University of the Arts - Philadelphia

[sunnyduck]

Hello - can anyone here tell me anything about University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I'm just starting to look at schools (I'm a Junior). I want to do Illustration. I don't want to go to a Liberal Arts college. I'm trying to stay in PA, so I can hopefully get some PHEA monies.
Wolfsfurr

[sunnyduck]

Okay my post has been up for awhile now, I can't believe there isn't somebody here doesn't know something about UofA? Speak up people this is important.
Thanks!

[Maurice]

I'm a 93' grad from Uarts with a BFA. I could tell you anything you wanted to know about this school. Yes, I would highly recommend applying to the visual college and visiting the school during their open house this fall.

I graduated from their film and animation department and have had a successful career in the film, game & theme park industry for over 13 years. Currently I'm a Lead Concept Artist for Universal Games.

[sunnyduck]

Maurice,
Thanks for responding. I'll send you an email directly.
Anybody else out there from U of A in Philly???
Sunnyduck

[sunnyduck]

Maurice - I am wondering what is the "Visual College"? Thanks, Sunnyduck

[QUOTE=Maurice] Yes, I would highly recommend applying to the visual college and visiting the school during their open house this fall.

[JessicaNoel]

Hey I'm with Sunnyduck. I want to learn more about this school from a personal perspective I'm considering UofA or RSAD for Illustration.

[ChaoticKnight]

Im currently at UARTS in the animation Dept. I can say that the animation dept. is great with alot of good professors.
Ive heard that the illustration dept. is great too. I have many friends there who put out excellent work, and some of the best professors in the school teach illustration.
If you have any other questions lemme know. :)

[sweetoblivion314]

i dont know much about the school. But i grew up in philadelphia (20 years) so if you have any questions about the city i can help.

[katerate]

I would like to know more too... Do they have a lot of internships? How many successful illustrators are here that attended UArts?

[evidence]

i graduated from uarts illustration department in 2005. the program and faculty are excellent. they make sure you know a lot about the business side of illustration and place a lot of emphasis on putting together a professional portfolio.
the one thing about it though is that they do focus a lot on finding your personal voice and concept development. so by your junior year, you no longer have any classes that focus on fundementals and technique, life drawing/painting, ect (which is crazy). i made up for it by taking as many figure drawing elective classes as i could fit in.

on a side note, if anyone here from the philadelphia area is interested in a local sketch group, we are trying to get one going. check out the thread in the lounge.

[o12young]

actually, i'm very interested. send me a PM with info

[JessicaNoel]

Sunnyduck---I recently went and visited UofArts last week. --NO OFFENSE TO ALUMNS IN THE TEXT BELOW--- I was not impressed with it. First of all the campus is really spread out. The "central hall" or whatever wasn't that impressive. The building's old my tour guide although very nice couldn't give me specifics on what I needed to learn b/c he was a film major. My rep there isn't very professional although nice. It was a cold day when I went this could have added to the overall negative viewpiont I hold on UArts. However it didn't have that SCHOOL feel. It had that "get your shit done get out" feel. When I tour a school I want to feel pampered, like I'm getting the best of everything and I'm in a comforable place. I visited 4 private art schools in 3 northeastern states. My favorite out of this one, Moore, SVA, and RISD was RISD. RI's weird, but the school/buildings/student work/cafes/library/facililities are huge, beautiful, old but updated, the tour was very professional, and it's comprable to UArts tuition-wise.

Good luck!

[Rich Pellegrino]

RI is weird? haha. i considered UotA but opted for RISD. I graduated last year. thank god it is over. now i can catch up on sleep.

[JessicaNoel]

RG--RI's weird b/c there's a lot of old money there but then this huge surge of young kids (like us) and this cop that took me around was telling me about the racial problems blacks face in that area.

[Rich Pellegrino]

haha! that's a crazy little story there. but it is true! I guess i overlook it since i grew up here. but yeah, that IS weird. at least it is interesting.

[Anuran]

I'm there right now, finishing up my foundation year. I have a bit of a different perspective than most students though. I am a bit older, 30 in fact. So, I don't know much of anything about the dorms or social scene. I am, however, a very determined and focused student so, I have alot to say about the foundation program and the painting and illustration electives I took this year. I have some work from those classes in my sketchbook thread.

[ClassyLadyCanDraw]

Why not check out moore college. I know someone whos doing the illustration program there. Its an all girl school, but allegedly its supposed to be pretty good. I personally dont reccomend U of A. One of my best friends just left there because she thought the program was horrible. Shes going to saic next fall as I probably am next winter. who knows though, it might be good for illustration.

[kupo]

I'm at the U of Arts right now (finishing my foundation year as well), and let me tell you, I just took a look through my portfolio from the beginning of this year until now, and I've seen a HUGE improvement in my drawing skills. I'd definately recommend it, I'm going for Illustration, and the teachers in that department were really helpful when I talked to them. As far as the social scene goes...well...I'm always busy working so I couldn't tell ya much about that, but we're definately not a big party school. The dorms are alright, they're pretty spacious, but residential life is REALLY strict (got written up for having a CLEAN cup on my counter).

[ChaoticKnight]

Sunnyduck---I recently went and visited UofArts last week. --NO OFFENSE TO ALUMNS IN THE TEXT BELOW--- I was not impressed with it. First of all the campus is really spread out. The "central hall" or whatever wasn't that impressive. The building's old my tour guide although very nice couldn't give me specifics on what I needed to learn b/c he was a film major. My rep there isn't very professional although nice. It was a cold day when I went this could have added to the overall negative viewpiont I hold on UArts. However it didn't have that SCHOOL feel. It had that "get your shit done get out" feel. When I tour a school I want to feel pampered, like I'm getting the best of everything and I'm in a comforable place. I visited 4 private art schools in 3 northeastern states. My favorite out of this one, Moore, SVA, and RISD was RISD. RI's weird, but the school/buildings/student work/cafes/library/facililities are huge, beautiful, old but updated, the tour was very professional, and it's comprable to UArts tuition-wise.

Good luck!

UARTS is not a pampered school at all no, but I wouldnt go to an art school to be pampered. I'd feel like I didn't have to get any work done. Also, "get shit done get out" is pretty much the opposite. The university encourages independent study as well as strong course work that almost demands alot of time in the studios, which, as anyone whos been an art student knows, is better most of the time because there is less distraction in the studios then at home. The best part of UARTS in my opinion is the interaction with other students and the social aspect of the work and assignments.