SVA vs Art Students League

[Sung-jae Kim]

My scholarship appeal for SVA came through (with only 2 days til the deadline) - and they're offering $6,500 a year
I'm actually considering going now.

So before I make any stupid decisions (in 2 days) I was hoping that you guys could give me some input here and there.

Basic information - I'm 20 years old, already live in NYC, and have completed 1 year of study at CCAD, most of the foundation classes have transferred over to SVA. (21 credits in studio and 3 in liberal arts) Will not be able to obtain financial aid from the government (international), possibly eligible next year

1 - going there
pros - quite a few teachers I want to learn from, possible social life, people my age who wants to work in the same field, will probably be able to take classes at the League while attending SVA,assignments that have due dates
cons - 3yrs would still cost 60k minimum (less, if I leave early of course), possible social life.

2 - wait another year
My alternative option would be to go to The Art Student's League for another year while attending a community college, (I think I'll at least get a work study scholarship from the League) apply to SVA again hoping they would give me more money (and hope that I'll be eligible for government grant).
This would only save me about 15k (possibly around 10k more if I get grant from the government) (and cost 1 whole year!) assuming it gets through to begin with....


pros - 15-25k more POSSIBLY saved, more figure drawing and anatomy courses
cons - 1 year used, uncertain scholarship and grant

3 - study at the league.
Third option would be to attend the Art students league for another 2 years or so, and try to find a job...
pros - lots of figure drawing/painting/anatomy studies, would probably save me about 60k?
con - ONLY figure drawing/painting/anatomy studies, not a whole lot of classes that go beyond copying/analyzing.

So these are my options (that I have thought of). I'm leaning towards option 1 at the moment.
Thanks for reading so far, and please tell me what you think :X:mod:(Elwell?)

[Maxine Schacker]

What is your ultimate goal?

[Sung-jae Kim]

I wouldn't say it's my ultimate goal, but illustration is something I want to do in the next few years :|

[5coop]

"If something can go wrong, it will go wrong" take option one. I dont see why you should risk it if you already got a pretty good deal!

[Maxine Schacker]

Are there instructors at ASL you respect and want to study with? Are you living with your family (i.e. rent and food are least expensive for you if you stay in NY). Can you ask SVA for a "rollover" to 2010 (we do that at Max the Mutt)?

If you do attend SVA, be sure you get strong classes in perspective and structural drawing. If these courses aren't part of the curriculum, find them elsewhere!

[steve kim]

If you are getting scholarship then SVA is a no brainer. + if you are already getting scholarship it's likely you will get more as a student. (never went to SVA but AC was like that) ASL is a rather narrow, provincial school. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and pursue the school you can 'grow' into. SVA might lack some technical instruction in which case like maxine mentioned you might have to supplement that with workshops/ateliers/etc.