The Reality of Going to Art School and a basic FAQ for those considering it.

[Poonanipanda]

Thank you so much, the things you said were very motivational, I know i have what it takes to work hard to excel at art, now I have the confidence that it's all up to me.

[thejaz180]

You are the Man, Manley.

[HappyGoLucky]

Thanks For the info i have been looking into getting into a art school near me

[Jason Manley]

The funny thing is, that when this thread was started I was simply frustrated with the art school system, and the broken mechanics of it, including the cost to result ratio. If not for this thread, I don't know if I would have ever put so much thought into the problem, enough so that I finally started the Art Department to deal with it. Some of the discussions in here really got my blood pumping and that led to a lot of thought and digging...and action.

There are worthy paths, and many do not cost 120k usd in tuition on average.

Best of luck no matter the path you choose.


jm

[art-of-tennis]

The funny thing is, that when this thread was started I was simply frustrated with the art school system, and the broken mechanics of it, including the cost to result ratio. If not for this thread, I don't know if I would have ever put so much thought into the problem, enough so that I finally started the Art Department to deal with it. Some of the discussions in here really got my blood pumping and that led to a lot of thought and digging...and action.

There are worthy paths, and many do not cost 120k usd in tuition on average.

Best of luck no matter the path you choose.


jm

Hello there, I'm a sophmore right now in highschool, and I already have been looking at art schools and such. I was wondering if TAD, or the ateiler here give you degrees?(Not sure if they're one and the same) I'm under the impression that they don't, and I just wanted to confirm this. Where's TAD located at, btw?

[Jason Manley]

I will answer this one question and from here on out you can reach TAD at infoATtheartdepartment.org or by searching for The Art Department on facebook, as this thread is not the place for this discussion. I will attempt to make it relevant at least.

TAD was created, in part, in response to this discussion. When I first made this thread I was solely focused on building my studios in Massive Black and working in entertainment. My frustration with the art schools, being unable to hire from them, and seeing the extremely high costs of their programs not benefit the students directly, led me to form TAD with the founder of The Illustration Academy. I was fed up with watching students come out of school upset that they didn't get the information they needed and decided to do something about it. After years of teaching in the industry and working with just about every major company in entertainment, I felt like now was the time to do so.

TAD is now located in Austin, Kansas City, San Fran, and Richmond VA. We have new locations going up now in San Diego, Orange County and are looking at venues in Amsterdam.

TAD is not an accredited institution as TAD does not currently give grades. Either you learn it or you don't at TAD. Either you know how to do what is being asked of you or you do not. TAD is taught as art was taught for hundreds of years in what is very much like a master to apprentice situation except there are many masters teaching. We have students now in every corner of the world. One does not need to study in the TAD locations directly. You can learn at home if you wish.

With that said, please reach me directly if there are TAD questions as I do not want to pollute this informative thread with further discussion about any one program.

I did want to be sure that people knew that this thread and all the discussions within it is one of the key reasons TAD was formed. Without this thread, I would not have had it on my mind for so long and so intensely. I believe in what we are doing and am going to continue to do what I can to change the way art is shared with artists around the world.

[MG_Dread]

wow, so i just found this thread and went through it...

and although it seems i've gleened some really great words of wisdom from it... there seems to be a lot of infighting about private art schools, and whether they're worth it or not.

now i'm going to speak from personal experience for a moment. i went to a top tier university and spent a year studying journalism, and then to UMass to study farming for a semester, and then to community college where I studied art for a year.

basically what i got out of my career in higher education is this... no matter how much you pay for it. your education is only worth how much time and effort you put into it. you can coast through your classes doing just the bare minimum and get the grade, but will you learn the important lessons?, probably not.

btw, ill be a freshman at massart in about two weeks. im totally psyched. and i'm already working my ass off everyday. well, im anxious, but we'll see.

-mg

[Mr.Thorne]

For a second i thought i was doomed cause of my poor choice in a school for animation like the school made the man but knowing this now really pulls off the anxiety and makes it easy to keep my goal of taking over the art field slowly with my awesomeness.

i got over this once more after going into game art and animation. woot!

[seanb47]

Dang,I'm sooooo glad I was made aware of this website!I've been seriously going through a pre-mid life crissis at 35 and wanted to finally pursue something I love.Art and formal education in the applied medias(Basically,I need to upgrade to today's digital world).I've been so inspired in the last year and a half by websites such as this.It is nice to know there are places of support and good informational direction.

