Second thoughts? - Art Center

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>So everything is pretty much set. I intend on going to Art Center this fall, moving down to Pasadena next Saturday and yeah...I thought I'd be pretty excited at this point, but there's something that's been on my mind.</p>

<p>Considering Art Center, my budget for my entire stay at Art Center ranges from around $150,000 to $200,000. My parents intend on just getting private loans to pay for my entire budget - that's the thing that really bugged me (had I known this earlier, I don't think I would've considered Art Center an applicable option). Considering interest rates and all that crap, I may end up $250,000+ in debt. </p>

<p>However, my parents told me that regardless, they'll help me pay for (at the very least) half of my private student loans (which would be about $100,000 ~ $120,000). So in the end, (including my the interest rate predication + my parents contribution for at least half), I believe the amount I may have to pay off would be between $80,000 ~ $150,000 (which is still an obsene amount).</p>

<p>So far, I've already borrowed $40,000 in private student loans for my Fall 07 + Spring 08 budget (this discludes my Subsidized Student loans and scholarships, which amount to about $6,000 ~ $8,000 or so). </p>

<p>Naturally, I accept my fate for being in debt (to be honest, I'm sick of people telling me how much of a bad investment it is. That being $100,000+ in debt isn't worth it for art). Of course I intend on going all out (on terms of skill and taking advantage of what Art Center has to offer). But I mean, is what I'm doing, what I'm getting myself into crazy? :S...</p>

<p>If I really wanted to, I could put a halt on things. My parents told me that if Art Center doesn't work out the 1st year - that I can go to another (most likely, less expensive) school.</p>

2

<p>tough decisions to make - honestly - I have to say to parents and kids, don't go to an expensive art college w/o a scholarship. You can develop an accomplished portfolio at a community college or state school with a decent program, and many private art schools do offer transfer scholarships.</p>

<p>I don't think it is so good to begin your education with such worries and pressures, but I understand how much you want to go to the Art Institute. You still can, next year or the year after, etc.</p>

<p>Being a slave to debt is a bummer. This is just my opinion. Best wishes to you.</p>

3

<p>As surprising as it is, I am in complete agreement with RainingAgain. He is also either a current or former professor of art and design. </p>

<p>There are MANY strong programs at state schools that you could take advantage of without having to incur that massive debt. </p>

<p>For design, look at University of Cincinnati, RIT, Mass College of Art. Most state schools have decent to strong fine arts if that is your interest.</p>

<p>You REALLY, REALLY need to rethink what you are doing.</p>

4

<p>I remember when I was in your situation, I really wanted to attend my first choice school which was at that time Parsons, but it would have meant getting into more than 100K in loans, just to cover housing and some of the tuition. Parsons as everyone knows is THE SCHOOL to attend for fashion design.</p>

<p>I ended up going with my second choice art school because they were offering grants and scholarships that covered 20K of my tuition each year, and I wouldn't have been as much debt because I was also already living in LA(at home) and could just commute. My second choice schools is also really strong in Fashion Design and known for it, it's not Parsons, but I am saving myself over 100k in loans, and I'm still getting an extremely great education.</p>

<p>It was like making a choice between Harvard with loans, or Dartmouth with scholarship money. </p>

<p>what other art schools did you apply to and did they offer any scholarship money? is art center really the only school that offers that specific program you're after?</p>

5

<p>It's a really tough decision.</p>

<p>I really want to get into (entertainment) illustration. Art Center offers the best illustration program I've seen in pretty much any art school I checked out. I live in California, and I'd like to stay here, so naturally, I checked a lot of California art schools (Parsons and RISD was out of the question, considering it would cost just as much as Art Center, if not more because it's an out of state school for me). </p>

<p>I applied to OTIS, the grants/scholarships I got from there was A LOT more do-able, though, their illustration focus is kinda pushed under graphic design and other communication arts I believe, that was kinda a turn off =S Also applied to Academy of Art (sort of my back up, back up). I wasn't particularly interested in Cal Arts (no illustration) or CCAC (the undergrad campus was in Oakland and my parents REALLY didn't want me to be in that area). </p>

<p>I'm sort of torn between what a lot of people say. </p>

<p>I know a couple people from Art Center who are around $100,000+ in debt, but they seem perfectly (although a bit bitter, yet overall) content with their investment - granted that they believed Art Center was the better choice for their risky investment. </p>

<p>Told my parents about my doubts, naturally, they tell me that they're aware and can handle it as long as I'm committed and accept it. I was more than willing to risk being in debt for the sake of my education. Hmmmm....:S They told me that if I think Art Center really doesn't give me the type of education I want, that I can transfer to another art school in CA, so I guess...we'll see what happens....</p>

6

<p>It's important that you're going into this with both eyes open and your options open. Art Center has a strong reputation in several applied arts. My daughter has a former RISD classmate who's now getting an MFA in ID at Art Center. She likes the training there but says the approach is much different from RISD; it's more on turning out highly polished, professional-looking products than on creativity as such (which is more RISD's emphasis).</p>

<p>My brother, who's an illustrator/animator working in "Hollywood," says that Art Center grads fit a certain mold. Art Center began with a focus on advertising (I don't know independently whether this is true), and thus the spit-and-polish finish to student products is part of Art Center's "brand." There's an Art Center "look." This also, however, makes Art Center grads highly marketable -- they are ready to go to work right out of school; and employers know what they're getting.</p>

<p>So I think you're going to find this a valuable experience, whether or not you incur a lot of debt in the process. Get all you can get from it! Good luck!</p>

7

<p>I heard the same as what was stated above for their graphic design program, from a graphic design teacher, who has taught there and who knows faculty who teaches there.</p>

8

<p>taskinlude89: if you can find him, you should talk to Scott Robertson regarding the entertainment track at Art Center. </p>

<p>Disclaimer: I just graduated from Art Center, so I freely admit that I'm biased. However, I did want you to hear the fresh grad's view. :D </p>

<p>I hear what the others are saying about the tuition, but if you're a California resident and want to stay here, I personally agree that the other local schools are not at the same level (judge for yourself). Remember that you can apply for scholarships every term, and I would recommend that during the break or the first few weeks that you update your scholarship portfolio (because they have scholarship reviews at the most inopportune times). I worked as a lab aid, and it's brainless work. I finished a lot of homework on the job. </p>

<p>I'll tell you what you're paying for in addition to the skills... connections. Art Center has a vast alumni network, and you will meet influential artists from all over. Also, a lot of companies recruit heavily here. I just landed my dream job because my company put an ad on our job network first. I don't see as many opportunities come to you at the other local art programs. </p>

<p>The school isn't perfect; the parking situation sucks, they nickel-and-dime you to death, and the politics can often be infuriating. But you can't let that slow you down. Just concentrate on the work, and you'll do fine.</p>