<p>Currently I'm in my senior year of high school & trying to decide what art college to apply to for graphic design. I feel like I've looked at every school possible but don't really know all that much about what schools are good for graphic design. Right now I want to get into publication design after college and hopefully shoot for an art director position. Any suggestions of schools or programs would be really appreciated, I feel totally lost!</p>
<p>If you have good test scores and grades, University of Cincinnati is excellent. They have a 5-year program which includes paid co-op jobs every other term beginning at the end of Soph. year. Which allows you to get real-world connections and experience.
UCincinnati offers some of the nation’s top design programs.</p>
<p>What part of the country do you prefer? How much can you afford? Are you open to University settings such as UC, or are you leaning towards an Art College?</p>
<p>I don’t think I have a good enough GPA to get into a University, around a 3.3 right now. Money isn’t the biggest issue right now, I just want to narrow my choices down and go from there. I am leaning towards the west coast, in particular California. I will definitely check out the University of Cincinnati - have you heard anything about Laguna College of Art and Design?</p>
<p>[School</a> of Art and Design at Alfred University](<a href=“http://art.alfred.edu/divisions_concentrations/expandedmedia.html]School”>http://art.alfred.edu/divisions_concentrations/expandedmedia.html)</p>
<p>[School</a> of Art and Design at Alfred University: Division and Concentrations](<a href=“http://art.alfred.edu/divisions_concentrations/index.html]School”>http://art.alfred.edu/divisions_concentrations/index.html)</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Admissions : Class Profile](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/admissions/class_profile.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/admissions/class_profile.cfm)</p>
<p>Check out School of Art & Design at Alfred University (NY)</p>
<p>In California?</p>
<p>[Graphic</a> Design at Art Center](<a href=“http://www.artcenter.edu/gpk/]Graphic”>http://www.artcenter.edu/gpk/)</p>
<p>Expensive but the best in Ca. (one of the best design programs in the world)</p>
<p>I’ve looked into the Art Center but I heard that it’s really hard to get accepted as a freshmen coming from high school. Most of the people that get accepted are 24+ or so I’ve heard. Is there any truth to that?</p>
<p>If you search on their site, I think you will find that average age of freshman is 22 and while they do take people from HS, you would have to be exceptional.</p>
<p>I think there are more and more freshman right out of high school at ACCD. I am there 2-3 nights a week (taking painting classes). I encounter a lot of students just entering out of HS (actively enrolled), but there are also plenty of potential students in night school polishing their portfolios for admission while they take a few transferable credits at Pasadena CC. Either option is feasible. Contact an admissions counselor. It couldn’t hurt.
My contention is----Graphic art is VERY VERY VERY competitive and you need to be exceptional to succeed. You want to go to the very best school you can. (of course, even with an ACCD degree under your belt, there are no guarantees )</p>
<p>TO CLARIFY: By “admissions counselor” I refer to the ACCD admissions counselors. Not your HS counselor. If you are in So Cal…make an appointment. They can be very helpful.</p>
<p>Okay, I’m also concerned about my portfolio. I became interested in graphic design through web design, which from what I hear people typically start off with painting/drawing as their background. I haven’t really taken art classes to perfect painting or drawing but I do have a lot of graphic design under my belt already. </p>
<p>Newspaper:
I started my sophomore year working as a staff reporter and became interested in laying out pages/design. That year I started laying out color pages for our paper. The next year (junior year) I became editor-in-chief and worked on layout/design more, concentrating on center spreads. This year (senior year) I am still editor and redesigned the entire style of the paper.
Old: [The</a> Lion’s Tale - Volume 50, Issue 2](<a href=“http://issuu.com/thelionstale/docs/edition2final]The”>The Lion's Tale - Volume 50, Issue 2 by The Lion's Tale - Issuu)
New: [The</a> Lion’s Tale - Volume 51, Issue 1<a href=“every%20color%20page,%20many%20b&w%20pages%20as%20well”>/url</a></p>
<p>*Also here is a link to a few layouts I’ve uploaded from last year.
[url=<a href=“http://npd.snd.org/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=2p9lpx2xwej6h]Carson”>http://npd.snd.org/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=2p9lpx2xwej6h]Carson</a> Bailey’s Portfolio Images - NewsPageDesigner at SND.org](<a href=“http://issuu.com/thelionstale/docs/edition1final_20101005_215158]The”>The Lion's Tale - Volume 51, Issue 1 by The Lion's Tale - Issuu)</p>
<p>Literary Magazine:
Last year I re-established a literary magazine at my high school. From the ground up I created the design for the magazine & as well as dealing with the production of the magazine.
[Arts</a> Unleashed - Literary Magazine, Volume 1](<a href=“http://issuu.com/thelionstale/docs/fusepdf]Arts”>http://issuu.com/thelionstale/docs/fusepdf)
Both the literary magazine & newspaper are sent into evaluation services to be judged. We sent both publications to: Florida Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. From all 3 associations we received the highest judging award. </p>
<p>Internship:
This past summer I received an internship from a newspaper in my city, Orlando Weekly, & worked with the production manager & graphic designers to create advertisements that go into their paper. I am completing 180 hours with the newspaper. </p>
<p>Freelance work:
I’ve created brochures for a local gym to advertise summer camp & other programs they have. </p>
<p>Point blank I’m really concerned that my portfolio isn’t what art schools are going to be looking for. I know that I will have to have drawings from direct observations in my portfolio as well but do you think my graphic design work will be enough to carry me into acceptance for college? I’d really appreciate some advice because this is definitely something I want to purse as a career and I need to figure out if getting into college for graphic design is a goal I can reach.</p>
<p>Again, your best bet is to contact an admissions counselor directly. They want to find talented students and will be your best critics.</p>
<p>Have you’ve looked into FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising’s Graphic Design program? I have friends who went to school there and the school has a great reputation in the industry and their programs seem pretty cool. My friends really liked the school and I’ve seen some of the student work from the graphic design program and it’s pretty impressive. They work on CD covers and even movie posters. If you want more info, you should check out FIDM.edu or talk with an advisor who can answer any questions you have. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I agree with tishagreen’s recommendation. I think FIDM’s Graphic Design program is one of the hidden gems of the West Coast. They have an Entertainment option or a Branding option. They also have great industry connections when it comes to the Fashion and Entertainment industry.</p>
<p>I’m surprised no one has mentioned it yet. When you look for a job, especially in the industry you’re going into, employers look mostly at your portfolio. Your grades and the school you came from becomes secondary or won’t even matter to them. </p>
<p>However, I’m not saying you shouldn’t pursue your education. I think going to school gave me the skills I needed to start my career. </p>
<p>I’ll leave you this link and you can judge the program yourself.</p>
<p>[FIDM</a> - Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising](<a href=“http://www.fidmdigitalarts.com/#/home]FIDM”>fidmdigitalartsblog.com)</p>
<p>You have a nice selection of fairly sophisticated graphic design work. Look closely at the portfolio requirements for various schools - not all of them require observational drawing examples. The reason that most do is that you’ll most likely take a core or foundation program your first and part of your second year, before declaring a major. Drawing is a focal point of the foundation program, and you need to be willing to draw. The art colleges don’t expect you to be an expert, and will admit you based on your potential - which you obviously have. If you’d like, I can suggest some schools for you to research.</p>
<p>I checked out FIDM & it look’s like a pretty good school, my only concern is that they only offer an AA for Graphic Design, the only Bachelors degree they have is for business. I feel like I’d be better of getting a BA in Graphic Design. But then again I’m not 100% if that matters. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>@chiaro - I’d love for you to suggest some schools, I need all the suggestions I can get hah.</p>