I’m a sophomore in high school, and I’m out-of-state (live in the northeast). I have an interest in a major that combines art and technology (game design, interactive media, computer science, etc.), and I’m looking at UCLA, USC, UCI, Woodbury University and University of San Diego. I am looking at UCLA’s design media arts summer institute (2-weeks, first come first serve, tech and art), and CSSSA (Calart’s summer program, competitive, only art), I was looking at UCLA’s Game Lab program too, but there’s no on-campus housing. Which summer program would fit my interests best? And which program would appeal more to colleges?
CSSSA is a great program and if you get in you are named a California Scholar of the Arts – they only take about 20 OOS students, however, so very competitive. Also, if you do decide to apply to CalArts they love CSSSA kids. My d went in theatre and now attends CalArts.
That’s so great for your daughter! I’m very interested in the arts (primarily visual arts), but unfortunately, due to strict parents, I doubt I’ll be able to pursue visual arts as a major at an art institute. They want me to go into computer science or something technology, which was why I was considering game design, and looking into UCLA summer programs. Just don’t know if I want to ditch my CSSSA app. and commit to the UCLA summer program already, when I’m almost done with it ):
I would like to start out by saying that I’m personally not as interested in the computer science and tech side of things, though I use computer programs often in my work. I’m currently in my senior year of high school, and I have been to both programs during my high school career. I went to the UCLA DMA summer program in 2015 after I got rejected from CSSSA, and I must say that I was a little dissapointed. I had an excellent time there, and the people were plenty nice, but the atmosphere was made to be a little more accomodating for everyone, including people who may not be passionate in what they are doing and are just finding a program to do during their summertime. I then went to CSSSA for both summers of 2016 and 2017, first for Visual Arts and then Animation the following summer. Although I don’t think there are programs specifically focused on game design like UCLA (which I will comment on in a moment), was much more immmersive. I must say that being at CSSSA was very motivating and life changing both summers. I speak for myself as well as many of my peers when I say that you will improve at CSSSA. Being in the atmosphere and space where everyone cares about the artwork— wether it be filmmaking, writing, painting, or animating— is extremely helpful. I got to “major” in Printmaking and minor in Photography and Painting my first year, and I got to be involved with animation techniques and Adobe Softwares my second year. Each day’s classes were set with 3 hour blocks- one in the morning, and one in the afternoon, with other field trips, seminars, performances, and screenings that enriched the experience. Everywhere that you went, you could see people singing, dancing, practicing their lines, and just having a good time. In both years, I grew as an artist and made lifelong connections that I can draw back on later. I still talk to my friends from CSSSA now, despite how long it’s been since those 4 weeks. When I was at UCLA, I got to be involved in 4 programs that they had— game design, typography, web design, and video. However, these classes were awfully rudimentary from what I experienced, and most days were given to us to simply “explore” the softwares that were shown to us in previous classes. This, along with the fact that there were only 2 class sessions a day that are 2 hours each made it so that I didn’t feel like I was learning enough for the time and cost that it came at. And despite the fact that they had planned trips and activities to fill up the rest of the time, they were more often than not irrelevant to what we were here for, and made the experience feel more like a general “summer leadership bonding” type of deal. On top of that, I don’t have any connections to the people I met there anymore— spare a few exceptions— and I don’t expect many, if any of them to be working in the industry further on (when I speak of the industry I’m referring to the animation industry, which covers the art and animation in the gaming industry that you expressed interest about earlier). Overall, I’d say that CSSSA is the way to go- your instructors are all working professionals or professors who are masters of their craft, and are able to give you lots of insight on your artmaking— while you’re able to still have the best summer of your life just living amongst the strangest but most lovely group of people anywhere. If you have any more questions at anytime, feel free to ask me! (I realize that this is a short comment, and doesn’t really tell you too much about the actual details of the experiences) My Instagram handle is @Wontonchild— if you ever want to talk about art, or get more insight about the programs, feel free to DM me!
I hope this helps!
I haven’t heard much about the UCLA summer programs, so thank you for that information! I decided to apply to CSSSA (major in painting, and minor in printmaking) this year because I already started on my app. so might as well finish it 
and if I don’t get in I’ll probably find another summer program/pre-college that doesn’t do rejection/acceptance to get that experience in next year. Do you have any tips for getting into painting at CSSSA? I’m out of state so I’m desperate for anything to increase my chances. (Followed you on Instagram and I’m absolutely amazed by your art!!)