HELP! 2yr program at Pratt vs. FIT??

[shinji-eva01]

Hello,

At this point these are my options as these two schools both have 2 year programs and it's not too late to apply. I'm looking to get into concept design/2d or 3d animation. I figure I'll work on learning the software while attending school. I want to have a solid traditional arts background with a degree. BTW, FIT is about half the cost of Pratt. There is a 2 year illustration program at Pratt vs. 2 year illustration or fine art program at FIT. The FIT illustration program has a lot of fashion required since it is the Fashion Institute. Here is a breakdown of the programs:

PRATT

SEMESTER 1
Drawing I (Figure) 2
FDC 143B Drawing I (General) 2
ASDG 205 Painting I 4
ASIL 101 Illustration I 2
FDC 168 Light, Color & Design 2
HD 212 History of Illustration 2
ASGR 151 Introduction to Computer Graphics 2
Total credits (16)

SEMESTER 2
FDC 144A Drawing II (Figure) 2
FDC 144B Drawing II (General) 2
ASDG 206 Painting II 2
ASIL 102 Illustration II 2
ASDG 103 Comprehensive Rendering 2
ASDG 105 Reproduction & Mechanicals 2
ASDG 101 Photography 2
ASIL 212 Airbrush 2
Total credits (16)

SEMESTER 3
ASIL 201 Illustration III 2
ASIL 203 Book and Magazine Illustration I 2
ASIL 205 Advertising Illustration I 2
ASIL 207 Fashion Illustration 2
ASDG 225 Painting III 2
ASDG 107 Drawing III 2
ASGR 230 Graphic Design for Illustrators 2
ASGR 251 2-D Computer Illustration 2
Electives: (Select 1 class from below)
ASIL 214 Cartooning 2
ASDG 215 Internship 2
ASDG 227 Directed Studies 2
Total credits (18)

SEMESTER 4
Second Year Spring
ASIL 202 Illustration IV 2
ASIL 204 Book and Magazine Illustration II 2
ASIL 206 Advertising Illustration II 2
ASIL 210 Pharmaceutical Illustration 2
ASDG 226 Painting IV 2
ASDG 108 Drawing IV 2
ASGR 240 Portfolio Develop. & Business Procedures 2
Electives: (Select 1 class from below)
ASGR 215 Internship 2
ASDG 215 Internship 2
ASDG 227 Directed Studies Graphics 2
ASGR 270 Electronic Page Design I 2
Total credits (16)

