<p>Hi, I'm a senior in high school in high school right now, I haven't taken any art courses in high school, the only ones similar are Computer Graphic Design and Photography 1. I have suddenly decided to major in graphic design, because I am very passionate about it and don't want to spend my future doing a job I hate. My question is this: Since I don't have any time left in high school to complete a portfolio, I am thinking of going to one the colleges I applied to previously, taking art courses there and build up a portfolio, and then transferring to a art school, such as Pratt. Do you think this is a feasible plan? What should I do to prepare? And what are some schools that have a good graphic design/visual communication program?
Thanks a lot, your help is appreciated.</p>
<p>EDIT: Do any of these schools have good art programs that might help me transfer to a top design school?(This is a list of schools I applied to but havent heard from yet.)
UCLA
UC San Diego
UC Berkeley
UC Santa Barbara
U Texas Austin
U Colorado Boulder
U Maryland College Park
U Minnesota Twin Cities
U Oregon
U Washington Seattle
U Wisconsin Madison</p>
<p>the plan is feasible.</p>
<p>Thanks.
What are some 1st and 2nd tier design schools?</p>
<p>Pshzzz, some of the top design schools that we looked at for graphic design are:</p>
<ol>
<li>RISD</li>
<li>University of Cincinnati</li>
<li>RIT</li>
<li>Syracuse University</li>
<li>Wash U St. Louis</li>
<li>Pratt Institute</li>
<li>MICA</li>
</ol>
<p>There are more, but this should get you started.</p>
<p>Also, there are some relatively new programs that combine graphic design with Digital Media. Check out RIT and University of Cincinnati. Pratt Institute and MICA have good interdisciplinary programs in this too.</p>
<p>Taxguy is reticent to mention the Savannah College of Art and Design. But...since he's never visited the college, taken a tour, visited the departments, spoken with the faculty, etc....I guess we can forgive him. I forgive you Taxguy.</p>
<p>RainingAgain,
Please stop your continual sniping at TaxGuy; your sarcasm and other pointed comments are getting rather tiresome. TaxGuy was trying to give the OP some useful information with a list of the schools that he and his daughter had looked into. No, they didn’t visit SCAD so it wasn’t on his list. (Btw, he did indicate that it was not a definitive list and that there were other schools available.) You are just much too defensive about SCAD. There is no law that says SCAD has to be on everyone’s list.</p>
<p>Thanks Taxguy, your list is pretty useful.
RainingAgain, thanks for your mention of SCAD. Do you work there?
So, I might be going to Pratt's Pre College Program, because I really want to get a taste of what it would be like studying design. Any suggestions or advice people?</p>
<p>Have you done any kind of design work during the last few months? You can put that in your potfolio. I know all my design work came during my junior & senior year. It's never too late, like you said, you could always transfer to a better art school later on. Take a lot of liberal art courses in college because the probability of it transferring to the art schools is higher than studio classes (though it's still good to take art courses to build up your portfolio). </p>
<p>I'm senior as well going into graphic design. </p>
<p>Here's the schools I considered (I ended up applying to RISD, ACCD, Parsons and CCA):</p>
<p>Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Art Center College of Design (ACCD)
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
Parsons School of Design (Parsons)
California College of the Arts (CCA)
Pratt Institute (Pratt)
Otis College of Art and Design (Otis)
Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD)
UCLA Design l Media Arts (UCLA D l MA)
Massachusetts College of Art (MassArt)
Ringling School of Art and Design (Ringling)
School of Visual Arts (SVA)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)</p>
<p>Yeah. I looked at a lot of schools. </p>
<p>I guess my best advice too would be to go to National Portfolio Days. It's a great way to meet representatives from these respective schools. As well, you get to sense how you and your portfolio stand in terms of your "competition." They'll tell you what to improve on and well... it'll generally give you a direction for your portfolio and what you have to put in it.</p>
<p>Well I have done some designs in the past few months, however, I believe it would take me some hard work this summer and next year to get into a really good design school. Your list was pretty helpful.</p>
<p>What is the difference between liberal and studio art courses?? Im lost here.</p>
<p>Yeah I'll look one of those up and be sure to attend one once I get a decent portfolio.</p>