I live in the Bay area and have been considering attending Academy of Art if the funding can be had.After reading through this I am now going to consider all options that are best for my situation.Thank you!

[childMARS]

Wait, then why do so many people try to get into art schools then? Is it possible to get connections to the mainstream industries without going to the schools that connect to it? I am trying to get into a school depending on how much connections they have and whether they can recommend me for internship.

[Anti-11]

This is indeed very helpful

[atomicchicken]

Wait, then why do so many people try to get into art schools then? Is it possible to get connections to the mainstream industries without going to the schools that connect to it? I am trying to get into a school depending on how much connections they have and whether they can recommend me for internship.

Hi: If you have ambitions to get into the industry, why not go from top down, (instead of listening to listening to the academies/schools/ateliers that have an interest in your money?)

Call the company you'd like to work for, (Human Resources if it's large enough to have a separate department) and ask where they recruit. You'll get the information with a practical basis/ they want the best employees/most talented/ artistic/ etc. Then proceed from there. See what you can afford.

Most studios/ game companies/ have places they regularly recruit from. Might be a plan...Good luck

[Xf11]

I just started going to college for graphic design in a small private school, and I managed to stumble upon this thrad, and all the posts are very informative, but I have a question.

I'v been using flash since I was 13 (im 18, so abour 5 years worth of flash knowledge give or take), and I know the program from top to bottom, left to right, ect ect, and currently graphic design doesn't look too appealing. But both my school and family members both have connections that might have me get the ground running if I choose to go into that. But I would rather want to do computer animation or something that has more personal creativity, and my flash knowledge may help with that, but I don't know how going to school for that would be. Also at the same time I sort of have an interest in learning programming or something like web/game design and interactive media (which flash can still help with), you know, something that is creative but not 100% visual based.

So my question is, would it be a good idea to major in something like web/game design but at the same time learn animation or graphic design on my own? Or should I dedicate myself fully animation/graphic design and major in it if I want to truly do well in it?

[MightyApplejacks]

"8. Degrees mean jack squat to an artist unless they plan on working overseas (required for the visa)"

Hm.. I wonder D: If you say no-one has ever asked for your degree, it might be true in your own country?

Was wondering whether to 'pick up' where I left off an my education (i.e return after the gap year), finish the course and wind up with even more tuition and loan to pay, or just do what I can from here - i.e work my butt off on my own- and drop it. If I'm going overseas in my lifetime, I might be screwed if I drop it? xD;

Whatever the case, I reckon the experience will teach me to get the best out of my time. The privilege of having good, affordable art theory classes (especially the On Demand sale..!) here alone is inspiring. Whether or not it takes me anywhere, well... it's up to me. Actually getting a lot of notes and playing on Sai to try and absorb it. Beats my uni lectures by a mile..!

Thanks for the info These comments are very fruitful, too.

[setsuna801]

Hi Guys, Ouf it was very long to read all the thread but I did.

I have a few questions on my own.

I am studying in a college in montreal. I am studying Illustration. It is a program which is not expensive, 150 tuition a semester. and almost All level of people can come in and learn. The learning is geared more toward commerciall art. Foundation year is only 2 semester. After that you attend your own life drawing sessions and learn your colour theory etc etc and you have to or else you fail. I think after my graduation I will have a lot of skills in term of buziness time management and I will know all basics of foundation at least. How to do a poster, layout, how to do creature sculpture concept art and animation etc we touch everything but don't focus on one thing.


Now my goal after this is. I realised that my dream is to do my own kind of work. I want to do work in galleries and impose my personality impose what I like. On the side I love illustration and concept art, maybe even costume and make up art for theather, movies, music and book. But principaly I want to do art that matters to me, And I have a lot of conceptual ideals I like but I also Love the precision and knowledge that they used in renaissance and that some contemporary school(russial academy of art, Watts atelier, Florance academy) I love more painting, drawing, sculpture+new media than actuall illustration. But I am studying in that and love it too.


