<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>My major is Graphic Design and I'm having a major dilemma in choosing the right school to transfer from college.</p>
<p>I just got accepted to Art Center College of Design (ACCD) and Otis College of Art and Design, but the thing is, those colleges accepted me as a first year student, while I have completed two years in college. Apparently the arts classes I have taken in college are not compatible with those in ACCD and Otis.</p>
<p>While, I haven't applied to Academy of Art University (AAU). I live near San Francisco and I have heard a good deal about stories the Graphic Design program they have there. But I am still thinking whether I should apply to that school or not. I can actually do that at anytime because I will be accepted anyway (Acceptance rate: 100%). If I get accepted there, I will be admitted as a second year student, which saves more money.</p>
<p>As for Otis, I am thinking to drop it since I heard their Graphic Design program is not as appealing as AAU or ACCD.</p>
<p>Actually I recently knew about ACCD like in a year or so, while I have been determined to go to AAU since the beginning of college because that is the only good art school around. ACCD and AAU have different transfer requirements, and I decided to go for AAU before I even knew about ACCD: AAU requires general education classes for transfer while ACCD requires more studio classes. So after all this time, I have focused more on GE classes and lately, I'm taking studio classes at my college.</p>
<p>The reason why I wanted to go to AAU is because I felt my portfolio is not good enough to apply to schools like ACCD or Otis, but after I get accepted to those schools, I started to feel more confident about my portfolio.</p>
<p>My parents knew my decision to go to AAU. They didn't try to stop it, but they encouraged me to apply to ACCD and other good schools. So I applied to ACCD quite in the last minute. I submitted the application requirements and portfolio, and later got accepted. They're so happy about it that they wanted me to go there instead of AAU.</p>
<p>So, my dilemma starts from here:</p>
<p>[ul]
[li]I so want go to Art Center, because of course, its good reputation. A lot of my friends, relatives, and even art professor at college encourage me to go there because they say it's really hard and competitive to get accepted there, and that I was lucky enough to be accepted. But I have to face the consequence of starting my college years from the freshman year, and that would cost me A LOT.</p>[/li]
<p>According to the research I did, the average freshman age in ACCD is 22 years old, while I'm 19 years old. The classes are major-concentrated, while I've been practicing my graphic design skills amateurishly. I'm worried my future ACCD classmates' skills will far exceed those of mine.</p>
<p>I have currently been in contact with ACCD admission staff and requested to waive some arts classes that I already took, am taking, and will be taking for the next few months in college. But they say no promises because again, the arts classes in college college are not compatible with theirs. They would probably be able to waive a few out of all arts classes I took in college (even my college art professor admitted that her class might not be compatible with ACCD's).</p>
<p>So fingers crossed they would be able to waive my college arts classes. That way, hopefully, it would save me more money.</p>
<p>[li]On the other hand, I'm still considering to go to AAU since I will be accepted as a second year student anyway for sure, so that will definitely save me A LOT MORE money. I have fulfilled the requirement to transfer there. All I have to do is just apply online and deposit some big amount of money.</p>[/li]
<p>The good side that I heard is that they offer professional instructors. I see the school more as a perfect school for me in terms of polishing my amateur graphic design skills</p>
<p>But I have heard a great deal of stories about AAU only ripping people off and that they have a bad reputation (less competitive, since anyone can go there). On the other hand, I also heard that the school has some good, professional instructors. But still if I go to that school, I will save LOTS of money.
[/ul]</p>
<p>Furthermore, I'm an international student. It already cost me tons of money to even go to school here in the US.</p>
<p>Okay, maybe money would be a personal issue, but I would like to ask your opinion. What would you do if you were me? Which school would you choose if you were me? Anything you'd like to suggest for me to do? I would love to hear perspectives from you.</p>
<p>Also, which school is more expensive? ACCD or Arts Center?</p>