Review of SCAD by parent

<p>Raining,</p>

<p>I think you're right about that. SCAD experienced growing pains, as would any school that literally started from scratch. Any prospective student or parent that sees the soap opera that accompanied SCAD's early years needs to be aware that this happened in the early 1990s. </p>

<p>I'll just say this again: SCAD enabled my son to have a career. We got exactly what we hoped and wanted out of it. I can't speak for all professions, but in the computer art and gaming industry, the school has a solid reputation. I'm not particularly concerned that there may be accreditating bodies who don't agree with certain SCAD policies. </p>

<p>Trust me on this, too -- your child will love living in Savannah. And you'll love visiting him or her there.</p>

<p>I am a bit late to this thread, but accreditation is not the be all and end all. Harvard Business School is not accredited. Neither is Yale's Business School. That doesn't mean they are bad, it means that they have an academic approach that does not fit the guidelines of the accrediting body.</p>

<p>I HATE when people throw Yale and Harvard around. Why would Yale or Harvard business schools be AICAD accredited ?</p>

<p>Artschoolmom I agree. Art program accreditation by NASAD is designed to ensure certain quality among programs and certain minimum standards. </p>

<p>When EhNonymous cites the lack of accreditation for Harvard and Yale business, he/she is in error. Business schools have a similar organization that accredits and ensures minumum standards. It is
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). BOTH Harvard and Yale are accredited by the AACSB.</p>

<p>Also, SCAD isn't as well known as either Harvard or Yale. Thus, having the NASAD accreditation would be even more important.</p>

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<p>Sorry if you all were offended by the mention of Yale or Harvard. I am not a fan of either. I brought them up in context of the accreditation issue. Taxguy - many schools are members of AACSB, but you won't find them listed as an accredited institution. This is primarily because AACSB requires a comprehensive, thesis-like work or course as a culmination of an MBA program and for many case-driven programs, that does not fit their academic approach.</p>

<p>As for AICAD, it is a consortium of 32 schools that have combined to establish minimum standards of their choosing. I am not nearly fluent enough in the issue to speak authoratitively, but as in my business school example, sometimes its not the accreditation that counts, but the educational/skill outcome that ultimately matters. Having accreditation does not guarantee a good education or outcome, but it says you attended a school that jumped through the hoops to get the label. In short, accreditation gives a parent, student and prospective employer the comfort that the school followed an accepted paradigm, but nothing more.</p>

<p>Actually, I would consider the mobility program of AICAD something more. I think the opportunity to study at one of the 35 member institutions is an important option for some students.</p>

<p>I wonder how many designers go to sleep at night thinking "Thank God I go to one of the 35 AICAD Certified Schools"?</p>

<p>Let's be real here. This is all about comforting parents, and doesn't mean diddly to students, nor apparently to their employers, if one is to believe US News and World Report that Hollywood has SCAD on speed dial.</p>

<p>This entire conversation about accreditation has gone from marginally interesting to absurd.</p>

<p>DGB notes, "Let's be real here. This is all about comforting parents"</p>

<p>Response: You are partially correct. Parents and students want to be able to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of a school for our kids. Accreditation does at least provide some standard, just as an SAT does provide a standard for colleges. Both may be flawed,but they do provide a standard of comparison.</p>

<p>I see nothing wrong with a school that wants to comply with the minimum standards of quality by being NASAD accredited. </p>

<p>Does accreditation mean that the school is necessarily better than one that isn't accredited, maybe not? However, it does give at least something to base decisions on. </p>

<p>Also being able to take courses and to study at one of the other member institutions is an additional benefit too. </p>

<p>Note: I am not saying that SCAD's lack of accreditation makes them a bad school or employers won't recruit from there. All I am saying is that if a school isn't NASAD accredited or AICAD accredited, it warrants a lot of further investigation.</p>

<p>//Note: I am not saying that SCAD's lack of accreditation makes them a bad school or employers won't recruit from there. All I am saying is that if a school isn't NASAD accredited or AICAD accredited, it warrants a lot of further investigation.//</p>

<p>Call me paranoid if you may, but TG, do you see how your language might give people the wrong impression? Your language infers that SCAD is not accredited. It is, by SACS. SACS ensures that the college meets the highest academic standards. While these standards are not specific to art, they are specific to education. I simply must step in and comment when the information misinforms.</p>

<p>Also, you cannot say specifically that NASAD and SACS accreditation offer a standard of comparison if you do not know how the qualifications of each compare themselves. Have you researched what SACS standards are in comparison to NASAD? </p>

