Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Graphic Designers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Fashion Institute, LIM College, New York City College of Technology, and Bronx Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Long Island University-Riverhead, New York City College of Technology, Fashion Institute, and Queens College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider LIM College, Fashion Institute, Mildred Elley School, and Daemen.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Bronx Community College, New York City College of Technology, NYU Poly, and Vaughn College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Long Island University-Riverhead, Sage College, Lehman College, and Long Island University Post.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of The New School, Pratt Institute-Main, School of Visual Arts, and LIM College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Cazenovia College, Marist, Rochester Institute of Technology, and LIM College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Rochester Institute of Technology, NYU Poly, Pratt Institute-Main, and Marist.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Lehman College, Marist, Queens College, and Fashion Institute.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Rochester Institute of Technology, Sage College, Cazenovia College, and Buffalo State.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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State University Of New York College Of Technology At Canton • Canton, NY
Studying Graphic And Multimedia Design (completion in 2011)
• 7/10/2011
"I am satisfied with the education I received. Things could have been better, professors could have been more prepared, but over all it was good for a new program. I am happy with my degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on the student's ability. If they need a lot of help, have little money, and are not very technical, this program might be good for them. But, if a student is very smart/technical it might be better to attend the university down the street. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The program is very new. But there is a competing program offered by another college nearby, and their students do more. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The design program wasn't the greatest. They were just starting the program. The art classes were great, but the computer and technology aspects were a little lacking. |
| Instruction | 7 | My professors did what they could to prepare me for the workplace. But I think the lack of technical aspects really held the quality of the curriculum back. There needed to be more programming and a little less art. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I studied graphics and design on my own before going to college. I was the top of my class and had the most experience with the programs we used. I ended up tutoring my classmates and getting paid by the school to do so. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix of hands on and book learning. Some classes were all about creating things in the classroom, while others were more about completing book tutorials outside of class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are lots of options: summer, winter, etc. But since there are limited faculty in the department, classes that you need might not be offered when you need them. Take required classes when they are offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The facilities and resources are pretty good. Tutoring services are excellent. Advisors are excellent. The computer labs are a little lacking. |
| Social Life | 10 | My social experience was great. I met a lot of great people, and there was quite a bit of stuff to do on campus. |
| Placement Services | 3 | Career services and job placement are fantastic -- for the engineering majors. Graphic design is a new major, and they don't really know what to do with us yet. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network seems to be very involved. I've worked with the alumni office and there are lots of supportive alumni. |
CW Post - Long Island University • Brookville, NY
Studying Fine Arts (completion in 2003)
• 7/16/2011
"The school prepared me well enough and I was aware of the challenges of finding a job in the working world. However, I feel in hindsight that CW Post was way too expensive and not worth what they provided."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The program was fine, and might be an OK choice for local students. I still cannot recommend it due to the price being so high; it is simply not worth the debt I had to take on. Perhaps if someone had a large scholarship I could recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Average because they are not an art school. There are better schools in New York for this degree that are far more selective of their students. There are also worse trade schools that pump out even worse designers. |
| Program Quality | 5 | They had a good program, however they have gotten far too expensive. In addition, they let too many people pass/enter the program that really weren't up for it. I can't imagine half of them getting a job in this field. |
| Instruction | 7 | Their program and instructors were good, they focused on good design. They probably should have focused more on the web and upcoming technologies. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Their programs were mostly easy to get through: an average amount of projects and enough time to complete them. Their mandatory freshmen art classes are unreasonable, though. While not hard, they require too many classes for too few credits. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I feel the teachers had structured classes and good lesson plans scheduled. However, due to the the nature of what I studied, much was hands on in the computer lab environment. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | They have some flexibility, but not all classes are available during nights, weekends, and summer. If I wanted to go to school now I would not choose them as I would have to take some classes during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | At the time we had computers that were not the newest models/systems. This hurt us as some were too old to run certain computer graphics programs we were learning. |
| Social Life | 3 | Many students go home on the weekends, leaving the campus barren. They did have occasional athletic events, but that is not really my interest. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I was placed in an internship which was required as class credit. There was no job placement help from CW Post. There was a great deal of unemployment the year I graduated because so many other students were graduating. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I've never received any help or assistance from the alumni network. The school only contacts me for money, even though I paid them for college and still have student loans. It's very frustrating. |
Rochester Institute Of Technology • Rochester, NY
Studying Digital Graphic Design (completion in 1999)
• 7/21/2011
"RIT gave me the instruction and the connections to enter into a good job and succeed in my career. I'm glad I went there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The instructors are great, the facilities are top-notch, and the name looks great on a resume. It does get a bit cold there, though. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Despite the name, RIT excels at more than technology and engineering. The fine arts, graphic arts, and photography programs are renowned, and they've helped me get a foot in the door at more than one agency. |
| Program Quality | 10 | RIT's graphic arts program gave me both the skills and the connections to begin a successful career. I learned both how to hone my talents and how to use a variety of applications (Adobe's suite, Quark, etc.) required in industry. |
| Instruction | 9 | My professors were excellent. Many had experience, either on a freelance basis or as full-time employees, in the industry and taught us what to expect. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Coursework was challenging but appropriate for what we needed to know. 12 years later, I'm still referencing some of the projects and critiques that we did in school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a lot of theory, but it always translated into practice. There's only so much you can learn about vector graphics without actually sitting in front of a computer. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I went to school year-round, taking a full course load in four quarters. I was usually able to manage my class schedule so that I only had classes three or four days per week, though of course I spent a lot of time in computer labs, dark rooms, etc. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities were top-notch. Relationships with major industry leaders like Xerox, B&L, and Kodak meant that we had the best of everything. |
| Social Life | 3 | RIT isn't well known for its social scene. If you want to get drunk, though.... |
