Art Programs for Students with Interests in Animation

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>I am trying to compile a list of schools for my younger brother to help him with the college admissions process. </p>

<p>While not the best student, he's always had interests in art. I believe he has a lot of potential, but because he is lazy he does not have much to show as a demonstration of his artistic abilities. He took Art II as a junior, and is skipping Art III to take AP Art as senior in the fall. Being aware of how strenuous the course is, I worry he may just simply give up and drop the course...</p>

<p>He is also a bit of a jock. He started playing football his sophomore year and will be starting on varsity his senior year (further reason for him to be stressed). Although he did talk about quitting at one point... (SO lazy -_-). And, he does not plan on pursuing football further in college... </p>

<p>GPA: ~2.9
SAT: ~1755 (first test, plans to retake - he didn't realize he could leave answers blank... )
high writing scores, decent math scores, low critical reading
will eventually take ACT, I assume</p>

<p>What he says he wants:
Would like to go into animation (something akin to Pixar)
Also interested in graphic design / advertisement as an alternative
Not too concerned with location / setting </p>

<p>What parents want:
Not too crazy about the art school idea... would rather if anything he go to a college/university with an art school/program he can transfer out/leave if he doesn't like it.
Mom would also like him to stay relatively close to home or at least within the state (Ohio)</p>

<p>What I want:
For him to find out what what he REALLY wants.... successfully do whatever it may be, and be happy.</p>

<p>BASICALLY: A school with a strong animation program for students with relatively little experience but deep interest in the field, preferably in the Midwest.</p>

<p>My list thus far:</p>

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<p>***** This list is mainly based on good things I've heard about the school's art department in general... I have not yet found out much about each individual school's animation department. If you have anything to offer in that regard, please do. Also, I'm not entirely sure if these schools are accurately placed (as reach or fit schools based on his GPA/Scores) ... if a school looks incorrectly placed, let me know</p>

2

<p>Just added RIT to the reach list</p>

3

<p>I know it is a wrong thing to say at the moment but I like the idea of football playing artist /animator.
i wish he’d stick with both.
more people who knows about animation would give you better answer ( like Calarts,Ringling etc) but I feel for his parents, and for you, too
I am impressed how through Ohio public schools are. You should use the advantage if you could.
Art wise if DAAP is a stretch, there is CCAD, I spied around quick and animation seems one of the big thing there.
Someone mentioned about CIA ( not that one or the other, it is Cleveland Institute of Art) not animation major per se but they just bumped up digital/tech area in general.
local, cheaper art school could be an acceptable choice for the folks to see if he even like doing it. It’s a good thing he doesn’t mind staying around either from laziness or else.
though if he want to be a bigshot animator, he had to move out eventually.
then again, by the time he’d done schooling, it could be a different world all together - you could be able to work from anywhere - who knows.</p>

4

<p>Animation companies stress the drawing abilities of new hirees. They want to see if you can draw and develop a character. They actally prefer to see the drawing with all the circles and lines UNCLEANEDUP.
The current biggest employer of animators—US Armed forces for training game boards followed by the commercial industry in film, internet advertisers, </p>

<p>Go after right brain educational pursuits —it is the future of the work world. </p>

<p>Add Northern Michigan University just rated in top ten for animation game developers, and they have athletic career directions.</p>

5

<p>My brother is quite the doodler - as in drawer of doodles. This convinces me that he likes art, but hasn’t the patience to spend lots of time on something … So he knows how to handle a pencil - to an extent. </p>

<p>Actually, I think he may be better off really pursuing art in college because art classes in high school can be somewhat stifling… it seems everyone’s imitating their neighbors style. Also there’s more room for the less conventional in college.</p>

<p>Bears and dogs - I also really like the idea of a football player / animator! He may play some intermural football or something, who knows.</p>

<p>Is DAAP really hard to get into? I think I could see him at Cincinnati… and he should be able to get in? I hope.</p>