<p>Yes, parents should ask the questions you ask, but I do think you exaggerate the importance of NASAD accreditation. SCAD students are taught by highly qualified faculty who have terminal degrees in their fields from significant colleges and universities - most of which are likely to be NASAD accredited even SCAD graduates have achieved significant measures of success in their fields as well. Do you think a single employer said, "sorry, because your degree is from a college with SACS accreditation instead of NASAD, I will not hire you." to a SCAD grad? I find it highly highly unlikely.It's all about the portfolio, as well as a professional demeanor and presentation.</p>

<p>//Also, SCAD isn't as well known as either Harvard or Yale. Thus, having the NASAD accreditation would be even more important.// TG</p>

<p>Why? The college is growing at a phenominal rate.</p>

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<p>dude if you think scad was bad try living in baltimore</p>

<p>My d got accepted to RISD in the first round in January and has also gotten accepted to Milwaukee Institute of Art with a 4 year half tuition scholarship (over $46,000). We have not heard anyhting financially from RISD but I understand there is very little merit scholarship money and that it is need based, whick I do not think we will quailify for. She loves them both and we are going back to relook at both. Has anyone looked at MIAD? I can not find anything on this site about it. They have fabulous open, natural light class space and private workspace for each student after foundations year. In a historic artsy safe neighborhood in downtown. She is also quite concerned if there is a heavy party atmosphere at either school-she does not 'party' but likes to do things and have fun without getting drunk!! Her main complaint about high school! Thanks</p>

<p>Hey, I finally got all my admits. Okhlahoma State University, NESAD- Suffolk University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Virginia Commonwealth University,Drexel University and a reject from RISD. I have decided on going to Virginia Commonwealth University for my Masters in Interior Design. Anyone have good/bad reviews about this course and this university.. i would certainly like to know. Thanx..!</p>

<p>lostpetal, you might get more response by starting a new thread specifically about VCU. And congratulations on having so many possibilities to choose from!</p>

<p>Congrats! and let us know where you plan to go. :)</p>

<p>Moominmama and college-ish, thankyou so much :) I plan on going to VCU, because they have two level tracks in Masters in Interior Design, 1) first professional entry level track, for those who do not have a good background (bachelors degree) in Interioer Design, and a post professional entry level track, for those who have a bachelor's degree in Interior Design. Ihave opted for the first professional, and it is a very rigorous course structure, and by the end of it, I will be at par withthe students who have had a bachelor's and a masters degree in Interior Design. What say? Ya moominama, ur right about starting a new thread, lemme do that:)</p>

<p>Having gone to SCAD I have noticed things as an incoming student about not only the facilities but also about the city. Yes it is high in crime. Small city big city problems. Robbery is very high so is rape, if you go there you may want to invest in a few kick boxing lessons. Walking alone at night is not advised, there are timely warnings every few days about theft and rape in school parking lots and such. The SCAD bus system is very poor with drivers who care not for timing and who are quite rude at times. The city is dirty in areas with many ghettos that just pop up. You are walking down the street and all of the sudden you are in a bad area with questionable people. </p>

<p>The education from what I can tell is not the best. The art education is very intense but all other classes that are not artistic are non existant. As an example students are required to take very few classes that are not art based like basic algebra as a requirement for math, and other classes are not far better. Students are admitted freely with or without artistic strength just for the school to make money, whether or not they succeed or fail is not a concern to the college. What they are concerned with is money.</p>

<p>The professors are not too bad, there are a few good professors that are really well experienced and are good professors who want to teach. Then again there are those who don't care about teaching and who have no desire to help students. There are professors who single out students and play favorites, and brown beat them. Most of all there are professors who put students down and take away any desire they may have to pursue their chosen careers. Students end up not sleeping for days, going to counseling sessions.</p>

<p>If I were a parent I would strongly look into other institutions that are accredited. This institution is not accredited probably for very good reasons.</p>

<p>As far as facilities go..This institution has no computer stores, no basic printing facility that doesn't suck money out. Be prepared to spend a lot of money not only on the education(which in my opinion is overpriced for what you get) but also in the access printing and books that are required. There is also no place to keep student's belongings on campus. Basic amenities provided by public institutions and some private ones do not exits in this institution.</p>

<p>Balloon_fary, in all fairness, SCAD is accredited by the same accrediting organization that accredits southern schools, The Southern Association of Colleges and schools ( see Savannah</a> College of Art and Design > About the College) . It isn't accredited, however, by NASAD (National Assocation of Schools of Art and Design),which is more of a voluntary additional accreditation for art and design programs. Although this additional accreditation is voluntary, it bothers me that they don't have it.</p>