| Placement Services | 6 | Luckily, I've never had to rely too heavily on the job placement services. The school's name itself on my portfolio is enough to get me noticed. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | RIT grads seem to be everywhere. The alumni network is strong, and the school does a good job of making sure we have connections throughout the country. |
Dutchess Community College • Poughkeepsie, NY
Studying Graphic Arts (completion in 2009)
• 7/21/2011
"My only wish would be more design classes. Other than that, I was satisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a good school to learn graphic design. It is also affordable. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | They have a decent reputation for this program/major. They aren't known for this major, but it is still good. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The teachers were great and very helpful. I also enjoyed my classmates. |
| Instruction | 9 | For a two year school, I learned a lot about my career. It was cheap, too. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The teachers helped out a lot and made sure you learned your stuff. This made classes easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had classes that offered a more hands on approach. However, I also had book learning classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offer many options for classes. I was able to take night classes and online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They have all of the above listed resources. Teachers are always willing to help you outside of class. |
| Social Life | 8 | A lot of my friends from high school went there, so I already know a lot of people. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They helped me find a job right after graduation. I found the job I am currently working at. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Great alumni network and support. Very useful. |
University Of Buffalo • Buffalo, NY
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2006)
• 7/26/2011
"I don't think I could have chosen better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You need to be very art-minded, and you have to navigate computer programs well. Almost everything I do is on the computer, except when I draw something and scan it in to the computer. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is the best graphic design school in New York State. I looked a long time for it. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The teacher was rather hard to understand because he was Russian, but the things that man could create with a computer were beautiful. |
| Instruction | 6 | Again, he was hard to understand. |
| How Difficult | 5 | This has come rather naturally to me. I am very artsy and very good with computers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We created to learn, but we had to learn to create. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I have never been to another school to compare, so I guess it was fine. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | They had the best computers I have ever seen. They also had some very expensive programs. |
| Social Life | 10 | I made many friends, which is what college is partly about. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They found me a good job and I quickly climbed the ladder. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not know much about it. Sorry |
School Of Visual Arts • New York, NY
Studying Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Graphic Design And Advertising (completion in 2010)
• 8/7/2011
"I am extremely satisfied with SVA. It's an excellent college, although it was expensive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would highly recommend SVA to anyone who is very serious about pursuing a career in the arts. SVA features a wide variety of degree options in different art fields, and features trained faculty with real-world experience combined with exceptional facilities. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | As I previously stated, SVA is widely regarded as one of the top art schools in the United States. It's a very well known and reputable school that produces exceptional artists. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The School of Visual Arts provides students with the necessary tools and advanced equipment they need to succeed. The School of Visual Arts is highly regarded in the art community as one of the best in the nation. |
| Instruction | 10 | Professors at the School of Visual Arts have their contracts examined on a yearly basis to ensure their teaching standards are top-notch. They have real-world experience and also work in their chosen fields while teaching at SVA. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The Graphic Design and Advertising major at SVA is moderately difficult due to rigorous coursework and homework loads. Additionally, tough competition from your peers ensures that your work is always its best. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Being an art school, SVA is very hands-on. There are many different hands-on opportunities for art students to gain experience in the field. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | SVA offers evening classes until 9:00pm, but does not offer weekend classes. SVA also has full and part time undergraduate and graduate courses, in addition to continuing education courses for those who want to brush up on their art skills. There is also a pre-college summer program in addition to limited online options for some classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | SVA has a wide variety of facilities accessible to students, including photography labs, computer labs with the latest equipment, printing labs, darkrooms, and more. They also have several libraries and archive sections within the libraries. Academic advisors are excellent and work one-on-one with students to ensure their college career is the best it can be. Accessibility of professors is also great, and they're always willing to help. Classroom space is abundant. |
| Social Life | 5 | SVA is not known as a social school, and has average social offerings compared to most colleges. As SVA is an art school, most students are focused on creating artwork, and thus they don't socialize as much. There are no athletics at SVA. School spirit is average. |
| Placement Services | 10 | SVA Office of Career Services goes out of their way to send students emails regularly regarding job opportunities. Also, students can visit the Office of Career Services to get assistance with resume writing, career and job searching tips, and how to make it in the real world as an artist. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | SVA alumni's group features a comprehensive website to allows students to keep in touch with one another. Furthermore, alumni can showcase their portfolios on the school's website for potential job opportunities. |
Syracuse University • Syracuse, NY
Studying Communications Design (completion in 2011)
• 8/10/2011
"The school has a great balance of a classic northeast university and an artsy atmosphere. The school has amazing resources, staff, professors, and classes. I was very satisfied with the education I got there. I feel like a better person after having spent those 4 years there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For a very serious design student, this would be an amazing program to pursue. You have to be ready to work hard, have all of your notions about what you believe turned upside-down, and put out some serious creative output. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | It's known for being one of the most challenging programs within the university and is well respected among design programs in large universities. This program is no joke! The school as a whole has a great reputation as a well-known research institution. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The resources provided at Syracuse were excellent. The studios were outfitted with every piece of technology or equipment we could possibly need. The program was challenging and involved a lot of reflection, peer review, and group projects. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors were extremely knowledgeable. The career center provided students with constant email updates on job openings, internship opportunities, etc. The work in class was challenging and relevant to work in the field. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The communications design program was very challenging. Projects were very time-intensive and involved. Usually group projects had several components and involved a huge time commitment. Critiques of projects were taken very seriously. Constructive criticism allowed for reflection and improvement of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the art and design programs, there is a lot more hands-on instruction and learning than book-based work. Artists and designers do their projects and assignments by experimenting with materials, working with their hands, etc. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | My program was fairly small, so there weren't a lot of different sections of each class. There were a few select classes offered during summer, but I definitely wouldn't call the scheduling "flexible." |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The wood shops, studios, photo labs, workspaces, libraries, and art collection are all excellent. You could never run out of resources to explore. All of the equipment you might need for an art project is there for you, from blowtorches to laser wood cutters to printers the size of a dinner table! |
