<p>After visiting Reed and being completely enamored with it and everything I heard about it, much more so than with my other college, I applied early decision and was admitted. From what I've been reading about it recently, though, I'm worried I made the wrong choice...</p>
<p>I've been cartooning/making comics for a large part of my life (in fact, I submitted a comic for my admissions essay) and I'm already pretty sure that I want to be a cartoonist. I'm planning on enrolling in art/animation classes at the Pacific Northwest College of Art since I noticed Reed doesn't offer any animation classes and seems to have a fairly small art program. Is Reed a bad fit for someone who already knows what they want to do, and especially if that thing is art? </p>
<p>I'm mainly worried about having enough time for my outside classes (I also take Japanese and intend to continue those studies at Lewis & Clark), since I'm hearing more and more complaints from Reedies/former Reedies about the enormous workload they have. Reed just doesn't seem to offer an expansive enough art program for me (though I'm sure the classes they do have are wonderful), which is why I want to take these outside classes. </p>
<p>I have many other interests besides cartooning (film, history, humanities, literature) and I definitely want the well-rounded liberal arts education that Reed is reputed for. I just know that I'm not going to pursue any of them beyond college, since I already know what I want to do. Is Reed a bad choice for me??? I'm really in love with this school, but I want to be practical and prepared to transfer if I absolutely must.</p>
<p>Reed does have a small art department but it covers all the bases and offers a lot of flexibility to pursue things you’re especially interested in. I think the “Digital Media” class might cover some animation basics. There was actually a really popular comic book/graphic novel class taught last semester by a visiting prof and a lot of students of recent years seem to be really into comics/animation, so much that they’ve started a small student group that gets together to draw. Out of the 11 art seniors this year, 3 are doing comic-related theses, and 1 is doing animation. So it isn’t ridiculously unrealistic to want to pursue that at/after Reed and apparently these folks are learning those skills without having to take classes at other colleges.</p>
<p>Reed also has a 2-3 program with PNCA where you do 2 years at Reed, 2 at PNCA, and 1 more thesis year at Reed, then graduate with a BA from Reed and a BFA from PNCA. I don’t know of anyone who has done it, but it’s an option if you think it will be absolutely necessary to take outside classes or if you feel you won’t get the education you need at Reed alone. But it seems like you might want to wait and see what Reed’s program is actually like first-?</p>
<p>If you visited, did you sit in on any art classes or visit the art building or talk to professors/students? Maybe that might help you get a better idea of what the art major entails and if it would be a good fit for you. I am willing to answer more specific questions if you have any. I will say Reed’s art program definitely is not art school, so if that is what you’re primarily interested in, then you’ll probably be sol. But since it sounds like you are def attending Reed next year, I guess you will find out soon enough.</p>
<p>Lastly-- You applied ED and are just hearing about the workload now? O.o<br>
Lol, I’m kidding… Seriously, though, I don’t know what your schedule looks like next year, but if you’re planning to take a normal freshman load at Reed (Hum 110 and 2 (or MAYBE 3) other classes) plus 2 more outside classes across town, you probably have a good reason to be worried. (PS You’ll have a car, right?)</p>