<p>Oooh, I don’t know if the parents would let my brother go all the way out to California for art school, but maybe Ringling. He’s been talking about that school a lot, lately.</p>

<p>And thanks, TheresaCPA - just added Northern Michigan to the list. Although my brothers a big OSU fan. He may not be able to hand all that yellow and blue in Michigan haha</p>

6

<p>DAAP admission is grade heavy, like 3.3 and up or something? there is this guru named taxguy you can ask anything.
I think it is more pre pro program, not so much fun animation but design, planing etc? I visited and had mixed review but outer state smarty artists often wants to go there badly, if OOS money is manageable (it’s not, in the end often some private school with fanaid came cheaper for OOS, see how lucky you are)</p>

<p>That is interesting, why Florida is OK and CA is too far?
Anyways for Pixar sort, Ringling is a good place to go but oh so expensive and competitive. You got have $ and talent, guts.
Somehow I still love the idea of football playing animator who had no real training yet but utterly truly talented, you never know.
Where in Ohio?
CCAD Columbus has low key workshop/pre college (animation!) cheap starting end of July, just in time!!
It helps to get know what is it artschool really do, by meeting teacher, other wannabe kids, using its facility.
<a href=“http://www.ccad.edu/programs-of-study/continuing-education/creative-summer-workshops/workshops-grades-10-12[/url]”>http://www.ccad.edu/programs-of-study/continuing-education/creative-summer-workshops/workshops-grades-10-12&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you are gong back to school in NY comes fall, invite bro over some time to show schools around? New Paltz is more wholesome Purchase is more art oriented.
You can email faculty you like and they are usually glad to meet the kid and review works in person. It won’t help getting in for SUNY schools because its impersonal application process and sheer number they’d deal with, but good to know where your works stand and meet real people around, not on the web or view book.
Like, New Paltz turned my kid off by seeing so many hair do-s and nail do-s he could not associate with, it is a stupid reason but that’s how kids are…</p>

<p>Second tier art schools often has rolling admission, you could wait until last minutes after state school options are settled, assuming you are full pay -not aiming for merit money that need apply early and throughly.</p>

7

<p>Northern Michigan is different than University of Michigan. It is in Marquette, smaller and their colors are green and yellow.</p>

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<p>Florida is okay because we have family in GA whereas we don’t have much family out west.</p>

<p>Wow those CCAD programs look really great! I showed them to my brother. He was very excited until he remembered he has football practice five days a week. And, we live round abouts Cleveland (suburbs of).</p>

<p>Yeah, I was planning on taking my brother along to visit the two SUNYS when I head back to school. Or maybe around fall break. What were these kinds of hairdos and naildos that turned your son off from SUNY New Paltz? Just curious.</p>

<p>redbug119, It was a joke, hah. Either way, I doubt my brother would let a silly rivalry prevent him from attending/applying to a school he likes…</p>

9

<p>I am not going to give up on football playing artist. What time in the day practice take place? see here, download continue ed booklet, check page 23 and 24. It got be something he could squeeze into</p>

<p>[Non-Degree</a> Programs: Continuing Education - The Cleveland Institute of Art](<a href=“http://www.cia.edu/academicPrograms/nondegree/programs.php?action=ex&department_id=31]Non-Degree”>http://www.cia.edu/academicPrograms/nondegree/programs.php?action=ex&department_id=31)</p>

<p>NP nails and hair, I wrote in somewhere else but the school is big on education, nursing etc and whole students body is not artsy as he liked while we saw dorms, classrooms and ate at cafeteria.
nails you get done bi-weekly or so nail salon visits, you know, shiny thing pasted on and flower or smiley faces painted on each fingers brightly, long and curvy. Hair dos that you need to tease, blow dry, gunk up to keep it in place every morning. All sort of plum-y pink-y colored make up. big metal fixings on flashy pocketbooks.
After seeing Vassar Bard girls in the vicinity, it was hard to believe they are about same age group and species.
It is a job to throw ceramic wheel or play guitar with those nails, which he would like to do with friend/ girlfriend to be.
Once we stuck with music/art area, it was calmer. Just that, they are there in the campus and have all the right to get nails done the way they want.</p>

