<p>I've recently been accepted into the UCLA art program, as well as to Pratt, SVA, SAIC, and am still waiting on MICA. I'm not sure what major I'm interested in, but I know I don't want fine arts. Whether it'll be design, animation, or something else, I don't yet know. The big decision right now is whether to go to the university or to commit to an art school. My concerns about UCLA are mostly focused on how immersed I would be in art: the ratio of non-art to art classes, the variety of areas of study, how flexible the education is (i.e. how much of a foundation-year style education would I get, choosing a major, etc). But at someplace like Pratt or SVA (not as interested in SAIC and MICA for a variety of reasons), I'm worried that any non-art classes I would take wouldn't challenge me at all, and that the nationwide reputation of UCLA would trump the connections of most art schools in terms of getting a job. There's also the issue of cost, since as a CA resident it's much less expensive for me to go to UCLA. I can afford SVA/Pratt but I'm not sure if it'd be worth it, depending on whether or not I want to go to grad school. Any info/advice?</p>
<p>It is important to ascertain what area of art you are interested in. UCLA actually has a strong fine art school. For the price, it is unbeatable. However, I wouldn’t recommend them for any design or applied art programs other than many animation, and then only 2d animation. </p>
<p>Pratt is the most fine art oriented of the three. In fact, Pratt tends to be very artsy even about their design curriculum from what I have heard from their students and professors. However, I have heard that they have a very strong design oriented curriculum. For example, within their graphic design major(visual communication are several concentrations. </p>
<p>SVA tends to be very commercially driven, which means they are very job oriented in their training. They do not have the same fine art emphasis that you would find at UClA or at Pratt. They all have very different cultures. You should check them all out.</p>
<p>All are located in GREAT areas,but they are very different. UCLA is in rich Beverly Hills. Pratt is in a nice part of Brooklyn but still isn’t as safe as that of Beverly Hills. SVA is in a terrific part of Manhattan. Again three very different locations and all have a very different feel.</p>
<p>Finally, be advised that stand alone art schools usually have a LOT more choices of art related courses than that of a research oriented university like UCLA. In addition , the liberal arts requirement for stand alone art schools tend to be fewer in number. However, usually the quality of the liberal arts offerings are usually inferior to that of a university such as UCLA. These factors have to also be considered.</p>