. This forum helped me ALOT when I was trying to figure it out, and the time I spent at community college did me a world of good. Lets say you go and at the end of it you decide your still gonna go to Kent?-then hey you just got 2 years out of the way and cut down on your loans, or if you go to cia(or ANYWHERE) then you've got through some general ed stuff, beefed up your skills and will be more focused on your art.

its win win

[Storyboard Dave]

You really haven't told us the reason WHY you want to go to CIA or Kent.

Besides wanting to go to CIA, give us the rationale for it. Is there something you really REALLY want to study there?

Regardless of what school it is you want to go to, where is your passion in all this? It seems as though you're letting the schools dictate your future when you say that "if I went to Kent, it would almost only be worth it to go into Graphic Design because they are pretty strong in that program." But if Kent doesn't have what you're passionate about going into, why go there??

What about CIA- do they have an "Undeclared major" their first semester at all?? You might be able to just dive into some foundation classes there and then decide, but like the others have said here- it's gonna be a lot more expensive than tackling some of those at the CC.

Think about it. Do some soul searching and when the heart has figured out a direction your head can agree with, then go full tilt for it.

Good luck.

[Mescher]

ccad? :wink:

[featherlight53]

Well the reason I want to go into an art field is because I just really like art. I like to look at it a lot and I really like to come up with ideas to draw and paint. Art school is where I decided to head towards because I'm still not entirely sure what field I want to go into, I just know that I want to go into something art-related.

The CC thing sounds kinda like a good idea, but I don't really know about that for a few reasons. The first being that I can't reapply for CIA's portfolio grant with more than 9 credit hours at another college. That means I might end up owing them a lot more in the long run (correct me if i'm wrong)(current scholarship: 50k/4 years). The second is that I kinda need to have social interaction from other people besides my girlfriend, mom, and sister.

That's another reason I wanted to go to CIA. When I visited the campus I immediately felt at home; all the students were very similar to me and we shared a lot of common interests.

I hope that clears up a lot of your questions. I really appreciate all of your input.

[MCM]

If you plan on majoring in Fine Art I would suggest a State University with a high ranking and elitist faculty. They will be tough on you and it will prepare you for the real world. Also search for professors who's work you admire. They can get you into galleries and that will help you a lot more than you think. State Universities will give you a better chance of getting a free ride compared to Private schools that have extremely overpriced tuition. But that's the price you will pay to meet people in the "BIZ". I would suggest going to a University. I looked into these private schools but they are turning out to be a real nightmare. It's like joining a club or something.

[Storyboard Dave]

That's another reason I wanted to go to CIA. When I visited the campus I immediately felt at home; all the students were very similar to me and we shared a lot of common interests.

Sometimes I think a lot of people forget how important their own comfort zone is. If you feel comfortable around your settings, then there shouldn't be anyone here to tell you to go elsewhere. That being said, remember why you're there- your job is to learn and prepare yourself for the real world.

"Home" has its responsibilities too!

Good luck!

[michitak]

Sometimes I think a lot of people forget how important their own comfort zone is. If you feel comfortable around your settings, then there shouldn't be anyone here to tell you to go elsewhere. That being said, remember why you're there- your job is to learn and prepare yourself for the real world.

"Home" has its responsibilities too!

Good luck!

That's kinda silly. Sure, it's nice that he feels 'at home' there, but what about the $$$? Obviously that should come into play?

[Storyboard Dave]

That's kinda silly. Sure, it's nice that he feels 'at home' there, but what about the $$$? Obviously that should come into play?

I never said it shouldn't. Obviously if one's sweating over how they're going to pay for something, it's not exactly helping them feel "right" there.