SCAD vs. Pratt vs. SVA for 2D Animation

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

Hello! I’ve applied and been accepted into a handful of schools, and I’ve narrowed my choices down to three: SVA, Pratt, and SCAD. I’m posting with hopes that someone with inside knowledge about any of these schools can give me advice. I’m not considering money right now, as all of them offered sizable scholarships and I can always try requesting more if necessary.

SCAD

Pros:

  • Warm climate (the weather affects my mood heavily, so my depression may be somewhat more manageable there)
  • My dad’s best friend lives nearby, so my parents wouldn’t have to pay for hotels when they visit
  • Wonderful choices of minors (Music production/composition, storyboarding, and concept art)

Cons:

  • Farthest from home of the three (I live in MA)
  • Campus ? ?? (not sure if there is one – I’ve heard it’s somewhat spread out, but I’m not sure if it’s a spread out as SVA)
  • Controversial… I hear so many great things about SCAD, but I also hear a lot of horror stories, and it’s certainly the most controversial of the three.
  • Not sure what kind of opportunities the area has… you don’t really hear about Georgia being the heart of the animation industry or anything.
  • Large student/teacher ratio

SVA

Pros:

  • Great animation program – I love the stuff that comes out of there, and I’ve heard that they’re more commercial and practical than Pratt, which is ideal
  • Great connections/access to internships in NYC

Cons:

  • Minors ? ?? I couldn’t find much on minors, but I assume I can’t do music, concept art or storyboarding as a minor.
  • Spread out campus – I prefer the consolidated campus of Pratt, especially since I’m not used to the city, but I’m still considering it since the program seems to be better.

Pratt

Pros:

  • Has its own campus rather than being spread out, which I love
  • Still a pretty good program
  • Has access to the opportunities in NYC while still having its own area

Cons:

  • Apparently has a much larger proportion of liberal arts classes than most others
  • Supposedly more experimental and fine artsy than SVA
  • No minors that I’m interested in

Any input would be lovely!

2

I’m not going to tell you which college to choose, but I’ll work on breaking down what you already listed as pros and cons. And give what I believe to be a ranking of how it should relate to your decision.

  1. Scad: Warm weather depending on your cold tolerance and heat tolerance can effect how you will live outside, and even if you have dormant allergies; they'll be revealed in a weather anywhere in the deep south. Making you happy is also important. Benefit of your family friends living there; provide some potential support if you need something.

Scad’s minors are all terrible if you asked me; they only discuss the basic classes, a better recommendation is to just use free electives and take the specific classes that interest you instead of taking a minor. (They have lots of nice upper level classes in lots of subjects, and I heard you can get a pre-resquite waiver extremely easily).

Odds are you are likely to move regardless where you go, so distance will likely be the least of your worries, and you may enjoy the distance of driving or taking the flight and back. There’s no SCAD campus, which may be a good thing or bad thing; odds are most all the classes in your school will be in the same building. So the thing about it being spread-out is you’ll likely see relatable majors to animation, like game-design and vfx, but won’t really meet many fashion majors or photography majors.

There’s a controversy, but the main problem for students isn’t the whole Paula Wallace issue; it’s the tuition, which is expensive.

Savannah is terrible for animation or any of the digital media majors as a whole; most students move to a different place after they graduate. Atlanta is amazing for animation jobs though, (I’d still recommend Savannah for your education), basically realize that you’ll have to move.

Teacher-Student ratio is based on classes in your major and everything else.

As a personal score for you: I’d say SCAD is a 7/10.

  1. SVA They have a good animation program; as well as being at the center of many jobs. Positives are fairly good; and you can find some high-quality professors. If you are looking for Fine Arts; this isn't really recommended, but for commercial arts is a relatively strong program.

Literally nobody in the professional world cares about your minor; I’m pretty sure you can take classes in topics that interest you in the same way as you would anywhere else. And for the campus being spread out; that’s pretty much the way all of the NYC major universities are structured, but generally the classes related to your major will be in the same place; and it’ll be good experience if you plan to live in New York for future animation gigs.

As a personal score for you: I’d say SVA is a 9/10.

  1. Pratt It's own real tangible campus is a good factor and a good transition into a "traditional" college experience. Pratt is good for fine arts; though their 2d animation program is lacking; if you want your animation to have a classical artsy feel with your own style that's cool, but for actual animation it's nothing compared to the other 2. Being in NYC is an advantage, but it can only be an advantage if the school focuses on what you want to learn.

Liberal arts may be a good option for you; especially with your extra interests in music and storyboarding, you may not get an official minor in either but it does have those options for you. Fine artsy could be a good thing and experimental can also be a good thing for animation and it may give you a unique style; but if it’s not the things you are interested in; Pratt sucks; (like really badly), because it has the fine arts focus more than the other 2; which are commercial arts. Minors is more of an extra topic.

As a personal score for you: I’d say Pratt is a 4/10, (I’m being generous with this one).

I’d say SVA is the best option for you