Art Center vs. School of Visual ARts

[annisahmad]

Well,
my dream was always to end up at Art CEnter since it's supposed to be 'godly' for what I want to do. However, it isn't free, and I think it will be too much for my parents and I to handle financially since I have 2 sisters that will be entering college in turn right after me.
So... I decided to look at some other schools.
The School of Visual ARts is appealing to me since it's in NYC which is about 40mins-1 hour away from my home, and that it is not as expensive as ACC(art center).
I'm applying to scholarships and all, but I don't think it will cut it. And I highly doubt that I will get a free-ride to AC.

So I just wanted to know the opinion from people who are attending/attended there.
Good? Bad? Okay? Exceptional?

My main question: In comparison to Art Center, how IS SVA (school of visual arts)?


Thanks in advance,
Annis

[Elwell]

What exactly do you want to do? Rather than comparing school to school, you really have to compare department to department.
For instance, SVA and Art Center have the two best illustration programs in the country (IMNSHO). But SVA has no industrial design department, so if that's your focus, look elsewhere.
There are a ton of current and former SVA folks around here, so if you have any specific questions I'm sure they can be answered.

[CruShTinbOX]

You might want to check out the Art Schools and Education section, located here:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

You should be able to find all the info you need there.

[winjer]

you should go to sva so i can antagonize you.

[Helium Macaroni]

Dang, I thought this was going to be a challange thread between Art Center students and SVA students when I initially saw the title.

..for what I want to do.

Uh, what do you want to do? Entertainment? Then Art Center is your place. I had some friends who went to SVA for animation and CG. Personally, I wasn't too impressed with what they came out with.

No place is cheap. You're going to need loans for just about anywhere, but the investment will pay off in the end if you really commit to the education.

I can't really speak from experience about SVA, however I can speak about Art Center. Its quite an increadible school. Light years beyond Pratt where I attended before.

[camilografix]

Avoid Pratt at all cost

[annisahmad]

thanks guys

well, i was looking to get into entertainment (concept-design for games/movies) in the future. So, I guess Art Center is the obvious choice since all of your posts so far say nay :-P.

[Snowsfall]

But if you come to SVA you can hang out with super cool people like me and winjer!
I really can't talk a ton about the experiance here though since I'm in my first year unless you want to listen to me bitch about my foundation teachers etc.
Other then that though I love it here, nyc is an amazing place to be an art student. I got into Art Center last year with a small scholarship but it was just too far away from home for me to deal with.

[Helium Macaroni]

Avoid Pratt at all cost

Agreed 100%.

nyc is an amazing place to be an art student. I got into Art Center last year with a small scholarship but it was just too far away from home for me to deal with.

Yes, NYC is wonderful. I loved it there and would give almost anything to return. However, there is next to nothing in terms of work for entertainment in NY. NYC Illustration and art in general tends to be on the commercial and editorial side of things, rather than the entertainment side. NYC fine art is goundbreaking, and the illustration is rather cutting edge. But in terms of concept art and pre-production developement art, there is very very little. One of the biggest draws of Art Center besides the amazing cirriculum is its base in LA. It is near the epicenter of entertainment for the entire world just about. Every major studio is here in one form or another for film, TV, and games.

I hate LA, but the jobs are here. If you properly commit yourself to the education and network properly, you will have very little trouble finding a job. Once you have your first job, you can move anywhere else after making a name for yourself. If you are going to go for entertainment in NYC, you will be sorely dissapointed come graduation when you try to find a job.

[Denart]

Just curious about SVA...

0) How's the foundation year? I heard some bad things about it...I dunno.

1) Do the first year students take all the same courses?

2) Any 3D courses? (cuz I dislike 3D courses!) heh

3) If you decide to become an illustrator during foundation year, can you just take illustration orientated classes?? That be nice

thanks
heee

[Snowsfall]

Foundation year is good for some, bad for others, really depends on what block of teachers you get. Mine aren't terrible, but they aren't good either. They are all the nicest people in the world but when it comes to crits, it really isn't very helpful.

All majors don't take the same classes, but related majors do. For example I'm in classes with illustration, fine arts, animation, graphics design, cartooning and advertising majors. Others like computer arts, photography and film majors have a different set of foundation courses to take.

No 3D for me

And no real major specific classes in my case until second year(which I am looking forward too )

[Denart]

thanks for the reply Snowsfall! good help

if it wouldn't be too much...can you list all the courses you're taking for foundation year?
mega thanks

[annisahmad]

Helium> that's exactly my train of thought. , i've been pushed toward AC again. heh. thanks!

snowfall> i live near NYC, (north jersey) , and for some reason, the last time i visited the city, i loved it so much because i was thinking of it in terms of going to school there. it would be awesome . but i want to lean more toward opportunity rather then fun for now. although it is very very tempting to go there just because of the city.

[winjer]

Den: foundation year is a painting class, drawing class, art history, sculpture and some kind of learn to use adobe software class. I only learned stuff in the adobe software class. Now that im in second year i like it a lot better. The classes seem to have a point and i feel like i might learn something. You should transfer to sva. CCAD SUXXX

[Snowsfall]

Well since I'm stupid I'm in the honors program(which makes me smart??? maybe?) So I have the normal Painting, Drawing and Sculpture/Digital art class thingie but I also have 2 extra liberal arts classes a week. So instead of Lit. class I have Philosophy, History of War, American History along with the regular art history. Interesting classes but the extra workload is tough.


Annis - You can still move out to LA after graduating. As long as you work your ass off you can find work no matter where you went to school. With the internet and what not location isn't quite as important. Art Center does look like it has some awsome classes though