| Social Life | 7 | The school's social scene was mostly centered around greek life, which I wasn't a part of. But many people rally around the school sports teams and going to games is a major social event. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Undergrads are always kept up to date on internship and job listings. After graduation, we're provided with information from alumni-owned companies looking for fellow alumni to apply for jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | The alumni network for the school was talked up quite a bit before I graduated. After graduation, I've found that in my particular field there aren't terribly many prominent graduates from my university. The office of alumni relations is always great to work with, though, and they provide info about job openings, etc. |
Pratt Institute • Brooklyn, NY
Studying Communication Design (completion in 1980)
• 9/14/2011
"Very satisfied, they were the happiest time of my life and proved to be a foundation for my career and life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This is the best Art education you can receive, and is located in the greatest city in the world. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | One of the top art schools in the world, and attracts students from all over the world. |
| Program Quality | 10 | This was the best design education. We were taught all aspects of graphic design from the ground up. |
| Instruction | 10 | Teachers were professionals working in the field. They shared all their experience with the students – trends, work ethics etc. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Work was intense. Projects were due every week. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was all hands-on projects and had to be completed every week. One could look at design books for help with ideas and trends – but ultimately it was all you. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | More than one class offered for each subject. Different teachers offer the same subject so you have an option to pick which teacher you wanted. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The library had substantial art reference material. Teachers were always available after class. |
| Social Life | 10 | Great atmosphere with all students working towards their goals. Everyone knew what each other was going through to achieve their dream. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I went on many job interviews as an undergraduate and graduate. My first job was through the placement office and lasted me 14 years. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | We have a professional alumni publication. Postcards were sent to announce lectures and job placement services. |
C.W. Post Of Long Island University • Greenvale, NY
Studying Digital Art & Design (completion in 2011)
• 9/20/2011
"Overall, the facilities and academics at this school are strong. I enjoyed living on campus and working as a tutor with the student body as a whole."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I enjoyed my time at C.W. Post and am proud of the education I received there. I would not hesitate from recommending others. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Post is often regarded as the best school for design on Long Island, having won many design competitions for the area when competing against other universities. Post has a strong art program as a whole. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Post was consistently regarded as the best school for design in the Long Island area. I felt that my professors were truly excellent, the facilities were well maintained, and the students were talented and dedicated. The learning environment was thus rather strong. |
| Instruction | 7 | Every class and each assignment was geared towards helping students succeed "in the real world." Professors were knowledgeable and approachable in and out of the classroom. They challenged you to work hard and try new techniques. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I did not find that my design classes were more or less difficult than core curriculum classes. It was relatively easy to succeed if one exhibited effort. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I was only assigned one textbook during my time in the program. All learning was done by physically using the programs to create different projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Post offers graduate and undergraduate classes during the day (as early as 8am) until the late evening (starting as late as 8:30pm) and weekend classes. Summer and winter sessions are also available. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are many computer labs and student resource rooms scattered across campus in academic buildings and even dormitory halls. Every department on campus has its own tutoring staff. Students with disabilities and international students have extensive support networks offered to them. My major's computer lab was strictly for design students and had its own staff to maintain the software and hardware and assist with technical problems at all times. The lab was open outside of class times for students who wished to work. |
| Social Life | 6 | I got involved in campus life rather quickly, but for many students, social life seems to be lacking. It is a large commuter school. Many students tend to go home on weekends, so the campus can seem slow. If one works to get involved, however, Post is an excellent and lively campus. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I felt that the career services office was helpful in correcting a resume, offering practice interviews, going over one's skill sets, etc. However, the job placement services were lacking: I was given places to search for jobs (websites, networks, etc.) but not directly helped. I depended on my professors and my own networking skills to find the job I currently hold. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | Unfortunately, as a recent graduate, I do not know much about the support services offered to alumni. Currently, I view the network as existing solely to ask for monetary donations. |
New York City College Of Technology • Brooklyn, NY
Studying Communication Design (completion in 2011)
• 10/4/2011
"When it comes down to it I am just glad I graduated. CUNY still has a bit of a reputation to it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It is a good program if you can't afford an expensive college but you have to know in advance that it is harder to get a job once out of it. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | People automatically think of Pratt or RISD or FIT, but City Tech is also a reputable school for designers. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It isn't a traditional art/design school. |
| Instruction | 8 | I've had some professors who were amazing and a few who would just pass anyone. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I think that not needing a portfolio to get a degree speaks to how easy it was. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | All of the professors had some sort of real life design experience which made it really interesting to learn from them. I had one professor who was a V.P at Saatchi & Saatchi. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It was more flexible at the beginning of the program but as you get to senior classes there are only two sessions available, and they get filled up the minute registration opens. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school always had beautiful Macs. They just all need to get together and have the same CS versions. One floor would have CS3 another would have CS5. |
| Social Life | 6 | They would try to have events to get people together, but it is hard since it's a commuter school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They don't do anything. They have a "career fair" once a year for a few hours. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | CUNY is such a big network you are bound to meet someone who went to one of the schools. |
Binghamton University • Binghamton, NY
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2012)
• 10/9/2011
"I enjoyed my time there for the most part."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It's cost effective, but not the best you can get. My recommendation would depend on how much money the applicant was looking to spend. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | The art programs at the school are probably not well known to others. Very few people are in them. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The department was average. Nothing special, yet still effective |