My question is I want to get the skills! I want the degree also but I want to get the skills. I am not rich and I already owe 10 000$ and I dont have the skills to pay it in art yet.

here are my choices please tell me what you think

-Russian Academy of art st peterburg 15 000$(5000$ tuition year)+you can use the studios till midnight
-Watts atelier 14000$(all expenses+tuition)(4000$ tuition for 10 courses 1 year)
-Bridgeview school in new york 12000$(2600$ tuition a year) can borrow studio space for a certain amount per month)
-Then There is Lafaa in LA which is if I remember something between 6000-8000$ a year in tuition
-Atelier de bresole, which is like 5000$ a year but my yearly expense would be less because I live with my mom. But in the other hand I am not a fan of the student work but Maybe I can p ush better?
http://www.atelierdebresoles.com/


So knowing this I might have take 20 000$ in loan to get the skills I want the cheapest would be 8000$ if I stay in an atelier in montreal which I dont like the student work and overall style.



After that I would be able to think, Do I want to go to an expensive school and work hard and get my degree

or go to a normal university for cheap like 4000$ year Live with my parents and learn on my own from the 1 year education I got.

I believe in going to university because I eventually want to research. and maybe teach.

I would be really interested in your opinion

SO if I follow this plan Ex: Watts+What I owe now+Cheap but known university in montreal) I will owe maximum 50 000-60 000$ in loans(unless I find scholarships)


My dream school if I had the money woudl be new york academy of art but I know it is not nessesary to get what I believe school that are expensive gvie(connectioons)

[setsuna801]

here is my current work mostly school some personnal

http://jeffry801.blogspot.com

I am 22 years old in montreal


who I did not try attending any workshops yet for the reason that to get money I have to rely on loans! stopping to work would slow down my progress, I wo uld do this only if it was my last chance.

[the_rocket]

I am going to apply for eca undergraduate bachelor program and I would like to ask some questions.Firstly I would like to know if there is real opportunity for a student who finished in edinburgh college of arts film and television program to become a film director and what is the program of film and television in eca exactly about?Thanks.

[MightyApplejacks]

"8. Degrees mean jack squat to an artist unless they plan on working overseas (required for the visa)"

Hm.. I wonder D: If you say no-one has ever asked for your degree, it might be true in your own country?

Was wondering whether to 'pick up' where I left off an my education (i.e return after the gap year), finish the course and wind up with even more tuition and loan to pay, or just do what I can from here - i.e work my butt off on my own- and drop it. If I'm going overseas in my lifetime, I might be screwed if I drop it? xD;

Whatever the case, I reckon the experience will teach me to get the best out of my time. The privilege of having good, affordable art theory classes (especially the On Demand sale..!) here alone is inspiring. Whether or not it takes me anywhere, well... it's up to me. Actually getting a lot of notes and playing on Sai to try and absorb it. Beats my uni lectures by a mile..!

Thanks for the info These comments are very fruitful, too.

Just thought I'd repost, it's getting close to the re-applying time and I'm getting fidgety :/

[Spawn2]

Jason, I just want to thank you big time for starting this initiative.
I haven´t tried to join yet - is there an Amsterdam location now?, because if so I would like info on that, since I am from the Netherlands.

The first thing I learned at Arts and Culture, and which I am very much frustrated with, is the 'fuzzyness' that goes around the arts sector. Especially in the Netherlands where until recently, a lot of artists just got around on subsidiaries. People go to art school, are taught to 'think freely and philosophically' about art, but the real catch is: you don't retain any skills...

I went to the Academy of Arts in Maastricht - the Netherlands, for the open house, and when I asked: can I learn hyperrealist techniques here? The teacher told me: well, you learn the basics of art here, anything beyond that is your own task. So if you want to develop these techniques in one certain medium, you still have to go out on your own, in your free time (outside of school) to learn it.

This just made me mad. Thank god for web 2.0 and the ability to spread knowledge in other ways.

I am now looking to take lessons from a local painter, and doing a masterclass in the summer.

Oh and nothing teaches you to be organized as well as having a fulltime job and being an artist and musician next to that (still juggling here though)

[mauskittie]

You know from all the posts that I read no one mentioned Otis. lol Which is the school I just got accepted to but was about 7g's short of going to this spring. :C

I agree with a lot of what was said here. I attended (god please don't laugh like the administrators at the others school.) Art Institute in Santa Monica for Animation. I was only one class away from graduation but didn't finish because I was trying to convince my self that staying and finishing was more important than doing what I WANTED to do. Which it turns out is Product design and not animation. Now I've got 40G in debt,ran out of calgrant and can't qualify for a loan by my self because I have NO credit.

