<p>I recently recieved my acceptance letter for Pasadena Art Center and OTIS. So now I'm stuck on which school would be the best to go to. I'm most likely going to pursue an (Entertainment) Illustration Major/focus. Here are the good AND bad aspects of both schools...</p>
<p>Pasadena Art Center College of Design
+ Prestiege/Highly respected college of Design
+ Has the EXACT major/classes I want (Entertainment Illustration)
+ Liberal Arts classes are art/business oriented
+ Calmer area (Pasadena suburban)
+ Everyone that I know of has said nothing but GOOD stuff about this school and its sucessful graduates
+/- Very competitive (HIGH stress level)
- Average age of incoming freshmen = 23 (I just turned 18, might be hard to make friends)
- VERY expensive
- No dorms/lack of housing services (REALLY bad because I'll have to have an appartment)
- Lack of student organizations/clubs</p>
<p>OTIS College of Art and Design
+ Foundation year (Select my major Sophomore year, it'll give me more time to think and possibly find other new interests)
+ Average age of incoming freshmen = 18 (just around my age, easier to make friends)
+ More laid back
+ Less expensive compared to Art Center
+ More developed abroad programs
+ Decent housing services
+/- Urban area (near Santa Monica/close to the beach in L.A)
+/- Slightly less competitive
- CRAZY traffic (L.A. urban area)
- Less developed gallery
- Not as well known or respected compared to Art Center
- Illustration department NOT as strong as Art Center</p>
<p>I would also consider each school in terms of how theoretical each program is. The best designers have really good backgrounds in theory and it shows in their strong conceptual work. I would say that Otis is weaker in this area (I've been taking night classes there). To me this is a negative, but for a lot of the kids there it is a positive. It depends on whether you want an art-oriented program or an industry-oriented program. I would say that Otis is more focused on being an industry-oriented program.</p>
<p>It definitely is less competitive at Otis than it would be at Art Center, but that's for you to decide whether you want to be pushed by your peers and professors, or whether you want to take it a bit easier. I have greatly enjoyed many aspects of Otis, but I just don't think it's on par with Art Center.</p>
<p>larationalist - Thanks for your input! Have you taken any art classes at Art Center?</p>
<p>The thing my parents worry the most is the pretty intense age gap. I remember visiting Art Center a couple times and I've spoke with some of the students, and they said it was always really easy pointing out the freshmen right out of high school. But I've always kind of thought that coming right out of high school would be an advantage (because once I reach the age where I graduate Art Center, which is around 22~23, my skill level would most likely surpass those who entered Art Center at 23). Then again, these 23 year old freshmen might have really intense skill (which might discourage me if it's thrown into my face all the time). Hmm =/...</p>
<p>Here's some of the artwork I submitted to my Art Center Portfolio (discluding the corn)...</p>
<p>I've not taken classes from Art Center, but a friend from one of my previous Otis courses had tried both, and decided that he would stick with Art Center in the future. And living in LA, I've heard a lot about their reputation.</p>
<p>As to the age thing, you can either figure that you're behind and feel uncomfortable, or figure that you're lucky to be at school with such experienced, mature designers and do your best to learn from them.</p>
<p>If I were in your shoes, I'd choose Art Center. I just think there's a reason why it's always up there with RISD when it comes to the best art schools in the country. </p>
<p>My advice would be to contact people in your program (Illustration?) at OTIS and ACCD. Look for former students of both schools and ask them about their experiences. You'd be surprise at their responses. At least it'll help you "see" all sides of the school (the good and the bad).</p>
<p>Here's one of the quotes from one of the former ACCD students I contacted:</p>
<p>
[quote]
"I loved my time at artcenter, both BFA and MFA experiences were wonderful.</p>
<p>There are a few things about Art Center that you should be aware of:</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Art Center is well known. I have got into many doors just by mentioning the name of the school. The connections it affords are worth it.</p></li>
<li><p>Research and thinking are equal to final product. If you are interested in pushing your thinking, artcenter offers opportunities to push those skills as well as some traditional design skills. They have a new class focusing on this subject for all majors.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>There are also some negative aspects about artcenter which should be considered:</p>
<p>Tuition is through the roof. Loans and scholarships are available, but you should plan on taking out some serious loans.</p>
<p>If you don't take initiative to get what you need from artcenter, opportunities may pass you by. You need to be pro-active on campus to get the most of your experience. Many students complain that artcenter was very regimented and they didn't get much out of it, these same students are the ones that often only do the minimum to get by, they don't push themselves and don't seem to have focus or drive. If you decide to go to artcenter and are willing to put a little effort into it, and take some chances and risks, you will find that it can be very rewarding and give you a great advantage over students from other schools. Although, I am a firm believer that you can get a good education and comparable facilities elsewhere if you are willing to put a lot of effort and initiative into your own education both in and outside of school.</p>
<p>I will also tell you that there are many opportunities for employment and internships in Los Angeles, which is a very good thing."
<p>Yea and I really think future employment should be a vital part of the decision process. (Do you really want to spend thousands just to do art for art's sake?)</p>
<p>With that said, the competition for illustration jobs is very high so you want to be at the top. And as good or bad (whichever way you look at it, it may be) Art Center is more recognizable as a name than Otis.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, I've decided to go to Pasadena Art Center.</p>
<p>I know it'll be difficult (the incoming college freshmen experience is pretty much non exsistent), but I for the long run, I think it's the college that'll benefit me the most. Thanks again!</p>
<p>taskinlude, i think art center is the better choice.</p>
<p>even though i'm an otis student(for fashion design), i don't think otis is worth attending for any other major besides fashion, even though some people would also include toy design and maybe digital media.</p>
<p>Art Center is usually the school, i feel, most students probably got rejected from and ended up otis for. Art Center is just more nationally known as a top design school, and it does have the better name in the LA area as well.</p>
<p>I think you overevaluated some aspects of Otis though, because Otis like art center is some what secluded from the busy traffic-y area, and all liberal art classes like art centers are design/art/major related in some way or another.</p>
<p>But eitherway, like i said before art center is the better choice I think the age difference at art center won't be a huge problem. Unless one dormed at Otis, Otis would start to feel like a commuter school, because alot of the interaction that goes on(social life) occurs in student housing, mainly because alot of the students are freshmen and are going through foundation and taking the same classes as you and having the same homework as you. </p>
<p>And plus, Pasadena is way prettier than Westchester.</p>