| Instruction | 5 | The teachers were well informed, but not always the best at explaining things. Better people could be employed. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I found myself struggling with the workload. The courses were difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The art programs usually don't require books. Thus the learning is very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The class times are very flexible and instructors are helpful. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The art rooms and design studios are nice. They are well-equipped and spacious. |
| Social Life | 5 | We have no football team, but other than that it's okay. |
| Placement Services | 5 | We have a career development center, but I'm not certain that it is successful or helpful. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The school has a powerful network of alumni. I don't know a ton about it but I know it's good. |
Parsons The New School For Design • New York, NY
Studying Communication Design (completion in 2008)
• 10/10/2011
"Like New York in general, I have a love/hate relationship with my school. It was very challenging, and very expensive, and there are many things they could do better, but I had some amazing instructors, and now I know so much about design. Not only am I well-educated on the nuances of typography, grid systems, web vs. print design, I also have vast knowledge of design theory as it pertains to graphic, industrial, fashion, and environmental design."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think it really depends on what the person is looking for. It depends on what type of designer they'd like to be. If they are thinking advertising and corporate design is the way to go, then yes. However, if they are thinking of doing more artistic, conceptual design work, I'd say RISD or SVA might be more appropriate. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | My school is considered one of the top design schools in the country. However, I feel as though it may be losing status, as it is getting too big and becoming sort of a "designer conveyor belt." |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school was great. I wish they would have taught a little more about the programs we use and a little less "concept development." I also wish Parsons was a little less commercial, and a little more experimental. |
| Instruction | 9 | Overall, I had fantastic instructors. My design theory instructors were particularly mind blowing. I feel like some of my design instructors were either a little bitter, or their ideas about design were a bit dated. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The work load and the expectations made my school very challenging. It's great because it really pushes you. Every class has a very large amount of work, and very high standards for excellence. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Exactly down the middle. I had theory classes that were very book and paper oriented, and design classes that required hands-on work. Overall the perfect mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Like all majors, Communication Design had it's requirements. Electives, while design-oriented, covered a lot of ground. They really covered all aspects of design in daily life… design really is everywhere. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Design classrooms, by default, are basic rooms with white walls where work can be pinned up. Parsons classes were basic, although some of the newer classrooms were quite fancy. There was a good computer lab, if a bit crowded. I liked the library, but by college standards it was very small. Most of my instructors were working designers...some made themselves available outside of class, others were very hard to get a hold of. |
| Social Life | 2 | Most fields are very competitive but design is cutthroat. There were cliques based on perceived talent, and shared aesthetics. The polarization of classes within the school is obvious and uncomfortable. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I feel like they are no different than most schools, and really don't have a placement program set up. There is an alumni job board which is relatively helpful, but it's not like career services is doing all that much since it's an automated site. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I don't think it exists. I just feel as though it's not very helpful. The system is in place and means well, but just needs to be revamped maybe? |
Southampton University • Southampton, NY
Studying Photography (completion in 1997)
• 10/15/2011
"I had a lot of fun and learned a lot more than I did at my other school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If my school was still running and it had the same faculty yes. The teachers were very understanding and didn't sugar-coat life in any way. You always got straight answers. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The question is not applicable as the school is now closed. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The teachers really cared and gave special attention to the students. |
| Instruction | 3 | While I learned a lot with the tools to do my job, I had no idea what the workplace/work life would be like. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There are so many aspects and mediums you have to understand and master in order to get anywhere. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My classes were art so I had to do hands-on. Other classes were mostly book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | It was really hard to take classes. Many of mine ran back to back and I would be working 18 hour days a few days a week. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The library was extremely small and seemed outdated. Labs were only available if a class was not going on. |
| Social Life | 5 | Didn't go there long enough, but people were pretty nice. I acclimated myself very well to the school. I wish I went there for my first choice. I think I would have come out with better life experiences. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I didn't have a lot of choices, but I did learn a lot at my internship. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I don't know of any network. The school suffered financial hardship and is closed now. |
Fashion Institute Of Technology • New York, NY
Studying Communication Design (completion in 2011)
• 10/19/2011
"It was affordable and helped me accomplish what I needed to."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Perhaps to an incoming Freshman just starting their career. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | In interviews, the school's great reputation helped quite a bit. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The program had potential for someone who has not started their career. I'd already started mine. |
| Instruction | 7 | Good advice from people in the business. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Not challenged academically since I work in the field, though it is time consuming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I've taken as many online courses as hands on courses. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Evening program is a plus, though many classes started near 4PM - not realistic. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Great libraries and studio centers. All open at reasonable hours. |
| Social Life | 6 | As a part time student I had minimal opportunities for events, but the spirit was evident. |
| Placement Services | I have not looked to career support to rate this accordingly, though I'm aware of my options. | |
| Alumni Network | I have not looked to the alumni network for support to rate this accordingly, though I'm aware of my options. |
New York University • New York, NY
Studying Journalism (completion in 2011)
• 11/29/2011
"While expensive, NYU provided opportunities other schools couldn't have, because of its prime location."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My program emphasizes multidisciplinary learning. A second major is required for all journalism students. I worked as a designer at the school newspaper and focused on learning design through internships around New York, so if someone is looking to be an informed designer with knowledge of more than just art, a program like this is great. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Among one of the best schools for undergraduate journalism, largely because of its location. |
| Program Quality | 8 | NYU is a great school for most programs, and it certainly is a top school for journalism, but it's expensive and large. Classes sometimes felt redundant in the program. |