FIT ILLUSTRATION

SEMESTER 1
MAJOR AREA
IL 111
Fashion Illustration I
3

IL 123
General Illustration
1-1/2

IL 131
Fashion Life Drawing I
1-1/2

IL 143
Fashion Drawing I
2

RELATED AREA
AD 152
Studio Skills
1-1/2

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

SEMESTER 2

MAJOR AREA
IL 124
General Illustration I
3

IL 132
Fashion Life Drawing II
1-1/2

IL 152
Illustration Figure Drawing I
1-1/2

IL 173
Illustration Concepts: Products/Accessories I
1-1/2

IL 184
Introduction to Airbrush
1-1/2

RELATED AREAS
AD122
Introduction to Electronic Mechanicals
2

FA 104
Sculpture
1-1/2

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

SEMESTER 3

MAJOR AREA
IL 223
General Illustration II
3

IL 251
Illustration Figure Drawing II
1-1/2

IL 273
Illustration Concepts: Products/Accessories II
1-1/2

RELATED AREAS
AD 274
Computer Typesetting & Design
2

FA 101
Painting
1-1/2

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

SEMESTER 4

MAJOR AREA
IL 224
General Illustration III
3

IL 226
Software Tools for the Illustrator
2

IL 231
Fashion Life Drawing III
1-1/2

IL 252
Illustration Figure Drawing III
1-1/2

IL 274
Illustration Concepts: Products/Accessories III
1-1/2

RELATED AREA
PH 101
Photography Basics
2

ELECTIVE
choice
General elective
1-1/2-3

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

FIT FINE ARTS

SEMESTER 1

MAJOR AREA
FA 113
Design: 2D & Color
1-1/2

FA 114
Design: 3D Form & Structure
1-1/2

FA 131
Life Drawing I
1-1/2

FA 141
Drawing I
1-1/2

FA 151
Painting I
3

RELATED AREA
DD 112
Design Survey
3

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

SEMESTER 2

MAJOR AREA
FA 132
Life Drawing II
1-1/2

FA 142
Drawing II
1-1/2

FA 152
Painting II
3

FA 161
Sculpture I
3

FA 171
Printmaking I
1-1/2

RELATED AREA
CG 111
Computer Graphics
1

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

SEMESTER 3

MAJOR AREA
FA 172
Printmaking II
1-1/2

FA 231
Life Drawing III
1-1/2

FA 251
Abstract Painting I
3

FA 252
Figurative Painting I
3

FA 261
Sculpture II
3

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

SEMESTER 4
MAJOR AREA
FA 232
Life Drawing IV
1-1/2

FA 253
Abstract Painting II
3

FA 254
Figurative Painting II
3

RELATED AREA
PH 003
Photo Studio
0

PH 103
Basic Photography
2

ELECTIVE
choice
General elective
1-1/2-3

LIBERAL ARTS
choice
Liberal Arts Requirements
6

[midnite23]

I know some people that transferred out of FIT because it was so frustrating just dealing with fashion mainly. Try parsons they offer a program also and the atmosphere is better than pratt

[shinji-eva01]

Hi,

Parsons doesn't have a 2 year program that I'm interested in. Could you describe what is wrong with the atmosphere at Pratt? What was so difficult about dealing with FIT? I don't live in NY currently so I have no first hand info on any of the schools. I'm just trying to find out as much as I can before I commit to one school. Thanks for replying!

[midnite23]

my response was based on what my friends have told me about the school since they have attended there. FIT program deals a lot with fashion (in their drawing classes) Dealing with a lot of sketeches of fashion industry stuff. That's what I meant about FIT. For Pratt even though they have a campus the surrounding neighborhood is not good.

[goldenavatar]

Not for nothing, but most of the colleges/universities in New York City aren't located in what anyone would consider a "good" neighborhood, but hey, that's what happens when a school doesn't support or serve the community it's in.

Anyway, as far as PRATT goes, from people outside of NYC, it's great, couldn't be better, to someone native to NYC it's oppresive, depressing and overpriced. As far as FIT goes, it depends on why you're there, but as midnite said, it's a fashion focused school, so be prepared for a fashion focus. It's also HALF Pratts cost because it's a state univeristy.

IF you're going to a college for the first time and those are the options you've got topping your list and you want to go into 2d/3d animation with some grounding in traditional art, you might want to consider a local state/city community college and get an associates degree in art first. It'll help you figure out where you want to go for sure, plus it'll save you a good chunk of change. Oh yea, and if it's a public community college chances of your degree/credits getting accepted are pretty high.

[Buffalo]

I replied to the other post before I saw this one. Thanks for the info.

I'm sure FIT is a good school - but based on what you said your interests are- it sounds more like Pratt is the way to go.

[tyboogie]

i go to parsons for illustration and i love it--although it is very expensive---but i have scholarships and loans---and am paying for it myself


its in a GOOD neighborhood VERY SAFE--as is sva

you should look into parsons or sva if you want to to concept art or animation

both schools turn out artists with very strong drawing skills

i dont know why you would want to go to fit for this kind of art

if you have any more questions about NY schools just ask me

[midnite23]

tyboogie do you know anything about pratt how good is it I accepted there with a scholarship and i'm still waiting on sva and parsons to weigh my options. Everybody is saying how bad pratt's neighborhood is but i want to know bad in what ways

