The Official Artcenter Thread - like, omg!

[Deadlyhazard]

So are the financial aid letters being disbursed this week?

edit: WELP, only got 6000$ a semester. Either my portfolio wasn't up to snuff or my grades sucked too much. 2.8 GPA and a 30k EFC.............yeah we knew nothing good would come of it. Oh well, maybe another school will give me something decent.

[KrayTSAO]

Hey hi, just want to know if this thread is still alive and well.

Are there any 2013 fall hopefuls out there, or did you get the decision? I've applied for ent. design and am still waiting for reply.

[Bongo]

Was wondering where this thread went. I'm not Fall 2013, but I am looking to apply for Entertainment Design in this upcoming Spring intake.

I don't suppose any of you lot already accepted would want to post your portfolios, would you?

[Harkins]

Potential 2013 Fall hopeful here. I might have to wait another year before I can get my finances in order to afford it though. I'm a lot older than most of you probably coming right out of high school (26) and wasted a lot of money at a crappy art school because I didn't know what I was doing the first time around. Worked in the real world a few years and now I'm pretty certain I'd like to either go to Art Center or Feng Zhu's Design school. Obviously being a resident of the US already (Pennsylvania), going to Art Center would be a lot easier.

Here's some samples of my work and I'll let you guys know what happens if I get in. I'll also be really trying to get scholarships because I'm already massively in debt from the first go around .

[Deadlyhazard]

Was deferred (after being accepted for Spring) to Summer 2013 illustration, with hopes I could apply for a bigger portfolio scholarship (got 6,000 a semester beforehand after a revision). I received the letter back and it was downgraded to 3,000 despite being a better 'folio ;______;. Can't attend due to financial problems. Good luck to all of you who possess a lot of money or a good academic record/low EFC/strong portfolio.

[skMOP]

I applied for Entertainment Design for Fall '13. Not accepted yet, still waiting. If anyone's interested in seeing my portfolio its here: http://vincentlauart.blogspot.com/

kraytsao you're stuff is pretty cool just judging based on your sketchbook!

[KrayTSAO]

You guys seems to have some really cool stuff.

Might post my own portfolio as well. You can download it here
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1zi...lyMjUzZUE/edit

[foxes]

I was accepted into the illustration program for fall 2013. I'm not at all sure if I'll end up going to Art Center yet, and I still haven't heard back from all the schools I applied to, but I'm still very excited that I got in.
If anyone's curious, here's my portfolio:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
(plus two more life drawings I don't have on this computer.)
I don't entirely recall everything I included in my PDF of sketchbook pages, but here's the ones I remember:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

[TIANYANG]

Hi there, just to reiterate:
Art Center's Entertainment Design program for undergraduate is NOT rolling admissions? Or is the deadline definite only for graduate admissions?
Thanks for your time.

[Bongo]

The ED program takes students twice a year now, in Fall and Spring (February 1st and October 1st being the deadlines, respectively). I...guess it is rolling kinda sorta? I've never heard anything about not being able to submit your application stuff far in advance (say, applying now for Spring 2013).

[TIANYANG]

That's what I've assumed too, but this post made me think otherwise:

hey everyone,
i called Art Center about the deadline question and no, Ent D is NOT under the rolling applications system... so for the people who are worried, you guys still have time! the window to submit portfolios for Ent D major is Feb 1-15 as stated on the ACCD website > Dates + Deadlines :

Or was ceeche referring only to ED applications submitted for scholarship application?

[Deadlyhazard]

Oh damn got a 16,000 a year scholarship randomly from them. Called me up and said they really wanted me to go. Still don't think I have enough for rent/supplies ;_______;. I think I could've gotten a lot more if my GPA was higher....remember guys, when they factor you into scholarships....they're trying to see if you would make it successfully through the program. They will judge you based on your grades and you'll get less scholarship money if you have a bad GPA, because it shows you're inconsistent and honestly ACCD is supposedly much, much harder than regular college/high school. I had a 2.0 range GPA and an F in design 2 I never made up in college. That looked terrible I'm sure.

[KrayTSAO]

Oh damn got a 16,000 a year scholarship randomly from them. Called me up and said they really wanted me to go. Still don't think I have enough for rent/supplies ;_______;. I think I could've gotten a lot more if my GPA was higher....remember guys, when they factor you into scholarships....they're trying to see if you would make it successfully through the program. They will judge you based on your grades and you'll get less scholarship money if you have a bad GPA, because it shows you're inconsistent and honestly ACCD is supposedly much, much harder than regular college/high school. I had a 2.0 range GPA and an F in design 2 I never made up in college. That looked terrible I'm sure.