| Instruction | 10 | Professors were often actual working journalists, considering we live in NYC. Some of the best in the industry are drawn to NYU because of its name and status. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It's not incredibly challenging, but there's certainly a lot to get done for each semester. Talented professors expect talented students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Journalism is naturally a hands-on program. Books were used mostly in classes for general requirements. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Flexible for undergraduates going full time. A lot of classes are offered after conventional hours to allow working professors to teach, which is great for students working/interning during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The brand-new journalism building was fancy. NYU's huge size also allows for a huge amount of resources outside of the J-School. |
| Social Life | 8 | Many people complain it's not a social school. I participated in a lot of extracurricular activities and school groups, so I found the opposite to be true (but I understand why others feel that way.) |
| Placement Services | 10 | The career services department is constantly reaching out to students and connecting them to opportunities in the city. I never had the need to use the career office, but many people around me found it invaluable. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The network is great, considering many famous people and great journalists went to NYU. The problem lies in the ability to connect with them. |
Syracuse University • Syracuse, NY
Studying Communications Design (completion in 2007)
• 12/30/2011
"Getting a job afterwards is the most important part. The friendships forged with other designers are also very important. I would definitely hire a recent graduate from Syracuse, because I know they have all worked incredibly hard and have been picked to pieces during critique, as is the typical Comm Design experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on what they're looking to get out of their career. I would recommend it to certain designers, but probably not to people who need more guidance. Syracuse's program is what you make of it and that can be overwhelming for some people, but liberating for others. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Some people don't even know Syracuse has a program and have never heard of it. However, among the alums, they know the blood, sweat and tears gone through by recent graduates and fellow alums. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Syracuse is very projects-based and practice-based, so one comes out with a great portfolio at the end; therefore, the job placement after graduation is high. However, the education is not well rounded and there's little emphasis on typography or interaction, which is pretty important (although many alums go on to become interaction designers, since many of the firms are willing to teach internally). There's also not much emphasis placed on interactive design within Syracuse's program, which is where the design industry is going. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instruction was critique-based. Many students ended up dropping out, due to the rigor and broad setup of the program, which required that students bring in work, receive critique, act upon the critique, bring in work, receive critique, and so forth. It takes a great deal of maturity and discipline to deal with that sort of setup. However, there was not much theory taught or emphasis placed on typography, print processes, etc. So the program was only somewhat practice-based, and there were definitely holes in my education. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The program is suited towards students who have a clear design style and direction. To be successful in the program, students need to have a certain amount of maturity and discipline in place and already know what direction they're going in as designers. Since the program is projects-based, it is situated towards having students create their own made-up clients, design briefs, proper medium for executing the design brief, execution of those projects, etc. If students in the program are not sure what their interests are and don't have a good grasp of who they are as designers and what they want, the program can be overwhelming. Some of the program is set up like a design firm would operate, with a lot of the emphasis placed on bringing in work week after week and receiving critique (these classes typically last 4 hours or longer). However, without any prior training or coursework in typography, it's somewhat hard to get really specific during critiques for the students. Criticisms can be really broad and longwinded. The program started with about 70 students and ended with about 20-30, due to students dropping out and going on to "easier," less work-intensive majors, like Advertising Design. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was all practice-based learning and weak on theory. However, there was one required course where we read some design papers by Marshall McLuhan and others. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Full-time is the only way to get the degree. They have study abroad programs, but one must prepare far in advance. No summer study is available, since the coursework is not classroom-based and is student-critique-based. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Syracuse University has a lot of money, and a new facility was built in the downtown area to specifically house the design program. Access to computers is good. Office hours are good. The founder of the program is a prestigious man who worked with many famous designers. |
| Social Life | 10 | Syracuse was sadly just rated a top party school. We also sadly have a large percentage of students in frats and sororities. We also have suffered a recent embarrassment involving a pedophiliac coach, yet we are number one in basketball and many other sports. Socialization has never been Syracuse's weak point. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The Communications Design program does a portfolio show/cocktail party in NYC that every student is required to send their portfolio to and alums are asked to attend. The alums can network with the students and are encouraged to leave comments and their contact info written on sheets of paper with the portfolios. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Because of the rigor of the program and the low percentage of students remaining in the program going on to graduate, camaraderie is high. There's a high concentration of designers who go on to work in New York City (since the university is in NY state). Therefore, it's fairly easy to network in NY and get a job. |
Sage College Of Albany • Albany, NY
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2000)
• 2/23/2012
"The more I reminisce about it, the more I realize that it was a great experience. I just wish I had gone to a four year school so I could have had more great experiences. I learned to trust my artistic talent and to have faith that I could work as a designer. I learned that design was not some elusive magic thing, rather it was something that I could work hard at and get good at and succeed at."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend Sage to others. The design coordinator is kind and helpful and knows her stuff. The facilities are top of the line, and the professors really care. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | In Albany, it is a respected school. If you compare it to NYC schools it is just blah. But what you get for the money is good. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was a two year program in which I learned a lot, but I would have had a better time in a four year program. I decided what I wanted to do late in life so it was my only option at the time. The schooling was quality and the teachers really cared. The computers we used were up to date for the time, and I was introduced to so many new things that I still remember to this day. |
| Instruction | 6 | I was taught a lot about old fashioned design stuff, like making mechanicals, which we never use in my profession. I wish we had been taught more about web design, or been taught how to use other programs besides Quark for layout. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The projects were not easy, not hard... they were really right in the middle. All one really had to do was put forth a sincere effort and participate in critiques, and they could get a respectable grade. I felt challenged but I was really never stressed out or worried that I would fail. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | All classes I took were either studios or a class with a hands on lab. Studios lasted all day and we had time to really delve into what we were learning. It was so much fun getting into projects and bouncing ideas off each other and our teachers. We would get down and dirty and eat pizza and draw and paint and design on our computers. It was like a big family learning and growing together. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They have a great weekend program for those who are working full time jobs. If I had to get another degree I would take advantage of their weekend classes. I think that kind of flexibility is one of the main things that draw people to the school. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had state of the art photography equipment and a state of the art mac computer lab. We had tutors and the teachers seemed to be always willing to stick around to give extra help. I loved doing research in the library because of all the resources available. |
