<p>My sister is getting ready to go to college next year and she wants to study interior design. Since I am already in college I gave her the bits and pieces of advice I learned during my first year. The school she wants to go to is called The Art Institute of Atlanta because they accept "virtually anyone" who can fill out an application. Although the representatives sound great on the phone, there are a few red flags that worry me. </p>
<p>The first is there are no SAT, ACT or GPA requirements nor do they look at extra-curricular or the rigors of the student's classes in high school. Second, the tuition at this school is DOUBLE what I pay to attend a 3rd tier public university! The only financial aid they managed to tell us about was the Pell, Stafford, Perkins and Sallie Mae - which are all loans except for the Pell grant. They do not have a work study program and the tuition per credit is $450 which is WAY too high because I pay about $250 a credit at my school plus, I qualify for a state scholarship that pays ALL of my tuition and some of the mandatory fees. Finally, some people have told me they had trouble transferring their credits to "real" colleges (e.g. technical colleges, private non-profit schools and public universities).</p>
<p>Has anyone had any experience with for-profit schools like the Art Institute or the University of Phoenix? These for-profit schools do not seem very reputable to me.</p>
<p>I’ve heard okay things about the Art Institute, but I’d definitely check to see if they are accredited(credits will transfer) and at the cost. If the tuition is the same as going to a private university then I would definitely tell your sister to look at any public universities that offer Interior Design or a school like SCAD, which is very reputable.</p>
<p>Van: I do not understand your post. Are you trying to tell me that my sister should choose something that “makes more money” instead of interior design?</p>
<p>I just read an article about for-profit schools; I think it may have actually be linked in a post in this college life forum.</p>
<p>Basically, I’d avoid them like the plague.</p>
<p>It seems like they just feed you lies. The main problems are potentially 1. the instructors aren’t qualified nor teach you adequate skills. 2. The tuition is outrageously high!</p>
<p>Why doesn’t she try to get into a state public school (where there is usually reduced tuition?). Many of the large flagship schools have programs in pretty much everything; she’ll probably get a lot better training and mentoring advice if she can manage to get in. I don’t know.</p>
<p>I have a few friends from high school who went to the Art Institute in Charlotte, NC and love it. The accreditation varies from campus to campus there, as well as their design specialties. I can’t speak to Atlanta, but the one in Charlotte sounds alright. I also have a few friends who attend SCAD and think it is the most awesome thing ever…one of them is actually there for interior design. So, that’s something she should consider as well.</p>
<p>Making a rough judgment from the OPs post, it appears that his sister LIKES the fact that the school basically doesn’t evaluate its applicants beyond a pulse. So it seems she’d be uninterested in, imo, an “honest” school like a public u. Since she doesn’t seem too drawn to academics she might be ok but know that she is giving up gobs of money to a very unsteady/uncertain future. Aside from the riskiness of interior design alone (or any “art” degree, where secure,consistent careers are hard to come by and typically only for the most talented), even upon graduating her credentials will be looked at skeptically because face it theyrr truly letting anyone walk through the door. Id say go to community college (cheap) take some design related classes with others that will certainly transfer. Good luck.</p>
<p>no offense but interior design has always seemed kinda like a joke to me because its always kinda prissy, barbie like girls that love shopping who wanna do it. although interior designers are expensive, i dont how much money they end up making overall though. all the interior designers i know are wealthy housewives who dont really do it full time, and they do it more to keep busy and because they like decorating. you prob dont need to go to a really expensive, sketch college to be able to do it anyways</p>
<p>Van: My original question was not whether or not interior design is a good major; instead, I asked whether or not my sister should attend the Art Institute. Please keep your negative thoughts about my sister’s major to yourself. If you want to be a doctor or engineer who works 60 hours a week so you can drive your BMW to never have time with your family then so be it. As for my sister, she has already made up her mind about what she wants to do in life and its not changing anytime soon.</p>
<p>Yeah, ignore the stupid comments about her major. It’s fueled by typical CC nerdism.</p>
<p>Anyway, I strongly suggest she look at state colleges instead of for-profit schools. For-profit schools are not reputable, and aside from many colleges not accepting credits from a for-profit or recognizing a degree from one (should she wish to transfer later or pursue a masters) a lot of employers will not recognize a degree from one either. </p>
<p>Also, she’d be competing against other grads for a job position–she’ll be at a pretty decent disadvantage if her competitors graduated from reputable colleges. </p>
<p>I would really encourage her not to attend those schools. She’s taking a huge risk of paying double the tuition and receiving absolutely nothing in return.</p>
<p>I’d avoid for-profit schools as much as possible. Their graduates tend to rack up enormous debt and oftne aren’t qualified enough (although interior design may be a little different). Their purpose isn’t educating you - it’s making a profit.</p>
<p>And most students who go to for-profit schools are there only for the degree, which is practically useless for employment anyway. They tend to be students with extremely rich parents who would be embarrassed if their child couldn’t get a degree. Hence, buy one.</p>
<p>There are infinite number of ways to get a decent education. This isn’t one of them.</p>