Transfering from SVA to AAU

[Lurial]

I'm currently a 2nd year Illustration student at the School of Visual Arts, but I don't feel as though I am improving at all. In fact, I feel as though the longer I remain in this college, the more I simply stagnate in skill.

I read that two of Massive Black's artists went to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco at one point and I have a friend who attends there as well. I heard of all the workshops that often open up in the area and that AAU has classes devoted to the clothed figure and to face/hands (clothing and hands are my weaknesses) as well as other classes that struck me as relevant and interesting. Because of that, I am thinking of transfering over there because it seems like it might provide better opportunities. Plus, on a non-educational level, I feel that living under my parents cosy wing for so long is crippling my chances of growing into someone more independent. As much as I love my parents and how nice it is to be in my own room with all the many accomodations they provide, I need to break away from the nest and live on my own for a while.

Unfortunately, I'm in the fourth week (I think) of the Spring Semester at SVA. If I'm not learning much, should I try to pull out of SVA now in order to save time and money, and focus on applying to AAU? (I read that they essentially accept anyone willing, but the second year dropout rate is high) Or should I try to finish this semester and try to apply to AAU at the same time?

The only reason I can think of for finishing the semester would be to try and get more credits in the hope that they would transfer over, but I'm not sure I WANT any credits to transfer except ones for humanities, other miscellaneous credits, and ones that would at least get me out of the first year courses. I want to take the drawing classes, even if it pushes me back to a sophmore again, to get a more concrete handle on the basics that seem to be slipping further and further away from me.

Any advice for a lost little college student?

[Maxine Schacker]

Some of these decisions you really do have to make on your own. Your instincts about the importance of developing your skills as a representational artist are dead on. I don't know anything about AAU, but really investigate it before you make the leap - be sure its what you're loooking for. Schools change and some place that was great 20 years ago may still be as good, or better, or not as good as it was then. Keep drawing and realize that you can teach yourself a great deal. The program we've developed at Max the Mutt is a combination of what we all wish we'd been taught when we were in school, and Disney and Warner Bros guidelines. We teach drapery, but when i was in school it wasn't taught. I used Nicolaides (The Natural Way to Draw) and Bridgman, and taught it to myself. Where there' s will there's way. However, the benefit of a well conceived and taught program is that people can learn at a much faster rate. It amazes me what students can achieve in three years.

[nilaffle]

Hmm, how long have you been thinking about transferring to AAU?

I got to the first week of my spring semester at Art Institute of Washington and realized it wasn't for me; I pulled out right away. It's worth considering if your big concern is money, and it's not too late to get a refund on your tuition. Still, from my perspective, you may not want to pull out of SVA until you've got your enrollment in AAU secured. It's best to hold any major decisions until you have your next move planned out. Even worse than being stuck in a place where you're not growing is being stuck in limbo and not doing anything at all.

Decisions like this are tough, because they really rely on what feels right to YOU. Unfortunately I don't know much about AAU's programs so I can't comment there. All I can say is trust your instincts. :) Good luck.