<p>My daughter is going to study fashion design and SCAD is one of her top two choices. She did a summer weeklong program this year and really enjoyed it. So while she has had some exposure to the school it wasn't during any "normal" time of the academic year.</p>
<p>I'm interested in anyone's observations about student life on campus. I know the campus is spread all over the place and the dorms are renovated motels. What kind of social dynamic does that create? I know there are some sports on campus - does anyone attend the games? Or are they all participative rather than spectator? Is there any dating? </p>
<p>I really like the look of their program but it's hard for me to overcome my gut feeling that student life at SCAD is probably a little weird. </p>
<p>Thanks for your comments!</p>
<p>I honestly have no direct experience - this is based purely on my own thoughts and observations of my daughter who has been at SCAD the past two years.</p>
<p>She loves it.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’d classify the student experience as ‘weird’, but SCAD isn’t the same as a school with a regular campus so one wouldn’t expect it to be the same. </p>
<p>During freshman year, my daughter had to attend her “freshman experience” class which pretty much forced her to get around the school and city to see what was out there, and participate in some school activities. The freshman dorm organized movie and video game nights outside in the quad area for the residents, and the Halloween party at the student center was something my daughter and her friends went to as well. </p>
<p>She has attended programs and lectures by outside individuals both as class requrements and simply because she was interested. The Savannah Film Festival is a big undertaking in the fall, and there are usually some big-name guests there (Isabella Rossellini, Sir Ian McKellan and Liam Neeson were there in 2010) and students can volunteer to help out. My daughter did this and really enjoyed it.</p>
<p>She loves being in the ‘city’ and she and her friends will spend time down at the Riverfront or over at City Walk. There are some merchants scattered around the city that truly embrace having the students there, and art supply/services available to them during crunch time nearly 24 hours a day.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for the sports; my daughter isn’t interested in that and to my knowledge hasn’t attended anything.</p>
<p>The freshman dorm, Turner, was built specifically as a dorm and is not a renovated hotel. Turner Annex is older, as is the other upperclass dorms in that area (Dyson, Weston).</p>
<p>Oglethorpe is over by the Convention Center and is another renovated hotel for upperclass. There are a few other smaller dorms scattered in the city but I think those are older buildings rather than old hotels. My husband and I have not had any issues with the living spaces and have been pleased with maintenance response when needed (as reported by our daughter).</p>
<p>Thank you, msmayor. That’s quite helpful. It makes me think my D could probably really like it and that it really comes down to weighing SCAD’s unique but unconventional environment vs. that of a state university. If she’s admitted with decent merit aid, that decision could be hers!</p>