<p>So for the past couple months, I've been laughing, crying, yelling, stressing over Art Center.</p>
<p>I'm sure a lot of you hear a lot about it when talking about Art schools, but I found out that a lot of potential students (including myself when I was a sophomore/junior) would've liked to've gotten more background information about this school coming from a peer-to-peer point of view (instead of hearing it from others or Art Center faculty) at an earlier time. Note that I'm not an actual student yet, I'll be starting fall of this year. This is a (general/spoonfed) rundown for people interested in attending Art Center (especially Juniors who are about to get into Senior year of high school and applying to Art schools). </p>
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<p>ART CENTER ESTIM. BUDGET FOR 2007 - 2008 (includes Tuition, Room/Board, Books/Supplies, Transporation, and Misc. Spending)</p>
<p>1 Term = $25,922 (tuition = $14,000) (FALL 07)
2 Terms = $51,844 (tuition = $27,710) (FALL 07 + SPRING 08)
3 Terms = $77,766 (tutiton = $41,565) (FALL 07 + SPRING 08 + SUMMER 08)</p>
<p>If I choose to take 3 terms a year = 2 years 8 months to graduate
If I choose to take 2 terms a year (like an average college) = 4 years</p>
<ul>
<li>Note: Tuition is expected to increase within the next year or so I believe</li>
</ul>
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<p>Fixed Tution</p>
<ul>
<li>Art Center is REALLY stingy on trasnfering credits</li>
</ul>
<p>Can I transfer to Art Center from another school?
- Yes, but you will start out as a Term 1 student</p>
<p>Can I transfer to Art Center from a junior college?
- Yes (take as much general education classes as possible) and no. Let's say you've completed your GE classes and they're approved to be transfered to Art Center ---> You have 5 Art Classes and 5 GE classes. Those 5 GE classes will be replaced by 5 additional art classes. Therefore you will have 10 Art Classes and 0 GE classes. You will still have to pay full tuition either way. You will start out as a Term 1 student but have more time to focus on art (which is a +). </p>
<p>Is it possible to take classes at another college/junior college while I am attending Art Center? (Perhaps take it when I take a term off of Art Center?)
- No. All transferable classes/credits must be done before you enter Art Center.</p>
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<p>Point of views (there were sort of the point of views that I thought about during my decision on whether or not I'll attend Art Center)</p>
<ul>
<li>Optimist Point of View: If I go to Art Center, work hard/passionately, and take full advantage of what they offer, the tutition/debt will not seem as intense as it does. Education is one of the best investments one can make. Art Center has a highly established name, so even if I don't make it into the art world right away, the name of my school will be able to open doors to stable jobs in the art industry.</li>
<li>Pessimistic Point of View: It's one of the most expensive Art Schools in CA (and possibly the U.S.) - apparently it costs as much going to a medical school as it does to go to this school. I'll be in debt forever and its just not worth it to go.</li>
</ul>
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<p>Art Center Terms</p>
<ul>
<li>Art Center takes a different take on the way it runs its terms (it does NOT do the typical Fall/Spring terms per-year like typical college or high school).</li>
<li>It takes 8 Terms to graduate</li>
<li>3 Terms per year: FALL, SPRING and SUMMER (15 weeks per term I believe)</li>
<li>Flexibility: You are not obligated to attend all 3 terms (talking with Elias, a counsellor I know, you can even take 1 term a year)</li>
<li>Students typically take the summer term off (going by what Elias told me)</li>
<li>If I choose to take 3 terms a year = 2 years 8 months to graduate (Fast!)</li>
<li>If I choose to take 2 terms a year (like an average college) = 4 years</li>
</ul>
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<p>Random Facts</p>
<ul>
<li>Average age of enterting undergraduates: 23~24</li>
<li>General Age of Student Body: Early 20's to 30's<br></li>
<li>% accepted right out of high school: 10% of high school applicants (going by what I remember admissions telling me)</li>
<li>One of the top 4 art schools in the U.S (going by what my Art teacher has told me)</li>
<li>Top Majors: Transporation Design + Graphic Design</li>
<li>Largest Major: Illustration</li>
<li>Dorms?: No (Housing services provide a list of Art Center students who are in need of roommates. Prices range from $500~$1500) </li>
<li>Location: There's a lot of nature/trees surrounding the school (very Forest-y). Southern CA - rather hot weather (hot for me because I live in the bay area). </li>
<li>Heavy work load</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Note: A lot of my information has come directly from Art Center Admissions + Elias Gonzales (Admissions Counsellor) + current Art Center students that I've spoke with within the last 1~2 years or so. If anyone else (especially current Art Center students) would like to add anything, post it and I'll edit it into this post. If I have any major errors, please tell me so I can fix it.</li>
</ul>