Transferring from one art school to another?

I’m currently a freshman in illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design.

While I really like the classes here (love that you don’t have to take any Gen Ed’s), I really don’t like the area and the school is way too small for me. I’ve always wanted to live in a bigger area, but decided to go here due to their recruitment program.

My second choice was SVA, so now I’m wondering if I’ll be able to transfer there coming next year. Their illustration curriculum is much different from Ringling’s, for example they have their students taking Painting I and II their first year while I’m not taking a single painting class. This confuses me, though, because why would they accept transfer students if the curriculums at each school are so different? Will I have to start over as a freshman then? If that’s the case, I’ll probably just stick it out here.

Thanks

It seems like it depends on the courses you’ve already taken. http://www.sva.edu/admissions/undergraduate/returning-and-transfer-students

In other words, you’d have to get far enough in the transfer process to send them your transcript. You could contact someone at the school to see if they could evaluate your transcript for you now. Doesn’t hurt to ask.

So can you use high school courses as well then? For example, I took painting and sculpture in high school, but it’s currently not part of my curriculum where I’m at. SVA requires those classes for freshmen students.

No, you can only transfer college courses. You should ask SVA about that course directly. Some colleges allow transfers to skip some freshman requirements. Others allow transfers to take freshman and core requirements once they enroll.

I’m now kind of wondering if I should attempt to apply for second semester? I know some schools allow this and some schools don’t, as far as I know there’s nothing on SVA’s website explicitly stating that you can’t. I’m kind of thinking that it’d be easier that way, since you’d only miss a semester of foundations rather than a whole year, and the grade placement thing (freshman vs. sophomore) wouldn’t be an issue? I’m going to call tomorrow.