Some questions about art schools

[Rayniel]

Hey! I’m new here (well, not that new, this is my second thread) and I’m concern about some stuff regarding art schools. I want to go CCA for the next fall term and as of now, I’m just into building my portfolio. In that process I realized that I need to do some thinking about art schools.

Before anything, let me tell you that I’m a senior, I live in New York City and I have been doing graphic design (as a hobby) for a couple of years now. However, I have only learned how to work with Photoshop and those programs; I don’t have strong drawing skills. Anyways, here are my questions….

Should I go to a community school first and then transfer to CCA? You know, so I can just focus on my major when I enter CCA. I heard this a lot, but when I think about it I’m like… won’t it cost more to go to a community and then transfer to a four-year school? I mean, think about it, the price of the books and materials are all the same. Plus, aren’t art schools made in a way that you can take everything you need in four years without missing anything?

Do I have to show (I know I do) complex drawing pieces in my portfolio? I lack in drawing skills, but I’m good with Photoshop, not that I’m a pro, but I know more than just the basics.

Well, that’s it. Beforehand, thank you!

[mbarq]

Well, what are you looking to get into? Animation, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Printmaking, Painting, difficult to help.

As for transferring, that all really depends on where you are not just skill wise, but economically, emotionally, and obligation wise. I would totally recommend doing some time at a community college. It is relatively cheap, heck 17 credits at my cc only cost me about $1600 bucks. That's about what one unit costs over at CCA.

Plus, you get a bit more focused on what you want to do than in high school where you're doing a bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing. Sure, it is more expensive than if you just went to CCA, but what's the status of CCs in NYC? I'm sure you can get some type of financial aid and some type of scholarship if not on merit, at least financial. That should be enough to go even for free, free knowledge man. I'll also put down good money and bet you'll get some ungodly retired artist in one of your figure drawing classes who is just brushing up on some figure work.

Of course, if you think you might slack off a bit, and want something with maybe a little more substance, than you might want to try just jumping in. I would hope their program is set up to teach you as efficiently as possible in those four years, e-mail some professors and ask, most of the time, they will reply.

You might also want to ask admissions what they're looking for as far as portfolios go. Depending on what your doing, you will need to adjust accordingly. If you're going for painting, you might want put in more paintings than drawings, if animation more figure studies might be wise than a still life, if film, maybe some storyboards- ask them.

As an anecdote I will offer this: I thought community college would be a "waste" of time, but...it's what you make of it, and I don't think I've "wasted" time. Sure, as you said and I would hope, art schools [are] made in a way that you can take everything you need in four years without missing anything. But, I find it hard to believe that you can "take everything you need in four years without missing anything". That doesn't mean you won't learn things quicker, some of these student blogs I read are pretty intense.

Also, to be honest with myself and in retrospect, having gone to art school with what the skill level I had, I think, would have been an incredible waste of money, heck I'm thinking about doing a third year at CC since I still don't feel confident enough to start learning from a "master". As someone who went to Ringling and now works in film and was oh so kind to reply to my e-mail told me: WORK HARD PLAY LATER.

Good Luck

[Meloncov]

If you take the right classes, it is possible to transfer into CCA as a sophomore. Getting a credit equivalent to 4d design is the hardest part, as it's a weird conglomeration of performance art, film, and web. Most likely, you'll have to take both a web course and a film course in order to waive it. Generally speaking, foundation classes are the worst offered at CCA; the students are less motivated and the teachers generally less experienced. If you decide to try and do this, I can dig up the exact portfolio requirements for waiving the core classes.

Even if you do end up spending four years at CCA, the time at a community college is arguably worth it. Graphic design majors don't get many electives; you'll appreciate having some required classes out of the way so you can take some fun electives while you're here. Also, liberal arts classes at CCA are really not worth the money you pay to take them; while they aren't bad, they aren't a huge amount better than the classes at a community college.

So yes, it's a very viable option. On the other hand, you have to consider that it does mean you may end up delaying your entry into the professional world by a year, so you're effectively "paying" a year's salary.


As for portfolio, the ideal solution is to learn how to draw well, or at least respectably, in the next couple months. You're going to have to include some drawing from life in your portfolio, though you can and should also include your graphic design work. If possible, try to take a life drawing course from a local art center or community college before the portfolio deadline.

Also, be sure to read the portfolio requirements on CCA's website, and attend the national portfolio review day in your area.

[Lizzybeth]

It all depends on how you want to approach your education really.

Based on what you said though, I would recommend taking the time for some community college. Since you don't have strong drawing skills and aren't confident in that area you can use your time in community college to really improve them. I don't think one foundation year, like most four year schools have, is enough, especially when people aren't already entering with fairly solid skills. Drawing is not just learning anatomy and techniques and stuff like other subjects. It is a field which relates much more to an individual's mental and perceptual progression and is highly developmental and dependent on time. If you take a couple of years and really work hard in those areas you will be in a much better place for going to a four year school. If you go in with stronger skills you will get much more out of your classes and be able to work at a higher level (which will essentially allow you to get more for your money if you're looking at things from that angle). Another thing is to make sure the classes you take will transfer in to your four year school. Getting those liberal arts out of the way is a really nice thing to do. Four year schools do structure the curriculum so that you can take all the liberal arts there, but personally I don't see much point to it if you can take care of them otherwise. If you take them at a CC before or during the summers you'll be able to take more art electives, try stuff you wouldn't otherwise have been able to learn, maybe do a minor too. You'll also be able to take less classes overall (I know this sounds like a bad thing, but it really isn't if you focus that time you would be in a fifth or sixth class into your homework, projects, and personal enrichment, because again you'll be getting a higher quality experience and sharper focus).