[tyboogie]

not sure about pratt--never been there--its in BK somewhere--

[midnite23]

well i went through a whole different situation. After high school i went to business school and got my bachelors in finance. I didn't like that career so since I didn't have a portfolio and wanted to try the art industry I went to katherine gibbs yes believe it or not It's a 6 quarter program i did 3 and transferred out. I wanted more of a challenge and personally I didn't like the program even though it is improving. I left there with a 4.00 gpa. I applied to pratt, sva, and parsons. I got my responses from Pratt and sva. I got 45 credits transferred out of 50 so that's not bad. Pratt gave me a scholarship but I dont want to go there cause Everybody is saying it's not worth it. SVA it's a very good all around school so i'm considering that one and also parsons. I"m really interested if i get a scholarship for parsons because their facilities are great and their graphic design department is good and also if i take graphic design they will also teach you 3d design. I'm also interested in SVA because it has a good illustration and graphic design programs which i would like to be around for. Both school are next to each other and the city surroundings are great

[shinji-eva01]

a: thanks for the lengthy description! have you decided on where to go since you don't like either place? you described the pratt campus and program in brooklyn. do you know anything about the associates program in manhattan? it sounds like even though fit is cheap, you don't think it's worth it? any opinions on sva's illustration program?

midnite: sounds like we're in similar situations. i'm making a career move in my mid-twenties. i took foundation courses back when i was an undergrad at the university of illinois. i'm interested in SVA's illustration program as well. i'm always reading that it has a strong illustration program. if i go there, i think i could do it in 3 years. if you toured SVA could you describe what you thought of it?

general question to everyone: what makes SVA's illustration program so strong? famous alumni, facilities? tHX

[shinji-eva01]

a: thanks for the lengthy description! have you decided on where to go since you don't like either place? you described the pratt campus and program in brooklyn. do you know anything about the associates program in manhattan? it sounds like even though fit is cheap, you don't think it's worth it? any opinions on sva's illustration program?

midnite: sounds like we're in similar situations. i'm making a career move in my mid-twenties. i took foundation courses back when i was an undergrad at the university of illinois. i'm interested in SVA's illustration program as well. i'm always reading that it has a strong illustration program. if i go there, i think i could do it in 3 years. if you toured SVA could you describe what you thought of it?

general question to everyone: what makes SVA's illustration program so strong? famous alumni, facilities? tHX

[shinji-eva01]

a:
thanks for the quick response. since you're a fine art major there, what do you hope to do with the education? i assume since you're on this board you want to do concept artwork? my girlfriend is interested in going to fit for fashion. maybe i'll join here at fit and do the fine art associate as well. i'm very tempted by the low tuition. one last question, do you see any older students at school? i'm starting late (mid-20s) and i'm a little concerned that i'm way behind. oh well, age is just a number. thanks for the replies!

[midnite23]

hello when i vistited sva the facility wan't a big deal but they do have everythinglike big plotter printer and the computer lab is equipped with 19" monitors but the building itslef is not a big deal. There is not much of open space like parsons where there is a big cafeteria in every building. My choices are between parsons and sva even though i got accepted to pratt also with a 6,000 dolar scholarship but it's too much truoble for me to go to brooklyn and plus i love the atmosphere of the other 2 because i love the city. Also my major will be graphic design even though i loike illustration too but i think more of a hobby. For my electives i will probably take illustration classes.

[jrr]

cafetaria? oh lord... you'll never be there! that's highschool stuff... i ate my lunch in the park! (ahem with the bums) look at the rest of the students... not silly stuff that won't matter.

[midnite23]

well i was talking in general about the facilities specifically.

[tyboogie]

Parsons DOES NOT have a good fine arts program. It does have one of teh best illustration programs in the country though--and its as expensive as pratt, so.....

depends how hungry and confident you are and how willing you are to invest in yourself

JRR could tell you more about sva--from what ive heard sva is big on drawing realistically

parsons does that but i think its more experimental than parsons. also a good thing about parsons is the facilities will cater to any medium, you can go to the computer lab do MAYA and go back the the school and find an open room and paint.


but is any school really worth 25, 000?....




i think not.