Cleveland Institue of Art(CIA) - good school?

[Squidge]

Also - which art school has the best illustration program.

My Cousin would like for me to look into transferring to CIA. Currently I go to a liberal arts college in the midwest. I want to transferr to an art school next year.

I had never heard of CIA until my cousin mentioned that it was right across the street from the conservatory he goes to.

Every review I've read on it says that it is an amazing school, but I wanted to know if anyone here had ever gone to it?

What is their illustration program like? How are the teachers? Is it worth the money?

I will be visiting it this winter.

Edit;

Oh! Also - how hard is it to get it, and what should my portfolion consist of?

[Inea]

Yes, actually, I'm currently attending CIA. I've only been here about a month, as a freshman in my foundation year, but I feel like I am getting a great education so far. This school has good teachers and I don't have many complaints about them.... so far there aren't any I despise. There are certain classes that I can't stand, but that's due to the subject matter, not the professor teaching them, (I have to add that that class is also the one that I'm learning the most from.) The money is worth it to me, but I also received a scholarship. I'm not sure if there are any for transfer students, but the school has a lot of money for scholarships; almost every student I've spoken to has received one.

I hope to go into Illustration next year, and from what I've heard and seen, it's a good program. Sadly I haven't found time to really observe the department, but I have seen work done by the students in it. I'm amazed by the work.

I wish I could tell you more but I haven't been here for long. I do have one complaint about the school, and that's lugging all of my supplies to and from the building. Also, there isn't any air conditioning in the buildings and it gets pretty hot.... but I don't think that will be a problem much longer. The only rooms that have air conditioning are the computer labs.

For your portfolio, I suggest life-drawings, still-lifes, some conceptual stuff, and I suppose more illustrative works because you're applying to that major.

[Zirngibism]

Well, I have never attended there myself, but from what I saw when I visited a couple times, (what I've heard from various people on these forums and real life), you can do better. Especially for the high tuition.

Their illustration department is supposedly a so-so department. I haven't heard anything bad about it, or good. I don't really think there are any signature teachers. CIA is more about avante-garde fine arts-- do whatever you can to be shocking and different. At the same time they seemed a little backward (people making fabric on old-fashioned looms as a major?) Not that there's no market at all for it, but it's kind of a niche thing I guess...

During my tour I did a good bit of poking around the upper classmen's studio area, but overall it wasn't very inspiring.

I saw their end-year student show back when we had a reception for people who got scholarships. (I was still thinking about attending at the time.) I was not impressed. Lots of ripped-up fabric hanging from the ceiling in an purposefully random way. And canvas painted all black. Kinda put me off, because I couldn't really find a single piece that I really liked. Even the few drawings/paintings that attempted a serious approach to drawing looked like they were flatly copied from magazines. Then again, there were no illustrative pieces there as far as I could see.


Something I will say in its favor is that it seems to have a pretty good industrial/transportation and interior design program, though it's rather small. Also, the medical illustration program looked pretty cool...
One other benefit would be its proximity to the Cleveland museum of Art, or Case Western to take some extra classes if you wish...



Anyway, last year, one of my teachers told us that CIA was really having a lot of problems currently. "Tanking" was the word she used. I think she might've meant financial problems, though they keep raising their tuition.

An elderly artist did tell me that they used to be one of the best schools in the country, but that was awhile back. I don't really hear anyone say that anymore.

Now, you can take what I say with a grain of salt, since I haven't actually attended the school as a student. But I've seen/heard enough to have made the decision not to go there, myself.

I've you're looking at definitely attending in Ohio, I would recommend CCAD. It's also less expensive than CIA (and is great about scholarships), and has a larger program. CCAD seems to have more of a practical outlook on the whole field.

[kitehiGh]

I agree primarily with the above post. I've been to CIA dozens of times and it never impressed me. The student work is, eh, lacking and I've heard complaints (from students) about their illustration department. If you're looking into illustration look at CCAD, Ringling, and MICA.

[thesinfulsaint]

I've taken figure drawing sessions at CIA for the past 2 summers. I could draw better than the instructors--who were faculty. Not saying this is the case for all, but it was still a little disconcerting.

I also have never been impressed by the student work hanging on the walls or drying on the racks.

I think CIA takes sort of the Fine Art/Modern Art approach--it's really not your best bet if you are interested in illustration. If you want to major in illustration somewhere in Ohio, definitely look seriously at CCAD. You'll get a much better education there. :)

[Squidge]

thanks for all the reviews guys. This has been extremely helpful seeing as there is NOTHING but glowing reviews online.

I'm going to visit the school in december.

CCAD is first on my list, but my cousin is going to the musical conservatory about a block away so I really wanted some info on it.

I'm really wary because of the price. We'll just see which schools I get accepted into/which school gives me the best scholarships now.

[berf]

I applied to CIA and got a 13k scholarship and decided not to go because
1, With no scholarship, Ringling was cheaper than CIA with their 13k
and 2 Ringling was a much better rated school than CIA.
Also I agree with what everything everyone has said about the student work. It isn't that impressive. I saw maybe one or two artists in my visits there that were decent, but most of the work I saw was not great.
I also know people who went there and I've heard it's a heavy partying school.

[kitehiGh]

I applied to CIA and got a 13k scholarship and decided not to go because
1, With no scholarship, Ringling was cheaper than CIA with their 13k
and 2 Ringling was a much better rated school than CIA.
Also I agree with what everything everyone has said about the student work. It isn't that impressive. I saw maybe one or two artists in my visits there that were decent, but most of the work I saw was not great.
I also know people who went there and I've heard it's a heavy partying school.

From what I've seen of CIA (I've visited a friend there on a few occasions) this holds pretty true. I wasn't even visiting on a weekend.

And on difficulty of entry: Not very difficult. I know kids that have gotten in that can barely draw. Like serious lack of understanding for perspective and proportion, not to mention really awful craftsmanship. Exceptions of course. A friend that goes there is quite talented. Typical of what you should include in any portfolio: ample drawing from life.