Prestige Art vs CUNY school..is the debt worth it?

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>I am sure the whole art college is a topic that arises constantly in this field but perhaps I may present an entire different situation. I am in a situation where I can't go to an art college I got accepted into (School of Visual Arts) due to the fact that I can't gain a loan to pay a 33,000 for the whole year and that's with assistance with FAFSA(expensive, I know.)</p>

<p>Now I am left with the choice to find work and pay out of my pocket or just go to CUNY 4 year school and finish up my 2 years(I am a recent graduate with my Associates in Graphic Design/Illustration from a CUNY KBCC) to get my Bachelors in Graphic Design.</p>

<p>My only real concern is ...the debt worth it by going to a more prestige art school? I would be around 80k in debt by the time I graduate, probably more with interest. I just always wanted a full artistic college experience and want to be surrounded with better connections, more competition, professors who are actually up to date with today's artwork and have outside jobs in the field aside from teaching , local/international artists who are more passionate but am I to find the same education I would at a state college? </p>

<p>Seeing how I already been in a CUNY I can tell you, I feel as if I barely learn nothing, barely any foundation is taught, the students don't take their work seriously and have no idea how much reality is going to hit them in the face when they wake up. Most of the things I have learned were mainly self taught for the part being, now I don't mean to make it sound like state colleges are terrible but I want to hear any possible stories from people who were/are in my position, just some feedback. Are there even any notable CUNY's that are a good alternative?</p>

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<p>I can imagine that community college is a whole different ball game from a 4-year college, art oriented or not. No disrespect to you or to community colleges, but literally anyone can get in. Of course not everyone will be putting their all into it. You seem dedicated, however, so props to that.</p>

<p>It is almost depressing how much art school costs. The students who attend have a love of the subject, but at such a price… it makes me cry.</p>

<p>Please, pretty please don’t take out private loans. Not if the total will be $80,000 at graduation. I keep reading how the graphic design market is over-saturated. What if you can’t find a relevant job? Would you be okay working retail? (i.e., would such a job be able to pay the monthly loan rates plus food, rent, bills, etc?) Unless you are planning to live with your parents and save up all your income for a few years (nothing wrong with that, it is practical), the last thing you need is to be $80,000 in debt.</p>

<p>That being said, you seem very devoted to the prospect of being a graphic designer/illustrator. Heck, you actually applied to an art school. That’s more than I did. Lets review the facts. SVA costs $33,000 a year, CUNY costs approximately $7,000 year. One has the art curriculum, while the other is a bit more broad. While SVA may have more prominent connections, you don’t really know who’s at CUNY, do you? I am positive that at one of the schools, there is at least one note worthy artist, if not more. I believe Queens College has a graphic design department. Perhaps you should look into that. </p>

<p>Lastly, I don’t think one can pay for prestige. You need to obtain it through dedication and hard work, both of which you seem to have. If you have a plan on how to deal with $80,000+ in student loans, attend SVA and enjoy the art environment. If you can’t deal with the loans, attend CUNY. Or for a third option, maybe you can take gap year and work a little, seeing as you already have an Associate’s Degree. Whatever you do, please don’t whine or complain. It just gives people more reason to rant on the arts.</p>

<p>Over and out.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the response, yes I agree, it’s hard to compare a community college to a 4 year but usually our professors here graduated from fancy art colleges and know all sorts of artists/departments around NYC, just the word of mouth that goes around.</p>

<p>It is depressing but never would I complain about it and say “oh man I hate how expensive they are or how I feel my life is ruined because I couldn’t go here” I know some young adults do that but I am already 24, my mentality has shifted quite well and I have always been more realistic/mature handling my challenges. I mean living with my parent and younger brother because living in NYC is expensive as it is, it seems like a smart investment for one until I meet a desired partner where we can both finance and support ourselves. But I actually wouldn’t be fond of working in such environments, my only considerable back up would be working in fitness as a personal trainer(I bodybuild on the side so I have a good amount of knowledge in the field)</p>

<p>I actually just checked out FIT, I was under the impression it was a private also but it’s considered a SUNY and it’s only about 2,800 ish per semester which is actually affordable, and its a reputable school for fashion, not so sure for their graphic design program but I mean if it’s an artsy college, it has to have something more than just broad I would imagine perhaps?</p>

<p>Absolutely, I think only rich parents can afford such prestige or even successful youth students (but then that would make me question why they would attend to school to begin hehe) I mean in the end, I am going to be given a piece of paper and the person who makes the artist is myself, but I just don’t want another dull college experience, I am looking for a challenge, be around other competitive and driven passionate students and professors who actually value the future generation. Thanks again for the reply, I hope to hear from feed back from anyone has an input and regardless of my choices, I’ll make it happen, whining won’t get anyone anywhere, only pushing forward will!</p>

