<p>Does anyone know anything about the graduate program in historic preservation? I’ve been reading a lot about the school from the perspective of the art students but I have yet to hear from this department’s alumni. I was accepted and am struggling to make a decision between this and the BU preservation studies program. Any input is well appreciated!! Thank you!</p>
<p>How is the graduate program for Interactive Design? How does it compare to the HCI Digital Media and HCI Masters at Georgia Tech?</p>
<p>How does art history compare to that of UGA’s? How about Architecture to Georgia Techs?</p>
<p>I found this thread this morning and has been reading the same since, though I ignored some private fights in between.
I recently completed my graduation in 3D Lighting from India and is planning to join SCAD 2012/13 for either “M.A or M.F.A in Visual Effects”. 2013 because I am joining “Double Negative Singapore” this January. After reading this thread, I feel kind of dicey but optimistic about it. From what I’ve heard, it’s a good college but people are literally smashing it’s reputation. I don’t know the quality of education when it comes to architecture or film making or photography but I do know that it is a very good place to be at when it comes to Animation & Visual Effects.
I know this guy from LinkedIn, “Erik Zimmermann”, who graduated from SCAD in 2005 in M.F.A in Visual Effects. This guy has worked on so many Hollywood feature films. </p>
<p>You can see his portfolio here:
[Erik</a> Zimmermann’s VFX Demo Reel on Vimeo](<a href=“http://www.vimeo.com/9969176]Erik”>VFX Demo Reel 2010 on Vimeo)</p>
<p>His LinkedIn profile:
[Erik</a> Zimmermann | LinkedIn](<a href=“http://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/in/erikzimmermann]Erik”>http://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/in/erikzimmermann)</p>
<p>What I am trying to say is that yeah of course these comments on schools are not pleasant to ears but a school is what you really make of it. But yeah, if anyone has more opinions about the Visual Effects masters at SCAD, please feel free to share it. I will be really glad.</p>
<p>My FX portfolio is here:
[Effects</a> Animation Showreel on Vimeo](<a href=“http://www.vimeo.com/24564293]Effects”>Effects Animation Showreel on Vimeo)</p>
<p>-Arihant</p>
<p>Request for Deferment of Payment of Direct Student Loan
Dear Cindy Rodriguez, </p>
<p>I have a documented learning disability and towards the end of my senior year I was a bit dismayed that SCAD did not offer a more dynamic process related to job placement within the industry of historic preservation. SCADs Historic Preservation Department and career services should collaborate more proficiently to have the most current local and national inventories of historic preservation projects. Then, faculty should be willing to initiate interviews and job placements regarding those projects for purposes of a seamless connection between soon to be graduates and prospective employers within the industry. A seamless connection is defined as a scenario in which one has been placed in a position during his final quarter at SCAD or soon thereafter, as opposed to the uncertainty of him not securing any prospects 6 months post-graduation. This benefit of job placement would be limited to graduates whom have attained satisfactory and superior concluding academic standings. If within the industry of historic preservation a pessimistic atmosphere exists for each individual student in which there is evidence of a scarcity of job placements then the admissions department would be advised by the Building Arts Department to implement a freeze of enrollment in department of study.<br>
Unfortunately as a result of my lack of income during the past several months and at this time I am compelled to request for deferment the payment of direct student loan #---- that I owe. I understand the benefit of paying off this loan as quickly as possible regarding the daily accrual of interest relative to the principal. And so I must reassure the lenders at Direct Loan that I will send an email that includes a posted resume on Monster.com. I do indeed intend to seek full-time employment so that I may diligently make monthly payments towards the interest and principal of the loan that I owe.
The reality of daily and monthly living expenses necessitates that I prioritize my payments according to the following order and logic.
- First, I must pay for food and water so that I may continue to stay alive and sustain my health to work.
- Second, I must pay for housing to retain protection from all the elements like cold weather, the heat of the sun, thunderstorms and mosquitos so that I may sustain my health to work.
- Third, I must pay for utilities like electricity and water to continue to bath myself, cook, and store food for myself within my housing so that I may sustain my health to work.
- Fourth, I must pay for automotive transportation with insurance to satisfy the laws of the United States so that I may have decent transportation to work.