<p>...other than the crime and lack of facilities, it sounds like any other college to me.</p>

<p>//Having gone to SCAD I have noticed things as an incoming student about not only the facilities but also about the city. Yes it is high in crime. Small city big city problems. Robbery is very high so is rape, if you go there you may want to invest in a few kick boxing lessons. Walking alone at night is not advised, there are timely warnings every few days about theft and rape in school parking lots and such. The SCAD bus system is very poor with drivers who care not for timing and who are quite rude at times. The city is dirty in areas with many ghettos that just pop up. You are walking down the street and all of the sudden you are in a bad area with questionable people.//</p>

<p>It is a shame that students have to be worried about crime in the city. When you have impoverished people living in proximity to facilities, there is friction. You cannot blame the college for this, but the city does need to do a better job. My observation is that the college has gone to great lengths to protect the students. I don't think there is a crime problem on SCAD property (the campus). You can look up the stats on their web site. I don't know about the quality of the SCAD bus system, but the buses seem to be everywhere.</p>

<p>//The education from what I can tell is not the best. The art education is very intense but all other classes that are not artistic are non existant. As an example students are required to take very few classes that are not art based like basic algebra as a requirement for math, and other classes are not far better. Students are admitted freely with or without artistic strength just for the school to make money, whether or not they succeed or fail is not a concern to the college. What they are concerned with is money.//</p>

<p>It's a private college, and a business venture. However, I have been impressed with the amount of money spent on facilities for students. I doubt the college has a large donor base of alumni because it is still a relatively young school. Money is spent in order to make money, but when you look at the facilities and tuition in comparison to the same at other art colleges, I think SCAD offers a very good value. </p>

<p>I have no idea why anyone would take general ed courses at a private art college when they can be taken a community colleges, and would encourage parents to consider keeping their kids home for one year after H.S. and send them to a local community college.</p>

<p>SCAD is an art and design school. Many kids who do not do well in fine arts classes become exceptional students in their majors, like photography, performing arts, architecture, and even graphic design, etc. Keep in mind that the college does admit students with limited experience. Many kids might not have strong H.S. art programs or be able to attend pre-college summer programs so there skills may be less developed. You did state that the art education is intense, that sounds great, yes? I don't know what you mean that the college is not concerned about whether the students succeed of fail. If students are booted out because they are not maintaining their GPAs, the college is the one losing money.</p>

<p>//The professors are not too bad, there are a few good professors that are really well experienced and are good professors who want to teach. Then again there are those who don't care about teaching and who have no desire to help students. There are professors who single out students and play favorites, and brown beat them. Most of all there are professors who put students down and take away any desire they may have to pursue their chosen careers. Students end up not sleeping for days, going to counseling sessions.//</p>

<p>Sounds like you are speaking from personal experience? Criticism can be difficult to accept at a young age, and some professors may be a little harsh. I had a drawing prof. at another school that used to tear Drawing I drawings off the wall and into pieces causing students to cry. College is not H.S. I don't think there should be hand-holding. The most important thing however, is that faculty provide students with the means and resources to develop their talents and skills. If they don't do that, that is a problem, butI have no problem with them being demanding.</p>

<p>//If I were a parent I would strongly look into other institutions that are accredited. This institution is not accredited probably for very good reasons.//</p>

<p>It is accredited by SACS. SACS ensures that all the appropriate policies and procedures are in place to provide the appropriate level of education. SACS accredits many highly regarded institutions, like William and Mary and Georgia Tech for example. SCAD is not NASAD accredited. Is this a problem? Per P.R., yes, but having looked into SACS and NASAD requirements as well as attended and worked at the college, I cannot put my finger on any issue of significant difference. I do not know why the college has not pursued NASAD accreditation though I suspect it goes back to issues that occurred +/- 20 years ago.</p>

<p>//As far as facilities go..This institution has no computer stores, no basic printing facility that doesn't suck money out. Be prepared to spend a lot of money not only on the education(which in my opinion is overpriced for what you get) but also in the access printing and books that are required. There is also no place to keep student's belongings on campus. Basic amenities provided by public institutions and some private ones do not exits in this institution.//</p>

<p>I purchased my computers and software through SCAD and received educational discounts. When I attended, there was a print facility on campus. I believe most students purchase their own color printers. I did. It makes life easier if you are pulling an all-nighter and printing 30 minutes before the project is due. You will spend a lot of money at any institution for books and supplies. I do recall that the photo building had student lockers for students, but most kids carry their supplies around in their backpacks.</p>