That sounds pretty awesome for me! congratulations!

that is already a half ride isn't it? I've heard that's the most they will give, is that true?

Too bad I'm still playing the waiting game still, and I also don't have high GPA, in fact, I don't even know how high is my GPA. Lol, we use a percentage based measure system here, we don't have grade inflation, and I have no idea on how to converse them, I just send my transcript for them to figure out.

[Deadlyhazard]

That sounds pretty awesome for me! congratulations!

that is already a half ride isn't it? I've heard that's the most they will give, is that true?

Too bad I'm still playing the waiting game still, and I also don't have high GPA, in fact, I don't even know how high is my GPA. Lol, we use a percentage based measure system here, we don't have grade inflation, and I have no idea on how to converse them, I just send my transcript for them to figure out.

It's the highest a portfolio will get you. If you have good grades, a fantastic portfolio, and need based aid, you're pretty much guaranteed a full ride. But yeah, most people don't have all three of those things going on at once. Usually just one or two of those. Unfortunate my EFC is super high (32,000) and my grades sucked. BOOOOO

[lleeeeeoo]

Don't forget that each term there's a scholarship competition that you submit a physical portfolio to apply for more aid. But it's way harder than getting a scholarship on entrance (and way more competitive) but it's a recurring scholarship that lasts 8 terms as well. And 6,000 a term is really good. But what do you mean by 16,000 a year? 8k a term or 5.3k a term?

Like 45% of the student body has scholarship and the avg of that is around 2000-4000 per term. The people who get full rides or really high scholarships are actually a very small amount of students so don't be discouraged. Also, if they offer you a smaller scholarship than a previous term you applied for, sometimes it just means that the financial aid dept doesn't have as much money to give out during that term.

Write really well on the essay questions, have great scans, and try to get a letter of recommendation or two. They don't ask for it but it doesn't hurt your cause.

[skMOP]

wooo i got accepted for entertainment design. I wish scholarship information came at the same time.

[peperobox]

Was the scholarship amount stated in the acceptance letter?

[Itanohira]

Ah...well I'm not an Art Center student (just a sophmore in highschool, but I'm aiming to go to Art Center!!), but based on what I've read on this thread, you shouldn't get the scholarship with the acceptance letter, and you'll get the amount granted later -- correct me if I'm wrong, though!

[KrayTSAO]

How can you get the acceptance letter so early on? Still nothing from them till today.

[Deadlyhazard]

Don't forget that each term there's a scholarship competition that you submit a physical portfolio to apply for more aid. But it's way harder than getting a scholarship on entrance (and way more competitive) but it's a recurring scholarship that lasts 8 terms as well. And 6,000 a term is really good. But what do you mean by 16,000 a year? 8k a term or 5.3k a term?

Like 45% of the student body has scholarship and the avg of that is around 2000-4000 per term. The people who get full rides or really high scholarships are actually a very small amount of students so don't be discouraged. Also, if they offer you a smaller scholarship than a previous term you applied for, sometimes it just means that the financial aid dept doesn't have as much money to give out during that term.

Write really well on the essay questions, have great scans, and try to get a letter of recommendation or two. They don't ask for it but it doesn't hurt your cause.

I got 8k a semester. Still can't afford due to LA being expensive ;_:. Oh well, to self-training it is!

[Samurai Blue]

Hi guys,

I'm currently a CS student at UCI in my second year, but I've come to realize that I wanna transfer to Art Center or another art school. Thing is, I'm concerned about the whole grades thing. I know the portfolio is key, but I took a tough CS class this quarter that I will probably fail. I know they say they look at grades as a a bit of a reflection of how well students will handle their rigorous program and what not, but should I really be stressing myself out about it? Especially if I've been holding up fine before?

Thanks.

[peperobox]

I got 8k a semester. Still can't afford due to LA being expensive ;_:. Oh well, to self-training it is!

How do you know how much you are going to receive already? I have yet to receive my financial aid package D:

[elemei]

Hey Deadlyhazard.

I'm an illustration student transferring this Fall and my original scholarship was $7,500 per term. However it wasn't enough for me so I contacted the financial aid office requesting a larger award. A few weeks later, I was contacted and my scholarship was raised to $10,000 per term. Hope that clears some things up for you.