- In addition to opportunity and discipline to disburse the above payments a surplus availability of funds would be necessary to initiate repayment of the Direct Student Loan that I owe. </p>
<p>I understand that U.S. Department of Educations William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program is located in Greenville Texas. I will include my resume, and I would be willing to relocate to work at your office while I search for a position there doing plaster molds and woodwork in your local historic districts.<br>
With great humility I must thank you for your Direct Student Loan so that I could attend the lavish Savannah College of Art and Design. This loan greatly assisted with my tuition so that I could gain insight into Historic Preservation to successfully earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts.</p>
<p>I do agree with the general arrogance at SCAD (arrogance often rhyme with ignorance!) and the totally out-of-control crime all over savannah (criminals knows that if you can afford to pay $40000 tuition a year you must have money in your pockets!).
This Country has hundreds of great public Universities (SCAD is NOT a university!) very inexpensive and very safe. Design schools such as SCAD or Pratt don’t guarantee you a job after graduation…you do the math! …and read the fine prints!! ;)</p>
<p>SCAD-bashing? Spending $150.000 to get an art degree… no guarantee for jobs… some of the faculty barely have bachelors ( not all of them have masters)… spend years in a city with high crime rate …and then you read stories like this one: [An</a> Art College President’s Compensation Reached Nearly $2-Million in 2008 - Leadership & Governance - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“An Art College President’s Compensation Reached Nearly $2-Million in 2008”>An Art College President’s Compensation Reached Nearly $2-Million in 2008)
Is this bashing??? I don’t think so. Please read post by VERITAS2011
!</p>
<p>I do agree 100% with LALondonNY posts about the Savannah College of Art and design. Only people who used to work (or study for many years) at SCAD knows about the sad truth!! Once you are in Savannah, you are stuck! You are away from the real world of art and design (the closest “real city” is Atlanta). We are talking of a little town with no design business AT ALL!!! Yes, it’s a pretty town (with out of control crime) …and then??? “Bayer beware!!”</p>
<p>to beastman: Read something about [An</a> Art College President’s Compensation Reached Nearly $2-Million in 2008 - Leadership & Governance - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“An Art College President’s Compensation Reached Nearly $2-Million in 2008”>An Art College President’s Compensation Reached Nearly $2-Million in 2008) the article comes from the CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, not from me!</p>
<p>…on the other end, believersmom is right: “Look at programs and how YOU feel they fit YOU. Everyone is different, and sooner or later in life you need to start trusting your own instincts and judgments” good and bad things are everywhere (there’s not perfection out there!).<br>
This is just a blog with lots of personal opinions. The real world, fortunately, is not a blog! Talk to people, visit schools, colleges, universities. Ask for faculty credentials and background. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to your admission rep.
Good luck to all of you!</p>
<p>I’d been meaning to note that SCAD had no representation in the US News rankings - it’s a wonder they were barely in the top half - they must have found a way to manipulate the rankings for even that. And am surprised that one of their shills hadn’t responded. Great schools earn their reputation over time - hiring teaching talent, selective admissions and doing great work. Not thru aggressive marketing and admissions and glossy self-hype. Sad, horrible place.</p>
<p>I visited SCAD in February, and I fell in love with the school. The professors seem really nice, the architecture program looks amazing, and I love the city of Savannah. SCAD is my #1 choice school. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but it’s perfect for me :)</p>
<p>My daughter get accept from SCAD, we visit SCAD Savanna, SCAD Hong Kong before. One of the post mention SCAD Chins has no freedom …, well SCAD is in HK, not China, I think HK still has enough freedom to express the ART, even after return China since 1997. Hong Kong polytechnic university’s design school constant place as one of the top design school in the world. If people make statement so against one college, but not base on the truth, sometime make people difficult to believe. I have to admit as a mother I did have concern to send my kid to Savanna after reading all the negative post about the crime. However over 7000 students in Savanna, the # is keep going, make people difficult to believe how horrible this place is. As a matter of fact, rich kid in this college can easily to transfer to any school if they feel threat, the same happen to not so rich kid, they can get govt.'s support. OK, I keep thinking, so many students still stay in SCAD, either they are so lazy to transfer or they really like this school, this is the one freedom always in USA.</p>
<p>Here is the bottom line for students considering SCAD for their first college experience:</p>
<p>SCAD is 100% what you make of it. Yes, many students have negative experiences, but it is not the school that is at fault; SCAD is a unique school and is not right for many of students that choose to attend. Because admissions are not particularly selective, you will have a scale of untalented to extremely talented students in your classes. The less talented students have a more difficult time with the course work (studio classes, specifically) and need to work harder to be competitive with peers on a higher level. This is not meant to be demeaning, this is the nature of a professional career in any art field and college is your chance to learn to be competitive.