| Social Life | 5 | I kept to myself and didn't go to a lot of parties because I was older than a lot of the other students. I did meet one girl who became my friend the entire two years I was at the school. We hung out outside of school and did projects together. I'm not sure if there were a lot of organized events... there was definitely no greek life. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They have a great CDC and internship program. They partnered with the community to offer a wide range of internships, many of which lead to full or part time jobs after graduation. I spent many hours at the Career Development Center talking with my advisor, who gave me great tips on how to improve my resume and how to handle job interviews. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I just recently got involved with alumni programs. I received an alumni card which is good for discounts and access to certain resources. I am also friends on facebook with one of my old teachers, and she gives us hints about job openings and acts as references to some of us former students. |
Fashion Institute Of Technology • New York, NY
Studying Textile Design (completion in 1992)
• 3/4/2012
"FIT gave me the tools I needed for my desired career. FIT also gave me training in public speaking and presentations, which is essential for designers."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | FIT is an in-state school, so tuition is very reasonable. You get an excellent education and you will not have student loan debt when you finish. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | With the design and fashion industry, FIT is highly rated and very well known. |
| Program Quality | 9 | We were prepared for professional careers. The teachers were very good. |
| Instruction | 8 | The classes were small. The teachers emphasized practical applications. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The assignments were challenging. The caliber of other students was high. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | FIT was very hands on. We did not use books at all. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I was able to take all my classes in the evening. I did not take online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Professors were very accessible and the facilities were excellent. |
| Social Life | FIT is not a typical college with social activities. There were no organized events. | |
| Placement Services | I did not use career services. I found a job on my own. | |
| Alumni Network | I don't network with alumni. I have not used career services. |
Bryant And Stratton College • Rochester, NY
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2008)
• 2/28/2012
"Overall, I love Bryant and Stratton. There are things they could do better, but overall they are a great school. I like what they do, and they know how to make it so that you are prepared for a career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to others. They know how to help people get right into the workforce. The classes are career oriented. And despite the lack of jobs in my field, I am employed currently. So yes, I would recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I don't know if Bryant and Stratton is exactly well known for being a great Graphic arts school, but they are pretty well known for being a good school in general. I was hired at my job purely because I was a graduate from there and so was the HR manager at the company I work for. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The school was great, I love Bryant and Stratton and was very happy with the program. They knew what they were doing and hired teachers with real world design experience, instead of just education experience, which really made a difference. The only thing I wish they had done better is been more realistic about career opportunities. |
| Instruction | 10 | I loved my teachers, they were great. They had a lot of real world experience in design, having either worked as freelance graphic artists or in marketing or design with known businesses. They were good at what they were doing. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I thought the work load was average. However, I really enjoyed what I was doing, which made a big difference. I actually found it more difficult in the beginning when I was taking more generic classes versus when I was taking relevant design program classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | At least in the design program, B and S was very hands on. We did a lot of work directly on the computers. In fact, there were many classes where the books were practically not necessary. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Bryant and Stratton was made for flexibility. I was able to go to school while still working full time. They have online classes, night classes, day classes and saturday classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The resources could be better. It is a small school so they do not have the capacity to have giant resources. But what they do have is acceptable considering the size of the school. |
| Social Life | 5 | They could be a little more spirited. But I was not attending school for the spirit or the atmosphere. I was attending so that I could start a better career. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Their placement initially is great. They have a great intern program which actually got me my job. They were great at providing references and keeping track of the jobs that were available. They could be better at keeping up with graduates AFTER they are placed for additional opportunities. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They were very helpful in finding jobs and have been continuously helpful in helping me to look for additional opportunities. However, they did tend to over inflate their stats as far as how many graduates work in the field and how helpful they are after graduation. |
Bryant And Stratton • Williamsville, NY
Studying Visual Communication And Design (completion in 1994)
• 3/13/2012
"I rated the school low, only because of how little hands-on computer work we had. college for me was before the internet blew up, so it's hard to graduate just prior to that, and enter a work force where that's what you needed to know."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If the program has changed since I went to school, then yes. I hope they have made some program advancements since 1996 when I graduated. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | My school doesn't have a reputation for graphic design at all. They are more focused on 2 year degrees that you complete in 18 months. |
| Program Quality | 3 | We learned a lot of hands-on technical things about graphic design, such as how to manually configure fonts, or worked on things like mechanical drawings. There was little real-world experience. |
| Instruction | 4 | The instructors were already working in the field of graphic design; some as freelancers, some as photographers, and some were just teachers. I felt like they could have provided more insight into the field. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program wasn't too difficult; but we had several classmates drop out and not finish. Academically, in the general education scope, it was challenging, but not too difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was little book learning in the graphic work we did - it's mostly hands on. the general ed classes were all book intensive. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | At the time, I was 18 and didn't need anything flexible. I just took whatever classes they scheduled me for. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The school library was great, as they had all the resources a student would need to complete coursework. The class room space was also great. Professors were beyond accessible, and friendly. |
| Social Life | 10 | I hated high school, but once I came to college, it was a completely different experience. There weren't a lot of social things to do while on campus, but off campus, people were friendly and hung out. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I used their service once many years ago, but haven't bothered since. At the time, they were of average help. They recommended a good temp agency, and I did actually get hired on long term from a company I had worked with. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I do not participate in any of the school's alumni activities. They do provide job assistance, but I haven't used that service for many years. |
New York City College Of Technology: CUNY • Brooklyn, NY
Studying Advertising/Communication Design (completion in 2011)
• 3/14/2012
