<p>I'm at my wits end! I decided that Photography was the life for me while attending Boston University. I quickly figured out that that is noott the place to do photo. So, I left and am now attending Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA and have been for 6 months. The problem is: I'm miserable! The unfriendly students and school make the 7 week cram session classes even more unbearable. I'd really like to stay on the West coast and go to a "real" college. Can someone please enlighten me on where would be a good idea? Any and all info would help.</p>
<p>I visited San Francisco Art Institute with my daughter last year. They appear to have very good photography facilities and cater to older transfer students (which is why my daughter decided not to apply as a freshman). Their webiste is at <a href="http://www.sfai.edu.com%5B/url%5D">www.sfai.edu.com</a> and is not to be confused with Art Institute of San Francisco.</p>
<p>"I'm at my wits end! I decided that Photography was the life for me while attending Boston University. I quickly figured out that that is noott the place to do photo. So, I left and am now attending Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA and have been for 6 months. The problem is: I'm miserable! The unfriendly students and school make the 7 week cram session classes even more unbearable. I'd really like to stay on the West coast and go to a "real" college. Can someone please enlighten me on where would be a good idea? Any and all info would help."</p>
<p>I've heard that Brooks put more emphasis on commercial (as opposed to fine art) and technical stuff. </p>
<p>What kind of school and photo program are you looking for? Are you looking for an art school or a university? If you're looking at art schools, you might want to check out Otis, Calarts, and Art Center College of Design (LA area), or CCA and SFAI (as Unsoccermom suggested) in the Bay Area.</p>
<p>I'm not limiting my search to Art School or University- either are possibilities. As far as photo goes, I haven't narrowed my field yet. I love it all! I did look at Academy of Art College in SF before going to Brooks- but I'll look into SFAI. Are there any CA universities with good photo programs?</p>
<p>You might want to think about deciding what field in photography you wish to pursue. Photography programs at many unviersities are in the studio art department, which, for example, might not necessarily be what you're looking for if you wanted to become a photojournalist.</p>
<p>Do normal universities / LACs (ie not art / photo schools) have good photography classes?</p>
<p>RIT has a School of Photography and photojournalism is just one of the majors available. My daughter is interested in their advertising photography program as well as a brand new major that combines graphic design and adv. photography (I think it's called visual media but I'm not sure about that).</p>
<p>My daughter did a photoshoot for a teen magazine today and asked the photographers/staff for advice about schools. Quite an assortment of backgrounds- including RISD and FIT. People were doing jobs different from the schooling they received. My daughter was happy that they had good things to say about RIT. Several staffers suggested doing an internship over the summer to see if this is what she really wants to do.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the UCs?</p>
<p>For what it's worth, (If I remember correctly) US News rankings for graduate programs in Photography are:</p>
<ol>
<li>SAIC (School of Art Institute on Chicago)</li>
<li>RISD</li>
<li>RIT</li>
</ol>
<p>As far as I can tell, the UC's don't have much going for them in photography. UCLA doens't even offer it as a major. CalStateUniversity Long Beach has a program, but I don't know how good it is. Does anyone? Right now, I'm thinking about finishing my 1st year at Brooks and having a solid technical knowledge and then finishing at CalArts in LA. I'm also visiting a friend at Pratt soon, so I will see how I feel about that.
Comments? Concerns?</p>
<p>My D has been bit by the photo-bug [pun intended] and is interested in either being a photo-journalist or an artistic photographer. She wants a medium sized [10K-25K students], "real campus-looking" school preferably in the midwest or the rocky mountains. I know she doesn't ask much-LOL!</p>
<p>Suggestions anyone???</p>
<p>Both Pratt and SVA claim to be the largest free-standing art school at around 3,000 students each. In order, to attend a school with a larger student body your daughter would have to go to an art school within a university. Many will have concentrations, but not necessarily majors in photography. I know of several on the east coast that might fit the bill including, RIT, Tyler School of Art, Syracuse, and Alfred. One in the midwest with an excellent reputation is Washington University of St. Louis (6k). University of Michigan and Ohio State University also have art schools. LOL, 10k-25k sounds like a large school to me.</p>
<p>Do you know anything about Tyler? Would love to hear.</p>
<p>I am sorry. I don't have any personal knowledge about Tyler. My daughter had done a summer program in Philadelphia for dance and was adamant that she would not consider schools in Philly (no offense).</p>
<p>Thanks.<br>
"... In order, to attend a school with a larger student body your daughter would have to go to an art school within a university. Many will have concentrations, but not necessarily majors in photography."</p>
<p>In the research I have done for her, I have definitely found this to be the case. Fortunately we know [very casually] several photographers who are artists, I think I will do some surveying of them and see what education paths they took. If you are all interested, I will share what I find here.</p>
<p>Also, I am not that savy, please clarify the following: SVA and RIT. Thank you!</p>
<p>SVA is the School of Visual Arts, NYC and RIT is Rochester Institute of Technology. BTW, an art school within a university will likely be quite a bit smaller than a freestanding art school. Most seem to be under 400.</p>
<p>I looked in some of my RIT literature (may be last yr's) and it says there are 2,230 undergrads (350 grads) in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. Included in IAAS are the School of Art, School of Design, School for Am. Crafts, School of Film & Animation, School of Photograp;hic Arts & Sciences, and School of Print Media. This college within the university is bigger than many LACs. Can't say how many in Photographic Arts but I assume it's a big group since photography is a popular major. BTW, these are BFA programs.</p>
<p>Was at an open house for accepted students at RIT last week. This is the breakdown for the School of Design.
685 students
282 Graphic Design
161 New Media Design
161 Industrial Design
81 Interior Design
Portfolio Acceptance Rate was about 40%.
Retention rate for School of Design is 95%.
Freshman in the School of Design take 6 classes a qtr freshman yr. 3 are studio courses, 1 computer course (design software), a design-related course, and a Liberal arts class (Writing/lit 1st & 2nd qtr and History 3rd qtr). Definitely heavy in art.
Sophmore yr, students take 3 art history classes in addition to studio classes and studio electives.</p>