Thinking of transferring from art school

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>I'm a graphic design freshman at California College of the Arts, who is having doubts about whether art school (or maybe just this school) is right for me. Currently, the majority of my classes are core curriculum, so it might be hard to tell – still, I'm terrified of not exploring my opportunities before it's too late.</p>

<p>The reason I am considering transferring is that I feel a pure art degree would put me at a disadvantage in the future. Graphic design is my passion, and I would love a career in advertising or package design or something. I really feel I am missing out by not being able to take any classes in marketing and business.</p>

<p>I'm considering the possibility of transferring to a university where I can double major in both fields, but I don't know if this is feasible. I'm also scared that my classmates at a general college won't be as invested or have as much experience in design as I do...</p>

<p>What universities, public or private, have good GD programs? Would I be considering mainly liberal arts universities? I'm not totally sure how that works.</p>

<p>I didn't originally apply to any traditional universities, which I now regret. I was however accepted to CalArts, Pratt and SCAD. I never applied to RISD, but I now consider them maybe as a possibility.</p>

<p>I have good grades, good recommendations, good sat scores, and a very good portfolio. Nothing that will get me into an ivy league, but it should count for something.</p>

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<p>Having majored in business and having taken a few courses in marketing, I would urge you NOT to transfer. Many of the courses in college are not as skills oriented as you would think, at least in the undergraduate level. Moreover, art is a very competitive field. You really need to be top notch.</p>

<p>If you want my advice, stay at Calarts and take a few courses in the summer at another school or do a semester abroad. Moreover, if you really think you missed something, you can always get a masters degree or, even better, an MBA. I would strongly recommend that you stay at Calarts. </p>

<p>Yes, you definitely can get into an MBA program with an art undergraduate degree. In fact, I know people who went to law school after getting a degree in art.</p>

<p>Also, I was reading in various magazines that employers are appreciating graduates with degrees in art. They tend to be more creative, which is becoming more “in vogue.”</p>

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<p>My son is a graphic design major at SUNY New Paltz. It got voted Hottest small state school by Newsweek. It offers a liberal arts education, 6,000 undergrads, very artsy but with lots of other good majors including business to explore. It’s located in upstate NY,
1 and 1/2 hours drive to NYC. Cute, funky college town surrounded by mountains. Worth a look if you want something different.</p>

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<p>Ringling has a business of art and design major as well an a minor option. That might be worth checking out if you want both an art school experience and a business option.</p>

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<p>You don’t say if you’re a California resident. UC Davis has a design major that may be worth checking out.</p>

<p>Does CCA have cross-registration with Berkeley? You could always take a class or two there to round out the business-type classes.</p>

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<p>I always heard UCLA had a really good graphics design program from a few family friends who were trying to get in there, and I know they have a whole school of business there as well. </p>

<p>CCA is also quite close to UCB so you should definitely check them out as well.</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, there’s no way to take classes that count towards my credits at Cal. Neither does UCB have a design major. (First place I checked haha)</p>

<p>niftydesign: I’m not a California resident.</p>

<p>taxguy: Thank you for your reply! It actually consoled some of my worries. And I’ve actually heard that thing about businesses being more interested in art majors recently, but I think it was my school that told it to me, so I dismissed it as false, haha. For some reason, it reassures me more to hear a stranger online say that.</p>

<p>Everyone else, thank you so much! I’ll check out New Paltz, Ringling and maybe even UCLA. My current GD professor actually went to UC Davis. I’m not certain their program (graphic communication if I remember correctly) is what I’m looking for.</p>

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<p>Can I just butt in with some questions?
I liked CCA a lot when I saw it. Is it something about THE school that bothers you or it is about your major choice?
What was the deciding factor to pick CCA?
After awhile art schools seems all about same.
What I loved about CCA is the location, community, Safeway and Starbucks around the corner, BART, let’s see…anything about the school itself stands out…
I love the painting studio that looked like cabins and graffiti saying in the bathroom that was more intellectual than CMU’s.
My regret is that I could not meet any students. How’re the kids?</p>

