<p>I am in a different position that probably most of you. I didn't take a photograph class until I was 22; however, it wasn't until I was 26 that I became serious about pursuing it for the rest of my life. I am now 27, and I am looking into going to a serious school. I have been in and out of community college and a local state school. I partied for the first 7 years of schooling. Now I work a full time job, take evening classes, and photograph every day. I have come to the realization that talent doesn't make you great; it is your passion and dedication to hard work that does. My list of art schools is extremely small. Part of my decision is based on the quality of the school, my vision for where I want my photography to go, and a school that is also based in practicality (comes with older age I guess). The school that I am looking for, therefore, must have at least one foot in reality. Yes it would be amazing to go to art school and study nothing but psychology, philosophy, and theory; however, the vision of my photography is to have one foot in art and one foot in commercial. Personally I don't feel that commercializing your art is selling out. One can easily do both and be proud of both. Look at the work of photographer Nadav Kander. So finding a school that is based in the reality of commercial work and on art is not easy. I am looking for the best. Not because I feel I "deserve" being the best, but because I want to be challenged. In a sense, I want to fail; because in failure comes learning. I wan't to be shown I don't know everything about photography. It pushes me to work harder. </p>
<p>Right now, my list of schools is SVA (possibly their honors program) and Art Center College of Design. The reasons are below.</p>
<p>SVA:
-in NYC, art mecca of the usa. being surrounded by art, surrounded by those who have succeeded and by those that have done what others before have not
-the honors program seems enticing, a good and deep foundation in the liberal arts, but offers a vast array of practical classes
-faculty
-large number of classes</p>
<p>Art Center College of Design
-a specific program that has you taking more photography classes than pretty much any other school
-older student body
-it drills into you the technique of photography; the technical side of photography becomes natural and leaves your full focus on the process (i am extremely self driven so this style of teaching could work best for me)
-it's grounding in business and reality is possibly the best of the art schools</p>
<p>In the end, a person can go to the best photography (or art) school in the world, but if they don't have the passion and hard work to go along with that teaching, then they will never succeed. I believe either school will push me to the edge. It is up to me to go over that edge and to go where I didn't think my ability can take me. Your choice of school is a rather personal choice. It is based on what you feel is best for you. Don't be swayed by a name, be swayed by what kind of person the school will make you.</p>
<p>ah! i'm so stoked to hear washU st. lois has a legit art program... I just applied but mostly for their pre health program (dual major biochem, studio art: printmaking/painting undecided) although it's one of my back up schools <em>gulp</em> didn't know it was so hard to get into... but doesn't matter I suppose (pretty sure i'll be going to Penn but i'll get back to yous ^__^) The Brown-RISD dual degree program seems amazing, I wanted to apply out of high school and di get into both schools... but wasn't eligible for the dual degree program, long story, different post. Good luck to you guys applying! </p>
<p>to SCAD people: I've had quite a FEW friends with mediocre grades and even more mediocre portfolios get in... two with decent scholarships so if you're a decent, ambitious student i'm confident you'll get in (: (for instance my close friend in AP 2D senior year went there with a 3.2 GPA and 21 ACT score... decent portfolio, no observational drawings though.. we were both kind of shocked haha but he did have very nice conceptual themes)</p>
<p>also one fried got into SCAD with a full scholarship for architecture... he basically worked with a friends father (who is an architect/own practice (business?) premed for too long.. heh) and made a simple but effective CAD portfolio through iMovie. It was really good... but it's possible ;p if you're still in high school and looking into architecture/a full schol at an art school I guess try and just 'do them a favour' by doing all the cad work and make it your portfolio! eeee ! :D</p>
<p>Ringling: is cool! small, but cool. especially if you like hot weather. haha I've been living in florida for 4 years now and I'm so tired of it but ringling seemed to have a really nice illustration program; I took a figure drawing class there this past summer (draped models... my father forbade I see naked people and draw them hahahaha)</p>
<p>i want to major in the fine arts, maybe painting, maybe drawing, not sure yet</p>
<p>in terms of art schools i'm applying to RISD and SAIC.</p>
<p>portfolios:
flick.com/photos/chempsamp << click on the set called "art"</p>
<p>i actually had a question, that i can't seem to find the answer to in any other thread. if there is another thread where it would be better answered, it would be great if someone could point me in the right direction!</p>
<p>here's the question: so, if you go to a portfolio review, for SAIC, and they approve your portfolio, what does that mean? what does that imply? some people tell me that it means i'm in, as long as i get in all my other app stuff, like transcripts, recommendations, etc..
do i have to resubmit my portfolio? i went to visit the school, and during that time i had my portfolio reviewed again (the first time was my junior year), and the man told me i was basically in, but i'm HORRIBLY insecure about this.</p>
<p>It means you don't have to submit your portfolio again. Unless you want to submit it for the scholarship competition. </p>
<p>You're not officially in, but the "hard" part is over. They accept 80%, so I'd relax and congratulate yourself, and send in those transcripts to make it official!</p>
<p>CAPhotographer--you made some good points. Add to your reasons for those 2 choices that your networking during college will be invaluable. Your fellow alumnus in advertising and design at ACCD appreciate photographers and illustrators who graduated from (and survived!) the same demanding boot camp!</p>
<p>I know this thread took place a few years ago, but I will be a senior in high school this year and I’ve been looking into art colleges because I am going to be a photographer. My stuff is pretty good for what I’ve learned in school and on my own. I’ve given it a lot of thought and part of me believes I can do the photography thing on my own, but at the same time the experience of going to art school to study photography sounds wonderful to me. I’ve been looking into them and I think so far SVA is my favourite, the teachers seem great as well as the location! However I have also checked out SCAD and Ringling as well as AAU and looked into SCAIC. My GPA isn’t marvellous and my SAT scores are outstanding, I don’t have a lot of money to pay for school, it looks like the loan route. However, I know what I want, I want to be a photographer, so any suggestions from experience/prior knowledge?</p>
<p>Hi kristinahuggins. Be sure to take a look at the Rochester Institute of Technology. While I was there <em>cough</em> 1980-85, it was generally considered to be the top photography program in the U.S. I’m sure it still ranks right up there.</p>