SAIC vs. CalArts

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I'm a transfer student from RIT and have applied to seven schools (SAIC, CalArts, Pratt, Parsons, Parsons Paris, CCAD, and SFAI) and have gotten into all of them for fall 2010. I'm a photography transfer who is also interested in film. I think I've narrowed it down to SAIC and CalArts (pending full ride at any of the other schools, haha). I'm having the HARDEST time figuring out where I want to go, I have eight days!!!</p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone (current students preferably, but all comments welcome!) could give me some insight on either photography program. I'm very much into fine art photo, and coming from RIT (verrrry technically based) I feel that it's my time to experiment with different concepts.</p>

<p>I have researched both schools and visited. From my basic knowlesdge, the best photo undergraduate schools are ranked Yale, SAIC, then RIT. I have no idea where Cal Arts is on that list, and am afraid for my future if I go to Cal Arts over SAIC, just because I feel that SAIC grads have more opportunities? I plan to attend Yale Grad (hopefully!)</p>

<p>I'm also worried about the fluidness between diciplines at SAIC. From what I've heard, it's hard to use any other programs equipment. I would want to do some film in school, and Cal Arts had a great solution for this.</p>

<p>I'm also worried, I've heard both schools as being "dried up programs from their 70's heyday" I want a good program, not a has-been.</p>

<p>I originally transferred from RIT with intentions of going to a city school. I left because it was in the middle of nowhere, the program was a JOKE, and I fell out of touch with my only friends. It was very lonely and isolating, which is also how I've heard SAIC described. More worries.</p>

<p>So, in all... </p>

<p>Who has a better fine-art photo program?</p>

<p>Which school is better to graduate from?</p>

<p>Which program has the ability to utilize other equipment?</p>

<p>WHO IS HAPPIER?</p>

2

<p>oh my god someone please respond. ANY HELP WILL DO.</p>

<p>I have heartburn I’m so torn up about this decision.</p>

3

<p>you won’t find many current students here in time to decide. I suggest you find the student site for each school on Facebook and ask your questions there as its pretty robust with activity. They may also have alumni sites on facbook…maybe even twitter.</p>

<p>CalArts film had a good reputation, don’t know about current status. also might give you the option to move onto AFI graduate school as a film option since both are in the same area.</p>

4

<p>I don’t know much about photo but want to save your heartburn.
It seems you answered yourself already, want to change, big city, want artsy ( goal is Yale not some photo lab assistant jobs which almost non existence in NY anyways)
I have never been to Calarts but far as I know it is out of way old facilities big on animation and maybe only.
go to SAIC and see if it’s any good. You tried, you know.
Out of all schools you listed , I loved SFAI. there is no guarantee you will be the sorta Ansel Adams nor Annie Leibovitz but if COA money and future earning power were not the issue, I want to go there, send my kid there, just to be in that school and the city.</p>

5

<p>OK Bizzy- just interroagted my daughter on your behalf. She is finishing her freshamn year and has a number of friends in the photo department. </p>

<p>They tell me that the resources are amazing and it’s one of the most competitive departments in the school- one of two schools in the US with a lambda printer, great teachers and very non traditional. It appears that entry level course requires digital as a pre-requisite to large format and film. The film/new mdeia dept is one of the strongest in the school. there is also the Gene Siskel film center which you can research at the school website.</p>

<p>Many first and second year students live in the dorm which is in the loop . Very vibrant during the day but it closes up at night. my daughter has made a lot of friends and has a very very active social life. it should be mentioned that its not uncommon for the second year students to look for housing off campus in some of the surrounding and less expensive neighborhoods, as would be the case in many schools btw</p>

6

<p>oh thank you for the feedback.</p>

<p>yes, I know about the Lambda, RIT is the other school btw!</p>

<p>I was very impresed by both schools facilities. CalArts was very film heavy but very good! there were no limits! If they didn’t have something, you could suggest it to the lab assistant and he would try to accommodate. </p>

<p>I’ve looked at the forums on FB… not very helpful. I assume the students at either schools who are my age are the ones who don’t care to talk about their school as much as the excited freshman, you know what I mean? Not that either is a negative! I just stumbled upon this website at work, saw it was still active and thought I would post.</p>

<p>I LOVED SFAI too, but was super disappointed by their photo program. I work with a current graduate and she’s told me about the funding issues, which were clearly prevalent within the program. They gave me a great finaid package too, and I love SF, I was just not thrilled with the structure of their program (very rigid compared to CalArts and SAIC’s looseness) or their facilities (I mainly c-print and there were no facilities for that there)</p>

<p>I’m also planning on living off campus for any school. But that’s cool, artmajormom (haha your screenname is so adorable), that your daughter has a good social life. That has been one of the negatives I’ve heard about SAIC, that it’s hard to make friends. I was wondering, how is the crossover between diciplines? And how often do students collaborate, or even help each other with projects?</p>

<p>THANKSSSSS.</p>