The students that end up unhappy are generally those who realize art school was not the right choice for them. This does not automtically label them “not good enough;” art schools have cultures of their own that many perfectly talented artists decide is not to their liking. SCAD is not structed like a tradition college and I’d be willing to bet money that the majority of SCAD students would agree it is very hard to meet people. There are no football games, few common areas, under utilized clubs and recreational sports for you to meet people. Most students move off campus after freshman year, so dorm life is lacking. The students that end up unhappy are usually not expecting to encounter any of these challenges and have difficulty finding the right friends.
As for crime, it is omnipresent and you will have to live with that. The drug scene is absolutely out of control in Savannah, and pretty rampant among SCAD students as well. Students who get into trouble are often acting carelessly: walking alone at night (at least ride a bike!) leaving their cars unlocked, and partying irresponsibly. Just use your intuition and you’ll be fine, otherwise Savannah is not the right city for you.
I’ve found that the students that thrive are those who are realistic about the nature of working in the art industry and take school seriously, embrace the local culture, value and act upon their independence, and actively attempt to meet as many people as possible.</p>
<p>Oh and as far as the HK campus, I’ve had many friends spend a quarter there and they all raved about it. Several are already planning their second round!</p>
<p>sunspun, thank you for what is one of maybe 10 or so cogent, thoughtful, responsible posts on this forum. I appreciate your point of view as will others who read here in hopes of finding something besides vitriolic rambling.</p>
<p>My daughter (senior in HS) decided not to apply to SCAD, having sensed most of what you describe. It’s too bad, as her summer session there was very enjoyable. But ultimately NOT too bad, for as you said, it’s not for everyone.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>“I’ve found that the students that thrive are those who are realistic about the nature of working in the art industry and take school seriously, embrace the local culture, value and act upon their independence, and actively attempt to meet as many people as possible.”
~sunspun41</p>
<p>Yes, that is a very good point. That describes me, so I know that SCAD will be the right place for me. To many students, it is the perfect university. Like all other universities, though, it’s not for everyone.</p>
<p>Sunspun41</p>
<p>Do you know anyone study animation in HK SCAD? my daughter really love to study in HK, may be for half or a year. I think this is a good experience. But I am worry about the professor in HK, I did not see many in SCAD website. May be you have some idea.</p>
<p>My son graduated in 2010 with a Graphic Design Degree. As a parent, I give SCAD mixed reviews, but I have to admit, DS had a job with a major retailer (that teens all over the USA would kill to work for) as a Graphic Designer earning $50,000/year before he even graduated. He made many friends at SCAD - most of whom are now working in NYC. Even his fashion friends (girls) are employed. Although SCAD did not have what he eventually decided he wanted to learn (typography), I don’t think SCAD is as bad as everyone thinks. It is what you make of it. I did have a few issues with the running of the school and the academic advising part of it, but if you are looking for a school that will hold your kid’s hand all four years - do not go to SCAD. Looking back now, I would have firmly suggested my kid go to Pratt or another top school, but at the time, DS did not have a very good portfolio. SCAD does give kids a chance to be exposed to the art majors and decide for themselves.</p>
<p>College is what you make of it, whether you choose SCAD or Stanford. You will find complaints from students, parents, faculty, and staff at most universities because there will always be unhappy people, whether from truly negative experiences, or because some people think the world is against them.</p>
<p>I chose SCAD (graduating 10 years ago) because I had little art preparation in high school and felt the college was an opportunity to learn and grow talent I hadn’t yet developed. My time was spent working hard, broadening my art experiences, and learning the importance of craftsmanship. The students I saw struggle were those who didn’t care, who thought art school would be “easy” and I’m sure they didn’t get very far. By my second year, I rarely encountered those people.</p>
<p>After graduation, I chose to work for the college for a couple of years because of my positive experience as a student. Working there wasn’t my favorite job, but I loved my colleagues and never regretted the connections made and the professional experience gained. I left Savannah to attend the top computer science grad school in the country and the combination of my undergrad education, work experience, and graduate coursework shaped a career that I absolutely love. I wasn’t a straight-A high school student. I just learned to work hard and take responsibility for my future. Sure, there was an occasional prof who didn’t show to class, or who didn’t care as much as others, but guess what? That happens everywhere.</p>
<p>There are always negative people but life is what you make of it and so is college. College students are adults who need to make their own decisions, meaning going to class, taking the time to perfect their craft, and networking to develop a career. People need to be responsible for their own success or failure.</p>
<p>I hate coming across SCAD-bashing online. It’s ridiculous. Either the school is a good fit for a potential student, or it’s not. End of story.</p>