<p>Okay so I applied to the Academy of Art because I read that some of the students have ended up working for Pixar. Then I found out that 100 percent of students that apply are admitted. I was seriously considering going there till I read almost all negative reviews about the school, many of them talking about the school buying real estate. Is this a real art school or what? I haven't been able to find a lot of information on the animation program. It seems strange that they let anyone in. It's closer than SCAD but i'm feeling uneasy about it. Does anyone have information on it?</p>
<p>They own the most ridiculous amount of real estate ever. No question about it. There is something seriously weird about it. I personally think it’s like a mafia front or something…ok, maybe not that…but there is definitely something weird about it. There is just no way they can afford to be buying all the real estate they are without some other type of income besides tuition…</p>
<p>Haha well i’ve read a few things about. It’s mentioned occasionally in art school forums but there’s no real information on it. I mean I don’t have a portfolio together so I can’t apply somewhere great like Cal Arts of Ringling but I find it weird that they accept 100 percent of applicants…</p>
<p>Their accepting 100% of applicants isn’t as weird as you might think. It’s actually part of their mission - they have purposefully chosen to accept 100% of applicants, and to not require a portfolio, because they feel that part of their mission is to allow students who weren’t able to prepare a portfolio or to prepare to enter an art school, to have the chance to do so. </p>
<p>What AAU does is weed you out once you get there. I describe AAU as a school that’s easy to get into, and not so easy to get out of. The school has a fairly high drop out rate, and part of that is because some students get there, and then can’t hack it; or they get there and then realize that art isn’t for them. That’s also reflected in some of the buzz you hear about them online. After all, those speaking up are usually those who complain, not those who are happy, and since AAU lets everyone in, some of those they let in aren’t going to be happy there, or in art. </p>
<p>Does that mean AAU is as good as RISD? No. AAU isn’t a top ranked art school by any means, but it is appropriately accredited. It’s regionally accredited, which is a big deal. However, it’s also a for-profit school (so is SCAD, btw, and so is the School of Visual Arts in NY), and some employers look down on such schools. But just because a school is for-profit, that doesn’t mean it’s bad. I mean, SVA is one of the top art schools in the country. The difference is that most employers don’t seem to know that SVA (and SCAD) are for-profit companies - but they know AAU is. </p>
<p>Having the name “AAU” on your resume isn’t going to make any employer do backflips of joy, but they also won’t throw your resume in the trash. It’s your portfolio that gets you jobs - that, and any internships/co-ops you did while you studied, in terms of entry level employment. But your portfolio - you can go to AAU or RISD, and it’s still all about your portfolio. </p>
<p>At the same time, AAU ranks near the bottom of art schools, and SCAD outranks them by quite a bit. Students at SCAD also seem to be happier than those at AAU. If you got into both, I’d have you give a very serious look at SCAD. It’s a stronger school.</p>
<p>As for why some AAU students might work at Pixar, and SCAD students may not - most SCAD students are from the east coast, and SCAD is located in Georgia. AAU is in northern California, making Pixar a next-door-neighbor. SCAD students may choose to focus on jobs located closer to home, rather than relocating across country. After all, there are plenty of major animation studios on the east coast. This, however, is something you can ask SCAD.</p>
<p>Roaringmice notes,AAU isn’t a top ranked art school by any means, but it is appropriately accredited. It’s regionally accredited, which is a big deal."</p>
<p>Response: I disagree with this in that for animation. AAU is highly ranked by Animation World. I published the rankings somewhere on this forum if you want to do a search. I think AAU came out third.</p>
<p>i wouldn’t go there, but that’s just because i don’t like the feeling i get from them or that they have commercials/are for profit/accept 100% of their applicants. i did their pre-college program and it was fun, but i didn’t really learn much. </p>
<p>i don’t know. i think they probably have decent programs, but i just don’t like the feeling i get from them. they still send me e-mails ALL THE TIME and it drives me absolutely crazy. and i don’t know how much their tuition is, but if it is about the same as other not-for-profit, well respected and well known art schools, i would try to go to one of those instead. if you really want to be in the bay area, consider CCA. it’s a great school.</p>
<p>Here is a url for the ranking from 3d World Magazine. AAU is actually highly ranked for animation. In fact it came out second in the country after Ringling:</p>
<p>[3d</a> world mag ranking? - ConceptArt.org Forums](<a href=“http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1770431]3d”>http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1770431)</p>
<p>It’s just really hard to know which school to pick because I hear so many different things about each one of them. Ok, so these are the schools i’ve applied to:</p>
<ol>
<li>SCAD</li>
<li>Academy of Art (only one I know i’m in to for sure)</li>
<li>Ringling</li>
</ol>
<p>My interest is animation, illustration, character development, storyboarding, etc. I doubt i’ll get into Ringling though</p>
<p>Photos of the SFAI campus are sparse on their website but I found their site for renting the facilities for conferences, check out the portfolio photos: San Francisco Art Institute: [San</a> Francisco Art Institute: North Beach Location for Event Rental and Shoots](<a href=“http://www.sfai-location.com/index.php#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=1]San”>http://www.sfai-location.com/index.php#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=1)</p>
<p>WOW, it is truly inspirational and amazing!</p>
<p>It’s a real estate empire doing business as an art school… They only care about your fico score not your art acumen. Beware. They have had problems with their accredition and are in a hot mess with the city over zoning. If you have other choices use them.</p>
<p>@SpinalTap. Seriously? Why do you keep posting that when it has nothing to do with the post other than it’s in the same city?</p>
<p>@seewhatimesdone. We visited many art schools in California that all said they had graduates who work at Pixar. My daughter is interested in fine art, but CCA, CalArts and Laguna are the stronger animation programs that I recall. I had the same impression about AAU. It’s literally all over the city and even my daughter thought the 100% acceptance rate and no portfolio requirement made them look shady.</p>
<p>If you can, visit them. You’ll know which is right for you.</p>