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<p>PS
where in GA?
SCAD in Savannah and Atlanta is over all good training art school with bit of easy side admission.
not active these days but there is another guru named rainingagain could forever tell you all about SCAD, search in this forum.</p>

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<p>Temple isn’t a match with his GPA and SATs, fyi.</p>

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<p>Yeah, figured that was a joke :-). But somewhere on here is a thread that addresses the silliest reasons you turned down/refused to go to a particular school. It is actually pretty amusing if you can find it. If you’re looking in Florida, pm me for names of schools to stay away from.</p>

13

<p>Let me elaborate on DAAP.</p>

<p>The design programs, digital, graphics, architecture, interior design and industial design are VERY hard to get into. Your brother wouldn’t have a chance with these programs because they are VERY competive. Most kids in these programs have a 3.5+ and decent SATs</p>

<p>They fine art program isn’t that hard to get into. However, I would NOT advse your brother to go to DAAP for animaiton. It isn’t that good for fine art.</p>

<p>Instead, I would recommend Pratt institute and Leguna College of Art and Design.</p>

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<p>yay taxguy! the guru!!
He only means well, no offense, never, to anyone.
well, since you listed U Cin as his fit, if he is not dead set on animation, there is a way?
It is a gorgeous football field they got…</p>

15

<p>OSU may be a reach but it would seem to meet so many of the OP sibling’s needs. Good multimedia program …go to their website to see the animations…ACCAD</p>

<p>[the</a> Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design](<a href=“http://accad.osu.edu/]the”>http://accad.osu.edu/)</p>

<p>My S did get in, did get scholarship, HATED the whole gung-ho football atmosphere when we went to local OSU alumni sponsored events. He refused to seriously consider OSU (sigh).</p>

<p>OPs brother can obviously deal with football as king so he should do his very best to try to attend OSU. However, OSU is going to be a real reach based on scores and grades so he needs to try and improve his chances. VISIT OSU and ACCAD and see if he can attend some art classes and talk to instructors. </p>

<p>Backups for OSU have been suggested but if out of state is an option he should look at Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU has much lower academic standards than OSU for admission but does require a portfolio review for art students. they are desperate to increase their OOS student population. VCU offers the opportunity to do animation as a minor in a traditional art school but lots of opportunity to take courses outside of art while at the university. While academic admissions standards are lower, my son has lots of friends attending and they say the academic classes are actually pretty decent and the art classes are among the best in the nation. OOS tuition isn’t too bad and a lot lower than a private art school. There is no football team although there are intramural clubs. The arts are king at VCU mixed with a healthy attitude toward a decent basketball team.</p>

16

<p>This is what I got today in their recruit mail.
Kansas city art institute is well regarded down to earth, very nurturing, smallish undergraduate only art school in Kansas city MO. I visited and liked alot, but wasn’t so sure about the city, thou your bro has different upbringing and expectations, he could be totally happy.
I suppose this school is rather popular, should apply early.</p>

<ul>
<li>If you become a student and select animation as your major, you will take sequential classes that emphasize the creative process by combining aspects of animation principles, concept modeling, production methods, history, theory and technique. You will develop the essential skills necessary to identify and solve problems in physical, virtual, cognitive and cultural contexts. You will learn Bonix iStopmotion, Adobe Photoshop/AfterFX and Autodesk Maya.
*
The animation department features technologically integrated classrooms and studios. You will work in a wired and wireless environment designed to facilitate creativity and interdisciplinary approaches to image-making. The studios include a dedicated computer lab and render farm running state of the industry software applications, light-box work stations, down shooting systems and laptop stations for testing and digitizing.
*
Last summer, one of our animation seniors did an internship at Titmouse, Inc. in Hollywood. Recent graduates work for a number of local and regional animation production houses as well as firms involved in the production of national programs, such as the Cartoon Network’s Emmy Award-winning “Robot Chicken,” or with animation icons such as Bill Plympton. In addition, graduates have gone on to pursue graduate education at The California Institute of the Arts.
*
To see recent stills by our animation students visit <a href=“http://www.kcai.edu/galleries/digital-gallery[/url]”>www.kcai.edu/galleries/digital-gallery</a>.</li>
</ul>