But really, the biggest thing would be to take that time and work on your drawing skills. You need to be skilled and competent before you go to a four year school. In my opinion you shouldn't just be good enough to get in, you should be at the very least at an average level with your entering peers, if not higher. Really, you will get more out of the experience that way and be able to go farther with it.

[Rayniel]

Whoa, thanks a lot for the responses… now let see...

Well, what are you looking to get into? Animation, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Printmaking, Painting, difficult to help.

I’m looking to get into Graphic Design, sorry I didn’t emphasize that. I want it to be my major more than a hobby now.

Sure, it is more expensive than if you just went to CCA, but what's the status of CCs in NYC? I'm sure you can get some type of financial aid and some type of scholarship if not on merit, at least financial.

Yes, in NYC, CCs are relative cheap, especially for students like me with a high GPA and regents (tests) scores. This is why I thought about going to a CC also. My family is not in a good financial status and if a go straight to CCA, I would see myself taking loans more than anything.

You might also want to ask admissions what they're looking for as far as portfolios go.

I just thought about that and since you are suggesting it, I will give them a call and ask about the portfolio requirements.

If you take the right classes, it is possible to transfer into CCA as a sophomore. Getting a credit equivalent to 4d design is the hardest part, as it's a weird conglomeration of performance art, film, and web.

I didn’t know that!… that would make me more interested in going to a CC because I just thought that I would end up doing 5 years of school.

On the other hand, you have to consider that it does mean you may end up delaying your entry into the professional world by a year, so you're effectively "paying" a year's salary.

Yeah, plus, won’t it be stressful to deal with applications, papers, and requirements twice? After I did it for high school. I think about that too…

As for portfolio, the ideal solution is to learn how to draw well, or at least respectably, in the next couple months.

I am at it, I have a teacher that went to Penn State (I believe) to do architecture and he knows how to draw very well, so I asked him for help and now I’m looking for which days would be better for him to meet.

Also, be sure to read the portfolio requirements on CCA's website, and attend the national portfolio review day in your area.

I did like a thousand times, now what I want to do is call them or email them and ask for specific portfolio requirements. But to sure, they prefer the portfolio in digital images right? burn in a CD or DVD. Do they have specific layouts for the CD/DVD?

Actually, tomorrow I'm going to an art school here in NYC where they help you improve your portfolio. I know is not a national portfolio review day, however, it may teach me somethings or two about drawing.

Based on what you said though, I would recommend taking the time for some community college. Since you don't have strong drawing skills and aren't confident in that area you can use your time in community college to really improve them.

Thing is, do community schools have strong/advance drawing courses? I do know how to draw but I lack in so many skills: in shades, proportions, etc etc… especially if a draw still life. Also, are the English, Math and those courses easier at a community school?

.....

The other thing I forgot to mention was that I’m taking a college course in a private university called New School, in which I will gain 4 credits, it is a writing intense course, but I doubt the credits are for English, I think they worth more as elective credits.

Again, thanks for the help ^^

[Rayniel]

Sorry for the double post, I made an error. Can I mod erase this? please! >.<

[Meloncov]

I did like a thousand times, now what I want to do is call them or email them and ask for specific portfolio requirements. But to sure, they prefer the portfolio in digital images right? burn in a CD or DVD. Do they have specific layouts for the CD/DVD?

I believe that they prefer portfolios be submitted online. Failing that, they can be submitted on a CD. I recommend a simple set of jpegs with descriptive file names.

Thing is, do community schools have strong/advance drawing courses? I do know how to draw but I lack in so many skills: in shades, proportions, etc etc… especially if a draw still life.

You're probably not going to get the same level of instruction you would at an art school. Still, if you can find a half-way decent teacher, you'll learn ninety percent of what you would at CCA for a far lower cost, and you won't have much trouble filling in that last ten percent once you get here.




Also, are the English, Math and those courses easier at a community school?

Probably about the same. By the sound of it, you'd find them quite easy at either institution.

You will have a far smaller class size, and most likely a more skilled professor, at CCA than at a community college.

The other thing I forgot to mention was that I’m taking a college course in a private university called New School, in which I will gain 4 credits, it is a writing intense course, but I doubt the credits are for English, I think they worth more as elective credits.

They'll probably transfer as humanities electives.

I also suggest you take BOTH of the English APs. If you can get a three on both of them (which doesn't sound like it would be a problem for you), you can get out of Freshman English, which is a very good thing. Indeed, if there are any APs you think you have a chance at eeking out a three on, take the exams. It's worth the gamble.

[Lizzybeth]

Classes at a community college tend to be easier than those at a University (especially summer term classes). Of course the liberal arts classes and four year Art specific schools tend to be easier as well, so you probably wouldn't end up too much of a difference anyway.

The art classes may be good they may be not, it usually depends on the instructor. Of course they're probably not up to the level of those at an art school, that's why art schools are there after all. You can learn a lot on your own though, you really can. Lots of people would argue that you don't even have to go to a school to become a good artist, and if you've got the time, self discipline, and resources you really don't. Reading books, using forums like this and others, posting your work and getting feedback, looking at the work of others' and their feedback, experimentation, serious practice on your part, and applying a critical eye to everything all the time can get you far.

You don't just get those skills, even at art school, you've really got to work to develop them and learn to see and understand in new ways and deconstruct the interpretation processes that your brain constantly imposes over everything.