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<p>It is worth looking at FIT. </p>

<p>Also, SUNY Purchase has a very strong graphic design program. If the cost of room and board is too much you could commute on Metro North to get there from NYC.</p>

<p>There are ways to do what you want with out crushing debt.</p>

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<p>I just made a comment in another thread that made me think more about your situation.
Being a transfer student would make this harder, but if you have a very strong portfolio you might want to look into RISD. Their financial aid is based purely on need (unlike many of the other “prestige” art schools). It might be worth applying to see what kind of package they offer you. It could end up being comparable to state college tuition. At least it would be worth talking to them to see what their policy on financial aid for transfers is.</p>

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<p>I been seeing the name RISD around, wasn’t it suppose to be an astonishing school for illustrators or something? I’ll look into it but I know I am definitely going to try for F.I.T , maybe Purchase if I can see myself willing to commute for 2 hours on train or if I drive an hour. Because it’s upstate if I am not mistaken. </p>

<p>Been thinking quite on the subject and realized, it’s not worth to be crushed in 80K+ debt with a occupation that doesn’t even come tackle that kind of price, I would be enslaved pretty much heh. As much as I would loved the prestige experience, I think this is a safer option and it’s not like I never can go back and experience it under a different program once I am settled in with finance. Thanks for the input, I feel so much more relieved. I’ll rather struggle in the short run with having to work harder than most than having to deal with 15 years of debt slavery.</p>

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<p>There are advantages to going to community college art programs. For starters, I have found that the teaching ability is generally much greater, as the difficulty of teaching art in a community college is actual quite harder. It’s more difficult, for example, to teach someone who has no drawing experience, how to draw than it is to teach people who already have a strong facility in it. Art school professors are more “critics” than they are educators. </p>

<p>I also find that the former are more readily available if you need to meet with them, in comparison to professors at a very prestigious school.</p>

<p>Furthermore, it is also much cheaper.</p>

<p>The most difficult thing to do is to actually find a really good program, as they can be very hit or miss in terms of quality. But this isnt an especially difficult problem, it just requires soom researching and leg work.</p>

<p>What I truly reccomend is that you spend your first 2 years at a cc then transfer to a reknowned four year program.</p>

<p>You certainly wont be 80k in debt if you do this.</p>

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<p>Timkerdes, I have graduated from a CUNY community college, everything there was a simplicity and I didn’t feel challenged, but I already figured out my options. I am going to apply to FIT and Purchase, both are SUNY’s and shouldn’t put me in debt :)</p>

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<p>One more idea for you:
Cooper Union tuition is free. They accept a limited number of transfer students. The home test is a very important part of the application. Are you looking to apply for the upcoming school year? If so, I think the deadline has passed but you could try for next year.
[Curriculum</a> | Cooper Union](<a href=“http://cooper.edu/art/curriculum]Curriculum”>http://cooper.edu/art/curriculum)</p>

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<p>I would second this reccomendation, but things have been murky at Cooper concerning its tuition scholarship. Its unclear if the scholarship will extend to all four years for the hypothetical class of 2018. There has been no affirmation of this on the administration’s part. One of my professors (part of the tenured faculty) also mentioned off hand that it is unclear if there will even be a scholarship for the class of 2018. Hell, people are even starting to think that Cooper might be absorbed within NYU these days(and I am hesitant to believe that they would maintain the belief in full tuition merit scholarship to all accepted students). Not a lot of things are clear in cooper (scholarship-wise) at the moment.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, this all still amounts to conjecture/hearsay etc…You should apply to this school. However, you should also inquire about Cooper union’s policy on tuition scholarships to the admissions rep you speak to (if you do apply). </p>

<p>Also, there are a lot more transfers here than there would seem to be on paper.</p>

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<p>Graphic Design?
State University of NY, New Paltz.
Not too far away. Do you have to go to a city college?</p>

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<p>Just here to clear up that RISD scholarships are based upon need and merit. And RISD is one of the very best schools for graphic design. I’d highly recommend it. On the other hand, I’d be careful about that 80k. Remember you are going into graphic design and I’ve seen good share of graphic designers that didn’t go to fancy schools, but I wont deny that the art school experience is amazing. My advice would be to apply to as many art schools as possible and check out their offers. If you like one school and it doesn’t give you enough start a bidding war with another reputable school if possible or talk to financial aid. Good luck and no matter how awesome art school is, it isn’t worth huge amounts of financial strain.</p>