After reading all this I don't even know if getting the money for fall at Otis is even worth it anymore if all I'll have is debt. And I can simply learn things on my own. The thing I want the most from school is that "silly" little paper because it's been set in my mind that I'm a failure without it. yea,and no of course I'm not willing to go back to art institute just for that paper. SO what do you suggest now? I'm dead lost.

[artdirector]

wow. as an art director with over 22 years experience working at every major nyc publishing house i have to say: although well meaning this advice is way off. first of all i nor any of my colleagues have ever hired anyone who didn't attend one of those big name art schools. second: if you attend one of those big names, you simply cannot do the work and pass through. chances are if the work sucks you will get booted. first year programs are extremely rigorous and meant to weed out students. parsons for instance, has a 70% drop out rate after the foundation year and also has a junior year review of work from the first three years. if you don't pass muster, you are dismissed and will not be able to attend senior year.

next, i've seen people come in with books from small "design" schools. they are no match for the graduates coming out of the "big 3" (parsons, pratt, sva). smaller schools simply do not attract the best design professionals, period. it won't matter how hard you "work your ass off". graduates from the very best art and design schools will have you beat by 10 miles. and your parents will have paid for you to draw pictures all day. if you decide to go this route anyway, be prepared with a second major because if you come in for an interview and have a graduate from pratt sitting next to you, guess who wins? the programs at those schools are highly rigorous and the climate competitive.

these environments breed the best design professionals simply because of their competitive nature. you are only as good as the person sitting next to you. and they are only as good as their professor. it's not rocket science.

good luck to all of you and choose wisely. i personally knew i could not afford to risk not getting work after finishing. i had to go to the best and i had to BE the best. thankfully it worked out. but i can name several friends who i spotted around town waiting tables. there are more people trying to break into animation/art/design than there are actors! if you are serious you need to be equipped with the very best education you can (or even can't) afford OR FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. and when you get into your classrooms on that first day, take a look at your neighbor. i'll bet my right arm one or the both of you won't be there on graduation day.

there is no room for people who simply like to draw pictures. it's real business out there guys and you'd better be able to handle it.

and p.s.: that degree you don't need? YES YOU DO.

[colortheory]

Does anyone know about how to prepare for motion graphics and what schools offer it?

[Sharon Knettell]

*****

[Jason Manley]

The big art schools have high drop out rates, in part, because they accept EVERYONE

wow. as an art director with over 22 years experience working at every major nyc publishing house i have to say: although well meaning this advice is way off. first of all i nor any of my colleagues have ever hired anyone who didn't attend one of those big name art schools.

next, i've seen people come in with books from small "design" schools. they are no match for the graduates coming out of the "big 3" (parsons, pratt, sva). smaller schools simply do not attract the best design professionals, period.

these environments breed the best design professionals simply because of their competitive nature. you are only as good as the person sitting next to you. and they are only as good as their professor. it's not rocket science.


and p.s.: that degree you don't need? YES YOU DO.

The above information is misinformed or perhaps based on limited knowledge. Look atop this site and count how many artists went to those schools you mentioned. Find any?

www.theartdepartment.org is a small design school, compared to those big three, and we have more award winners in our faculty then the top ten art and design colleges combined. At a third the tuition...and with up to date industry information, unlike the others. What you said is simply not true. The best talent is actually teaching in the smaller programs now. Students just have to research the faculty to find out. The world of art education is changing and I work daily now to insure that it does.

Of the top professionals atop the site, perhaps half have degrees My entertainment company leads it's field and few there have their degrees too. The degree does not matter. A great education does. I have tried to hire major art school faculty for professional work, for example. Guess what? I was forced to hire students with more up to date knowledge who attended events like the international art and design symposiums instead.

I signed nearly 200 of the top games and entertainment industry clients and count all top 20 game publishers in my client list. I built and founded this community. I founded www.massiveblack.com and I founded TAD. My art and design workshops and events have seen more than 400 companies and 8000 participants. I have hired hundreds of artists and have about 110 field leading staff now and have had as many as 400 under my management, internationally and across my companies. None went to the schools you mentioned. Yet, I have been an invited speaker to nearly every major entertainment industry conference worldwide. I didn't graduate from high school or college. However, I did educate myself and still do every single day.

For the games and entertainment industry, I can tell you this much, not one of the students in any of those three schools could get hired by my studio and be ready to work immediately. Nor do any of my clients care if they have degrees. I would have to pay to train each one. They do not train the students well for the entertainment industry and the majority of their teachers in those areas often do not have the recent experience to offer up to date industry information.