"Compared to the prices of private design schools, this was very affordable since it was a public school. I would like to reiterate what I said earlier in regards to all the skills I developed while attending here."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's affordable, it's fun, and with flexible schedules, almost anyone can attend. The professors are wonderful too and as time goes on improvements are made, and I am sure this school is working on fixing its flaws. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Many graduates have gone on to become art directors and professors after graduation. Also, an alum of the school from 2004 is the founder of the AM New York newspaper in New York. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I learned many skills while attending this school. Besides learning more about the principles of design, I also got into more of the web aspect and learned php, wordpress, and javascript. |
| Instruction | 5 | The coursework was tough as I had many big projects at one time and since I was working while attending school, I learned to manage multiple projects. In regards to job searching and career preparation, however, I feel it could have been vastly improved. |
| How Difficult | 3 | If it wasn't for the fact that I was also working, I would have given this a 1 for extremely easy. However, managing the different design projects from work and school, I found myself stumbling a little bit and not putting in the full effort I could have given. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Every design class I took had a computer. We worked extensively with Adobe Programs such as dreamweaver, photoshop, illustrator and flash. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to take weekday and weekend classes, and multiple classes were available. That was, of course, if you registered early, which I always did. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | No color printing!!! |
| Social Life | I never went to any functions at the school, but I did meet one special and lucky young lady. | |
| Placement Services | 2 | I never received much help in regards to job search. Only one professor from my portfolio class gave me a list of ad agencies I could contact, but that was pretty much it. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I am part of the school's Advertising and Graphic Design Department facebook group, so I receive daily updates and contacts from both alumni and current students. Also, professors give invaluable resources on there as well. |
Purchase College • Purchase, NY
Studying Visual Art/Graphic Design - BFA (completion in 2005)
• 3/15/2012
"I am very satisfied with Purchase College. The teachers know their stuff and are working professionals."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes. The school is great. The atmosphere is excellent, meaning you will be around other artists and you'll be close to NY. Also, the cost is low, especially for NY residents. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I think the reputation is very good. It is ranked high on a national scale. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was a great experience that changed my life. There is always room for improvement. I would like to see more education on how to survive after school. |
| Instruction | 9 | The quality of most instructors was top notch. Some left a bit to be desired. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Expectations were high. I now wish they were a bit more demanding of me and others. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Assignments that are hands on projects are given weekly. Work is critiqued weekly. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There were certain days/times to be there, which were not difficult. There was no option for different time slots, or a low residency program. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Computers and software are okay. They are fairly up to date. |
| Social Life | 5 | Nothing to report here. The workload is high and contact with other students and activities are just not an option if you want good grades. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I would say it is non existent. There is a bit of a “you are on your own” attitude. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | It is not bad. We stayed in touch within the year I graduated and a few afterwards. Mind that has been my doing, my desire to stay connected to the school. |
Nassau Community College • Garden City, NY
Studying Commercial Art: Digital Technologies (completion in 2013)
• 3/21/2012
"My professors are great and I am capable of working school around my work schedule."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | School is cheap and you're getting back more than your money's worth. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Attending this school is extremely cheap. The programs are great and have great professors. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My professors are amazing, they are always willing to help, providing me with great advice. Also allowing me with a chance to do freelance work with them. |
| Instruction | 9 | |
| How Difficult | 7 | I don't only go to school full time but I also work full time. I have trouble completing assignments at the quality I would like them to be. Therefore it makes my classes a bit more difficult compared to other individuals. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I am a hands on learner. My professors are more student-oriented so they take their time to teach and instruct properly. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school provides great professors during the online/weekend/ summer courses. Classes aren't as packed during weekday courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | With the exception of the computers being a little slow the resource are great. The librarians are very helpful. |
| Social Life | 8 | Day students love to represent their school. They spend days preparing for events; school spirit at NCC is amazing. |
| Placement Services | 9 | There are job fairs and other on campus events which allow students and alumni to find jobs. In most cases people find a job where they spend time working on bettering their career. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | It's pretty good as far for design aspects. It could be a lot more user friendly. |
Cornell University • Ithaca, NY
Studying Architecture (completion in 2009)
• 3/22/2012
"The school as a whole was great. My particular program was great as well. I liked it because of the quality of the teaching and the learning environment it created."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you get in they will take care of the money part if you are low income. The level of teaching is so high. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school has always had a great reputation. It still does. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The program was great. I learned a lot and it met my expectations. |
| Instruction | 9 | We had great instructors. I was fully prepared to do the work after graduation. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Very long hours are almost necessary. The work load is unbelievable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A mixture of both depending on the class. Obviously the theory classes couldn't be hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It is somewhat flexible depending on the class. Some core classes are not flexible at all. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had great library. But the technology workshops and computers were not as up to date at the time. |
| Social Life | 9 | The community is very close. The friendships are for life. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I believe it's great. But at the time I graduated it was very difficult and no one could do much. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | We have a great network. I get called for interviews with the alumni. |
Syracuse University • Syracuse, NY
Studying Communications Design (completion in 2009)
• 3/25/2012
"I enjoyed my experience. If I were to do it all over again, I would complete the same program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The instructors are very knowledgeable and the program is great. The school itself also offers a wide variety of academic and art outlets, creating a well rounded experience. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is known for having a very good program. I went to SU specifically for this major. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was a very rigorous major and I learned a lot. However, I think the program would benefit from more "real world" experience. Working as a graphic designer is very different to doing class projects. |
| Instruction | 9 | Technical skills of graphic design layout, how to develop and think about a "good" design, were good. Career preparation was limited and we could have benefited from more attention. |