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<p>Oh, absolutely! I’m happy to answer any questions. What major are you considering? That’s going to make a huge difference too.</p>

<p>My first choice originally was CalArts. I ended up at CCA mainly because CalArts didn’t offer me any scholarships and are more expensive already. The location of the schools was a big deal too, though, and there is no doubt that CCA has way superior location.</p>

<p>It might just be me who isn’t art school material. The core curriculum is boring me, and I miss more theoretical classes. Intro To The Arts (Art history) is the only lecture class I have, and I love it even though the subject doesn’t interest me at all.</p>

<p>I have met some amazing people here, but in general, the student body doesn’t appeal to me that much. They’re in large very different than what you find at, say, Cal just up the street. </p>

<p>With less than 2000 students, it’s also a very small school. I appreciate that when I have English classes with 15 people in them, and GD classes of 10, but I also miss the huge sense of community you get at a larger school.</p>

<p>In addition, the school doesn’t offer on-campus housing for continuing students, and I’ll have to get an apartment next year, which worries me. (probably more than it should)</p>

<p>I think if the school didn’t cost this much, I wouldn’t have as many doubts. But now I find myself questioning, “Am I really getting my money’s worth?” all the time.</p>

<p>It’s a great school, though, really, even if I don’t have much to compare it to either. Free feel to hit me with more questions if you have any.</p>

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<p>thanks alot. It amaze me that 2,000 kids could fit in there or are you counting the giant loft in SF?
It is my kid, he is a painter. I liked it they had separate work strages for pre college and others and allow students to keep stuff in the studio over the summer. I donno, everything is homey and nice and did see some really nice works. donno much about design. Can’t afford anyway, as you noted housing is tough in that side of Oakland.</p>

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<p>Hi Cinely,</p>

<p>Bears and Dogs recommended I check out your post. My son is applying to CCA for Industrial Design so hearing your concerns is helpful to us re: the size of the school, housing and intellectual stimulation. If you have any knowledge of the ID department please fill us in.
Many thoughts come to mind in reading your posts. There are other schools you could look at if you want a university or a more intellectual, theoretical approach. We just visited Syracuse U and were more impressed than we expected with the design programs and the school of art. You would have the whole rest of the university to draw upon for business or other classes. Many design students take classes in the entrepreneurship program or school of information studies. It is huge in terms of student body but Syracuse is no San Francisco.
As for other art schools, SAIC and MICA might have a more theoretical, conceptual approach for GD.
Cooper Union, while it doesn’t have GD as a specific major has a very conceptual bent to the whole program. I would say the same thing about Carnegie Mellon’ design program.
All of that being said I have to say I agree with Taxguy about delving deeply into your discipline and picking up the business stuff on the side. You are young and this is your opportunity to grow creatively. That creative growth will only be an asset to any business knowledge you gain. You are not only being taught skills but you are being asked to THINK creatively and there is nothing more powerful than that.
I say this out of experience. My degree is in photography, my husbands is in illustration and fine art. He fell into web design after college and was able to run with it out of his very non digital background. He is an artist no matter what medium he approaches. Now we have our own design firm and I am running the business side. It takes focus but the knowledge is easy to pick up. I ask my accountant questions, I read books and I’ve taken continuing education classes. What is hard is keeping up my inspiration and finding ways to grow the business…PR/Marketing, writing, client relations. But this is a personal challenge from within. No class can make this easier for me. I have to draw upon the same creativity I honed as a photographer.
It sounds like you are restless and need more of a challenge. Maybe you are someone who didn’t really need a foundation year. Before making the decision to leave your school I suggest you get to know some older students and meet up with some of the teachers you will be having down the road. All it takes is one or two special teachers and you could be off and running. Look for the ones whose work you really like. You could intern for one of them and get a perspective on what the life of a designer is like. What keeps them inspired. What do they read? What do they look at?
San Francisco is a great place for visual inspiration. We sometimes wish we were living there :slight_smile:
If you want to PM me to talk about GD business that would be fine.</p>

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<p>this is so funny…
i’m also at cca. and as a freshmen. lol. </p>

<p>my suitemates are also transferring, one in spring, and one in fall.</p>