I value your perspective, and in NYC, perhaps in your area of the field you are finding students out of the big schools but in my area those programs are doing a poor job...and leaving their students poor afterward.

I went to a big name art school for two years. I learned more in a summer at the smaller Illustration Academy program, than in two years at the big college. No client ever once asked me where I went to school or if I had a degree. They didn't care. The portfolio was what got me the work and having good people skills on the interviews secured it.



Jason Manley

[JakehC]

For the most part... I agree with Jason on this one. But i do want to say that ART Education in general is important. I think that going to a big school may get your more exposure and opportunities just because the "Bigger" schools get more attention and overall support.

I think school needs to be about more than what you learn and more about what you are exposed to and establishing the ethic, approach, and experience. We clearly all agree that you can simply learn things anywhere. but what environment is more conducive to practice? Home or school...

I wouldnt compare TAD to every other small school. Simply because most small schools arnt so closely associated with major companies like MB. So for that being said i dont think thats a fair analysis.

A person simply cannot get an art education at a community college and compete with a student from the big art schools in terms of exposure and immersiveness, without putting in alot more work to achieve the same opportunities. You're comparing two levels of exposure.

But with that said, i personally attend a small art program and i can and will probably excel more than anyone one of those lucky people who go to the big schools. not because my school is better, but because of my hunger.

My small school is infact a realistic limitation because im exposed to a more narrow perspective. There arnt as many people to exchange ideas, and i am massively dependent on the internet to fill in the missing links where i cant get certain information.

I think the system that TAD provides is a great one and i think that their credentials (no matter how cocky his presents them *shame on you*) are seen in the numbers.

Only thing i would ask of you Jason is to stop making TAD seem like a representative for all small school. I do understand the idealism and the goal you are aiming for. But i think its far to out there to dismiss the value of the bigger more competitive schools.

I think that people should go to college. And if you have the opportunity then go to the best school you can afford. Have no remorse for going to that big expensive school, and when you go get the best damn education you can.

but... for those of us who cant go to those schools we have access to other information that will help us succeed.

[Sharon Knettell]

*****

[Sharon Knettell]

*****

[JakehC]

My work is on my sketchbook.

anyways if you want to go without a degree, thats fine and your business. but we dont live in a world of idealism.

im glad that you didnt need a degree. and good for you that you made it. regardless of having a degree or not what it takes is tanacity and work ethic.

school is place that is conducive to learning, thinking outside ones box, and being exposed to different ways of thinking.

yes, these great artists didnt have degrees. but almost all of them spent an immense time studying and alot of them were supported by patrons who handed over shit loads of money to them. so if you want to make the comparison show me an artist to date who isnt in college and has some millionaires financially backing them while they play catch up to those who are in school being guided into their careers.

ALOT of the artists who are saying school is unnessecary went to school, and that edcuation is the reason they are Teaching at these schools. and if it wasnt for their education they woudnt have the comfort of sitting around nagging about how the institution is evil... just saying...

the whole concept of school is that there is a methodology to learning things. anyone in any feild can have access to the informatin they are learning in school. A biologist can spend years reading on his own about biology at the library. a computer scientist can devote hardcore hours to knick-knackery in his basement. but what these people do not have in common with school is the valuable networking, portfolio guidance, and structured enviornment to push them.

We here would like to think that everyone in our art community is a rembrandt in the making, but thats simply not the truth. some of us just make shitty art. thats the truth, and for those people being in school is going to give them the methodology to learning that they can apply to their own studies and approach to exploring art.

now, im not saying that going to school, or even finishing is the end all of an art career. Im just saying that those who went to school only regret either the ammount of money they spent, or the fact that they chose a school that didnt offer what they desired.... but i think alot of people highly value their experience as a student.

School is about more than just doing art. its about broadening your horizon. the problem is that o many concept artists just want to be draw-bitches. and we have to be higher than that. liberal-arts education is the true bread and butter of our feild as illustrators. to many artists are coming into the scene who dont know how to concept and come up with ideas. to many people are believing creativity is just coming up with random weird shit. Illustration is about inventiveness, ideation, and process. Execution and technique fit in after the goals of a piece are set in.

the problem i see facing an unedcuated art community is that we will have a higher chance of our work becoming less valuable because creatives may not know how to handle the businees aspects. And creatives who arnt exposed to a wide variety of academic topics are drawing from an even smaller pool of concepts. and the commodity of art becomes decreased as it works its way towards being something anyone can just slap together.

we see it in art alot, yet we ignore it. el greco, cezanne, rousseau, da vinci, michaelangelo... all great and non-college student. But i think this is said in great ignorance to where artists were placed within the societies of their day.