Hiya, I was kind of curious as to how you contacted/requested that. Did you just e-mail explaining your situation? I received my scholarship info today and realized that it wouldn't be near enough for me to consider going. I think a part of it is that I have a very high EFC, when what my parents are willing to pay is substantially below that. (For support at all I am, of course, very very grateful!) My GPA (5.0) and portfolio are decent.

[peperobox]

Hiya, I was kind of curious as to how you contacted/requested that. Did you just e-mail explaining your situation? I received my scholarship info today and realized that it wouldn't be near enough for me to consider going. I think a part of it is that I have a very high EFC, when what my parents are willing to pay is substantially below that. (For support at all I am, of course, very very grateful!) My GPA (5.0) and portfolio are decent.

I guess everyone has gotten their award packages. Art Center awarded so little T_T I only got 10k/yr... not enough to pay their 40k tuition and gotta add the additional living,transportation,etc cost. I'm like having the hardest time trying to budget my year. D:

[Deadlyhazard]

Hiya, I was kind of curious as to how you contacted/requested that. Did you just e-mail explaining your situation? I received my scholarship info today and realized that it wouldn't be near enough for me to consider going. I think a part of it is that I have a very high EFC, when what my parents are willing to pay is substantially below that. (For support at all I am, of course, very very grateful!) My GPA (5.0) and portfolio are decent.

Yeah, I had to skip last semester (my original application) and I told them several times over the course of a few months that I still can't afford it. My main problem, they said, was that my EFC was too high (it's 32k~). I'm only going to be getting few hundred a month from my mom, though...so it's not nearly enough to live on.

I'm actually getting another revised scholarship because I STILL can't go on the current scholarship so I'm hoping that'll make things more doable. I might have to take out a federal loan for just living expenses, ontop of tuition ;_:.

EFC is the single most important thing to getting financial aid IMO. One thing for me to consider, is that even if total tuition is still around 20kish a year (for myself with the scholarship), is that living over there for awhile will drop my EFC to 0 (since I'll be independent), meaning more financial aid for the following years potentially. You might want to think of that aswell.

[elemei]

Yeah, I had to skip last semester (my original application) and I told them several times over the course of a few months that I still can't afford it. My main problem, they said, was that my EFC was too high (it's 32k~). I'm only going to be getting few hundred a month from my mom, though...so it's not nearly enough to live on.

I'm actually getting another revised scholarship because I STILL can't go on the current scholarship so I'm hoping that'll make things more doable. I might have to take out a federal loan for just living expenses, ontop of tuition ;_:.

EFC is the single most important thing to getting financial aid IMO. One thing for me to consider, is that even if total tuition is still around 20kish a year (for myself with the scholarship), is that living over there for awhile will drop my EFC to 0 (since I'll be independent), meaning more financial aid for the following years potentially. You might want to think of that aswell.

Aaaaaah something ate my original reply.

But wowa that sounds scary. I really hope you get a lot more with the revised scholarship. Just thinking about how much money these schools cost and all of the loans is nerve-wracking. I'm somewhat hesitant to enter into ~intense negotiations~ with them because I'm kind of set on starting school this fall and am not 100% gunning for Art Center at the moment. (I'd like to stay on the East Coast and am trying to somehow scrounge up funds to attend Ringling, my dream school. RISD and MICA also have yet to send their scholarship information.) I really hope things work out for you!

[Deadlyhazard]

Anyone know if taking out loans is worth it for the school (with an 8k a semester scholarship) ?

I can't afford the cost of living, so keep in mind I'd have to take out private loans (unless there's another way around this). I only get 500$ a month from my mom but that's not enough to even cover rent.

How do students with very little money (and a high EFC so thus no need based stuff) make the move over there? Can anyone with experience share what they did, and what the costs were a month? I'd be really grateful.

[peperobox]

8k a semester is alright if that's the only loans you have/will have. are you planning to go to art center this year then?

[Deadlyhazard]

Maybe in summer, most likely in Fall if I decide it's a wise financial move. I'll still be owing around 10,000$ a semester just from tuition D:.

[KrayTSAO]

Nothing has worked for me.

I was opted into illustration major because my portfolio is inadequate for ED or something.

And I just got my financial aid package, got a whopping 0 dollars.

The frustration...