<p>So. I'm a junior, going-on-senior and looking at colleges to major in art. What I'm curious about is if someone is bright and creative, but doesn't have a very good record of doing well in high school, how much will that affect chances of getting into an art college? Are art colleges any bit empathetic to students that had a hard time in high school, but are motivated in what they want to do outside of class? Should I try out a year at a state college, pull up my grades and start applying then? Or is saying I feel capable and ready for a rigorous and demanding place like art college be enough?</p>
<p>I understand where you are coming from. I left high school with around a 1.8 GPA (I was a horrible student due to my home life). Went and work for a few years doing lots of different things, but I also continued my photography. The last four years I’ve been doing photojournalism work. I’m 27 now and I start school at SVA in the fall, albeit on academic probation because of my grades in high school. The advice I can offer you is: make a good of a portfolio as you can, in your essay explain clearly why you did not get good grades and why you are not going to continue this trend in college, and lastly call your admissions councilor and talk to him like a person. Take some classes over the summer in a community college (get A’s) and present them to him (scan them and just e-mail them over). All of this will show you care, which is what colleges want.</p>
<p>Good advice from overzealous.</p>
<p>For sure. </p>
<p>Thanks a bunch for your input, overzealous. That definitely helps put me in good spirits. </p>
<p>Oh, and School of Visual Arts? Very nice!</p>
<p>I’m glad to help. Remember, your not done yet! You need to go to your teachers and talk to them. Explain why you need better grades and what you can do to get them. That alone will probably improve your GPA and always being on time and present for every class…Good luck!</p>