Michaelangelo was also an engineer/renaisance man of his time dabbling in almost every academic area. he was a genius in and out of art.

El Greco was the son of a wealthy tax collector. and he did in fact study at the Cretan school as well as being a disciple of Titian.

Cezanne was also wealthy and had an inheretence from his family's banking investments that allowed him to study without worry of money.

Above all of this i believe that MOST every mast artist recieved some sort of either formal mentorship or training at the schools that were available since prior to modern times painting/drafting were not a part of standard liberal arts curriculum.

----------------------

The thing that all these artists have in common is that they were either pure geniuses in and out of the artists world and/or they had significant financiial stability t'were art wasnt even nessecary as a primary source of monetary security.

I think making this comparison is a huge mistake because if you look at the numbers fine artists will have a very low starting salary after college, and even if having a degree wont do much to increase you respectability as a painter... it will atleast afford you alternative career paths in design, advertising, and edcuation to support yoursef if being an illustrator doesnt work out.

so anyways, im dont making my argument. and i really feel bad for anyone who gives up an education based on what both of you are saying. Jason you got lucky and you also made a lot of great moves. but not everyone is you and the odds are that a large portion of the creatives that work towards this field wont make it... thats a reality and i know you're not blind tot hat FACT. i believe people can hope but i dont believe that people should b lead into a romantic idealism...

Sharon Knettel. Once again, im glad that you have had success and i think that it says somethign about work ethic. i only hope that others will have the same work ethic. but even more i hope that people will be smart about these LIFE decisions that you guys are advising. I dont want to see a friend, peer, fellow artists have to start college at the age of 30 when they wake up and realize that they need to consider some other alternatives that require education. and i think that you mislead in your assessment of artistic feilds. it may not be the case for you, but MANY artists are dabbling in many different areas, and even if you dont need a college education you DO need a CV. And a huge way to build up a strong CV is to be involved in some sort of academic program that allows for opportunities to build your body of worth and establish you within the artistic community. I think that this is achievable without a degree, but the case tends to be that artists tend to take much longer or give up after their hopes of "bursting into the art scene" fade away.

No one may ever ask for my art degree, but when my school has exibits and shows and i meet artists in class and i intern and mentor underneath professionals... i know that atleast ill have a name that means something. I know that ill be able to say that i studied under one of the few Dr of Fine art in the country and that i had a consisent platform of learning and exposure....

so do what you will, and i hope that people will realize that this is just a forum and we are all just people babbling off our personal opinions on things....

[JakehC]

I hope the best for anyone who takes your advice.

[Jason Manley]

aryeh you should read the entire thread. I completely value education, so much that I built an art school and have held non profit events all around the world that help artists get jobs, learn the truth of the industry etc... I always say the point is to focus on learning and education...but I am also one to tell the truth and say that it is not a degree from a six figure art school that gets you to success, it is your learning, education and continued efforts to improve. A paper with a gold seal is not what employers care about in art. Going to one of the big art schools is not what guarantees success. Most students in the big art schools will leave school and never do anything art related with the degree. Only a few will actually see great success and few if any will ever ask them to see a degree.

So point is, your argument is already settled as we are on the same page. Education is important, and I have stated that numerous times in this thread. I just do not believe artists should have to pay 120k for it only to get out and have jobs that start at 45k a year while they suffer student loan payments of 1k a month. That leaves about 1600 bucks a month to live, which is not easy in cities like SF or LA or NY where artists often find the opportunities. If you read the thread you would have seen that.

Prior to going to a big expensive art school I too bought into the idea that it was somehow more competitive, better, and filled with more opportunity. The truth is I got more out of my community college classes, which were fabulous, and the illustration academy than I did spending all that money to go to a big private art school. I have also tried to hire the professors of a big private art school only to see that they could not do what they were trying to teach. You are suggesting for people to go to a school based on the cost of it. That has nothing to do with it. My community college was 30 dollars per credit hour and I teach what I learned there every single day.

Anyway your argument is unnecessary as we are on the same page, for the most part.


Jason