My daughter wants to be a graphic designer. She has a low GPA due to some medical issues and she is not a good test taker so her SAT scores are pretty low.
She is really interested in Art College. Her #1 choice is Columbia College Chicago, however, it is very expensive and out of our budget without aid. She won’t get any need based aid. We don’t have many community college options in our state. In suggestions for good art schools or even universities with good art programs that don’t cost $40k per year?
As a returning student majoring in studio art, I’d have her look at your local directional university. I’ve found that the art department in my uni is small, dedicated, and talented. I am beyond impressed with my experience so far, and I went to an “elite” art school when I was a true freshman many moons ago.
The one difference I’ve seen so far (I’ve been back in school for a year) is that the quality of the students in terms of art ability is not nearly as high. This does not bother me at all, since I’m not super concerned with how other people are doing, and the professors teaching me are very qualified and usually thrilled to have someone who works hard and is committed to producing good art.
Columbia College Chicago doesn’t have much money available for financial aid, so you need to be prepared to cross that one right off her list. Happykid loved it (theater tech/design), but the numbers were truly unaffordable.
Many local state colleges will offer a major in graphic design. I worked in the in-house advertising department of a major corporation. All 9 of its graphic artists got their degree locally. What got them jobs were their experience (internships) and the quality of their portfolios. Neither requires a fancy art school – or any arts school. A degree from the local community college + 4 year state school (plus of course some internships and that all-important portfolio) sufficed.
Another vote for looking hard at your community colleges and directional universities. A few years ago I took some photograhy and photoshop classes at our local community college (as an adult with a BA in another subject from a research university). The quality of the instructors was very very good. My photoshop professor was very experienced in photography and illustration as a professional, had published in many, many well known magazines, and was an excellent, approachable teacher. He was very knowledgable on the business/professional side of things as well. Another instructor I had ran a gallery and was a professor at the state flagship as well as the community college. She was a great teacher too. This kind of environment could be a great and affordable starting place for your daughter.
Unfortunately our state doesn’t have a community college per say, they have a technical university that credits transfer to one local 4 year school, but she is not interested in that school. She wants to live in a big city and seems to think that she has to go to art school in a big school to be taken seriously. We keep telling her this isn’t true… but since we are Mom & Dad of course we don’t know anything!
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school. She wants to live in a big city and seems to think that she has to go to art school in a big school to be taken seriously. We keep telling her this isn’t true… but since we are Mom & Dad of course we don’t know anything!
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Hmmm…but does she expect her “know-nothing” parents to pay for the school of her choice? If so, then simply tell her how much you’ll spend and leave it up to her smarty-self to find a school that will work.
Is this a younger daughter or the one who was considering a summer program at Ivy Tech? I’m not familiar with IN schools, but it seems illogical for any state system to make credits transferable to only one other school. I’d confirm that policy.
I think the first thing you need to do is give her a clear budget. If you can’t afford to pay for her to attend a large school in a big city, why are you discussing it? Just say no.
How much can you afford per year? If you tell us that and your daughter’s stats, we can probably suggest some options. Pick a financial safety or two first so she has some choices in the spring.
Can you tell us your EFC, what her weighted and unweighted GPA are, what her strongest subjects are, and what your budget is?
(Your description of community colleges make it indeed sound like you’re in Indiana.)
I know some students that have recently completed graphic design, found the job market difficult. One is abroad getting ‘extra’ skills, IDK - the field is going to be very challenging IMHO.
See what various graphic design degrees have for first two years, and see if DD can attend a lower cost school. Perhaps in the mean time, get additional insight into careers and maybe during first few years DD will have other interests.