<p>Please also visit <a href=“http://www.youtube.com/kcaianimation[/url]”>www.youtube.com/kcaianimation</a> to view past and present student animations reels.
*
If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email at <a href=“mailto:admiss@kcai.edu”>admiss@kcai.edu</a>.</p>

17

<p>Hey! Sorry I’ve been MIA. I’ve been really busy with class and whatnot</p>

<p>Thank you so much for all the suggestions and everything! I’ve finally finished compiling a list of schools for my brother…</p>

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<p>He seems pretty pleased with the list, but I’m not sure he’s actually going to apply to these schools. At least not all of the matches. He decided he would prefer to go out of state rather than stay in Ohio.</p>

<p>He’s been using my old SAT book to prepare for the retake in September. Then he’ll take the ACT sometime around then, as well. He’s also been making little animation cartoons or something with some Windows program… Nothing too complex, but anything extra helps right?</p>

<p>bearsanddogs: He actually heard about the CIA programs a couple months ago, like mid May. But he wasn’t able to do it partly because of football but mostly because my parents weren’t able to pay for the classes at the time.</p>

<p>So how does this list look? Is it in the realm of possibility? Anything special I should know about these schools I might not already know? Do you think my brother would be a good fit at these schools, based on the little information you know about him?</p>

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<p>woot woot !!!
It is a lovely list. I am sure he’d go thru edits after dig in deeper, visit, test result cap, COA, etc but I AM excited.
I wish it were me and my kid weren’t quite burnt out about whole college thing (long story)
I have seen once lazy (my) kid puts its mind to it, and somehow grasps this “momento” thing, miracle could happen. Then everything sort of snowball from there. You’d be amazed how much the kid could accomplish you’ve never even know before.
Let’s hope that is your case.
thou hard part is keeping that momentos, it goes out as fast as it came…</p>

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<p>PS
try to get to one of these if he can. Is there games on Saturdays, Sundays?
<a href=“http://www.portfolioday.net/content/view/104/53/[/url]”>http://www.portfolioday.net/content/view/104/53/&lt;/a&gt;
Ringling has usually long lines but smaller schools are not so bad. They’d tell your bro if he is an unpolished diamond ( and will be flooded with recruit e-mails)
Cincinnati site, Art Academy of Cincinnati is this small school in downtown, I just passed walking by it, looked low key, could be half for-profit? ( do you know, taxguy?)
wherever you go, you’d be seeing reps from all other schools. The host school usually has more reviewers on the table or got own room.
Big name schools sometimes skip small towns ( check host school’s NPD link before you go, to make sure schools you want are coming) or throw in suspicious reviewers ( barely -working-practicing artist geezer alm) so if he’d get weird or negative review, do not take it personal.
Idea is to get some feedback.
There are many old thread about NPD in this forum if you look up.</p>

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<p>Art academy seems good,but I know little about it except that they specialize in fine art offerings such as painting, portraits, drawing etc.</p>

<p>If you are interested in animation, I would consider schools like RIT, Syracuse, Ringling, Calarts, SVA, Pratt institute, SCAD, and if you had a great portfolio, RISD. One possible school that I have some missgivings recommending because of their for profit status, is AAU in San Franscisco. However, on paper, they do seem to have a good program.</p>

<p>As for Temple, we did check out the Tyler School four years ago. They were mainly into fine art and NOT animation. However, a college can change a lot in four years. </p>

<p>I don’t know enough about Kansas City Art to comment on them.</p>