<p>This is great info on this thread. I'm on this site gathering info for my daughter who is a senior interested in musical theater, and I popped here to visit a world I'm more familar with. The information here is so sound it gives me confidence for the unknown world I'm researching. I liked art in high school, wasn't much of a student, went to San Diego State, took art, graphics, and crafts classes along with my general ed classes. I put a portfolio together, transfered to Art Center in Pasadena and graduated as an art director in advertising. When our older daughter wanted to go into art I reccomended she go somewhere that did't just have studio art (mostly fine art, drawing and painting)but that had some commercial art so she could support herself. Also we reccomended she choose a school where she could have a good college experience. Schools like Art Center, RISDI, Pratt, are great, but you miss the liberal arts experience and the typical college experience by going right into an art school. So for pshzzz, go to one of the schools you applied to. Take your general ed courses, and as many drawing and design classes that you can, keep a sketch book and draw, draw, draw. Then if they don't have the major you want transfer.</p>
<p>RainingAgain,
Please stop your continual sniping at TaxGuy; your sarcasm and other pointed comments are getting rather tiresome. TaxGuy was trying to give the OP some useful information with a list of the schools that he and his daughter had looked into.</p>
<p>He didn't tell the poster that these were the schools that he and his daughter looked at, did he?</p>
<p>If he did, he would not receive a smack on the wrist, and I simply would have added SCAD. I have provided significant evidence to TG to demonstrate that the GD program is excellent. I'm not telling anyone it is the best, but that it is worthy of consideration. Yet TG continues to turn his nose in the air. Why? He's seems to love being perceived as The Authority. He was all over every message board possible for two years and bad-mouthed SCAD at each possible opportunity, and you want me to not comment? Sorry, no can do, especially since the primary point he championed is of negligible concern or interest, but he blew it all out of proportion.</p>
<p>No to the other poster, I worked for admissions while I attended. It helped to pay my way. I have my own business in Savannah, and I remain close with some profs and engage them in social activities around town on occasion.</p>
<p>Rainingagain notes, "
He didn't tell the poster that these were the schools that he and his daughter looked at, did he?</p>
<p>Response: Yes, I did RainingAgain, The very first line of my post notes, and I quote,"Pshzzz, some of the top design schools that we looked at for graphic design are"</p>
<p>Yes, I never checked out SCAD; thus, I didn't comment on SCAD.Frankly, I don't mind folks taking pot shots at me for things that I say,but taking pot shots at me for things that I DON"T SAY is a bit much.</p>
<p>Hey, I appreciate all of your help, but chill out guys.</p>
<p>Ah yes...you did. Okay. Fair enough.</p>
<p>I would encourage folks to consider SCAD, but the key here is that not every school is right for every kid. My daughter wants to go into GD, and we traveled all over the Northeast looking at schools. She hated many that I thought might be great; loved others that I thought were sketchy. She settled on SCAD as her first choice and we MADE her do a pre-college program week to see if she liked the environment - the south is not New England. Ultimately, she thrived in Savannah and will be there in the fall 2007 for her freshman year. She also applied to Syracuse, Tyler (Temple), Drexel, University of Hartford School of Art, Quinnipiac, RISD, RIT, Pratt and Southern Florida. So far she's been accepted everywhere, but she's committed to SCAD. Right now the argument is trying to get her to withdraw her apps so other kids might have a chance... she seems committed to collecting acceptances for sport. </p>
<p>When you explore schools, your child has to feel like there's a fit. Some want small programs, others larger ones. A big school might have a small GD program. Also, the required undamental courses might be an obstacle for some kids (heavy drawing, math, english comp, etc). Forget what you think or want. If the goal is to have a happy, adjusted college student, she/he has to make the choice, right or wrong. They may make a bad choice and transfer, but its their choice - all you can do is help to provide some guidance and if you're lucky, they will put your thoughts in the mix.</p>
<p>You also should understand the tole of a portfolio in the admissions process. Some colleges place heavy reliance on the portfolio and in particular, fundamental elements such as drawing, even though your child might be GD oriented. Others use the portfolio as an additional (optional) element of the admissions process - a piece of the puzzle.</p>
<p>Finally, TaxGuy is a valued contributor to the Forum. The comments are almost always thoughtful and perceptive. No one here appreciates flamers.</p>