| How Difficult | 10 | My major had a very high drop out rate because it was very difficult. It was also very hard to achieve high marks, which often effected students' GPAs. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was all about creating and mocking up samples. There was little standard "book learning" involved, but that was covered by the personal research students did for their projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It was sometimes difficult to schedule academic classes around the necessary three hour studio classes. But I was able to take everything I needed, just not necessarily everything I wanted to. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There was a computer lab with a small color printer. Most projects required a lot of large printed items, so there were a lot of out-of-pocket-costs. |
| Social Life | 9 | I was a social as I wanted to be. I joined a sorority and attended social activities with friends, but there are many different activities available. |
| Placement Services | 4 | There is a senior portfolio review where companies who are hiring are invited to attend. But, most of those companies are based in NYC, so if you're not "the best of the best" and are planning on living in NYC, it's not very helpful. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I have had little to no contact with my program since graduation. There is an alumni e-mail that goes out occasionally, but it is not aimed at my program. |
Briarcliffe • Bethpage, NY
Studying Graphic Design/Print Production (completion in 2006)
• 3/23/2012
"Waste of money. Waste of time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | In combination with a poor administrative staff and an extremely poor job market; I would not recommend this institution. Schools like Briarcliffe manufacture candidates, over saturating the job market with under qualified individuals. I supplemented my education with independent study which is why I am one of the few successful Briarcliffe graduates. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | As I said before, most graduates do not hold careers in their field of study. Also, many are embarrassed to even put the school's name on their resume. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Great professors, but administration was atrocious. School was a for-profit entity- i.e.; profit before student/curriculum concerns. Classmates were not of the proper caliber to complete study. Exiting portfolios were generic. |
| Instruction | 6 | They had extremely knowledgeable teachers but no career resources. Upon graduation the school referred me to a terrible job opportunity. |
| How Difficult | 4 | My classmates in school were a waste of space. Nobody was there for the love of art; they were forced into a degree for whatever reason. I feel that because of this I, as an artist, was able to shine. I stated earlier that I felt the portfolios coming out of this school were average. Students did not feel the need to excel. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They have a good mix of art theory and historical precedent as well as fine art and illustration classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Surprisingly, very good. I took classes as early as 7 AM and as late as 9 PM. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | Evidently, budgeting was very tight. Printers are always out of ink or toner. 3D classes were a joke. Computers were woefully inappropriate for the curriculum. |
| Social Life | 1 | No on-campus housing. The school eventually rented space from a Howard Johnson. The school's contract there was terminated due to violence and substance abuse. They tried it again at a closer motel, even with the schools contract the motel went out of business. |
| Placement Services | 2 | Nearly nonexistent. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Non-existent. Less than 1 % of graduates have a meaningful career in this field. Most graduates of Briarcliffe are embarrassed to say they went there, some will not even put it on their resume. |
Joseph M. Barry Career And Technical Education Center • Westbury, NY
Studying Graphic Desigdvertising Art (completion in 2010)
• 3/25/2012
"I wish I could go back and take more courses."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a great quick way to learn everything you need to know if you choose to continue the graphic design career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | If we decided to continue to a 2-4 year college/university, all of the art institutes offered scholarships just for coming from my school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My professor helped me with every question I ever had. She also allows me to stay in contact with her when I have any questions. |
| Instruction | 9 | The school that I attended used Adobe CS3, and they did not help me very much with my transition into CS5, even though they are very similar. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Deadlines can sometimes be hard to meet, however the hardest part for me is when your completed art has to meet a certain color printing system such as MK rather then CMYK. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We learned everything as if we were actually in the field. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The days were not flexible at all. They give you the schedule and if you can't meet it then go somewhere else. |
| Social Life | There were no athletics programs. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | Many internships were given over the 2 year course. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I enjoy being able to call my professor with any questions I may have. |
Tompkins Cortland Community College • Dryden, NY
Studying Graphic Design (completion in 2011)
• 3/22/2012
"I was pretty happy with my school for many reasons. It had great people and it was close to home. It also is the only community college I know of that has on site housing."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | They have a good program and they also have a lot of other art options. Photography, web design, animation. And if you pick any of them, you will be introduced to a number of them, but more focused on your specific major. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The reputation for the school is alright, I suppose I don't know many people who know about it from where I live, but the community was great and very wonderful. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Not the best schooling, some of the instructors were better than others, it was all about luck. The competitive nature of graphic design in the educational sense helped me see how hard I had to work, but it was also discouraging at the same time. Could have done better. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned a lot and I was certainly ready for a career, but that was because of my hard work and determination, it wasn't so much because of my education per se. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Some instructors worked you harder than others, and the competition was also hard to compare to. I think that the difficulty varied, but overall it was pretty hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most art classes didn't even require you to get books, however some lessons would be based on books and we would have to follow along, but depending on the class, it was usually very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Most art classes were long, and once or twice a week, but other than that the schedule was pretty perfect. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I loved the fact that TC3 had all of their classrooms in one building. It made access to the classrooms much easier. Also the sections of study were in different colors throughout the building. It made navigating much easier. |
| Social Life | 9 | I had a lot of friends at school. All the art students clicked and worked together well. However if you had rivals or people you didn't get along with, it was always very awkward. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The student advisers set up class time to help put together resumes and to put together cover letters. If the school excelled in anything it was helping to find either a job, or a school to transfer too. |
| Alumni Network | I'm not really sure about the alumni network. |
Fashion Institute Of Technology • New York City, NY
Studying Illustration (completion in 2003)
• 3/21/2012
"I'm satisfied with my learning experience at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I received a very solid academic background and tools."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Fashion Institute Of Technology provides a very solid academic program and tools in order to have a successful career. I received a great education and skills. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school became outdated as far as providing current software digital tools and techniques that are crucial in today's competitive career market. Also, the career services assistance is poor. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My college program provided me with great tools and knowledge necessary in order to be successful in the graphic design field. My professors went above and beyond helping me to prepare my graphic design portfolio, providing me with great interview tips and career search advice. |
| Instruction | 9 | I received great career preparation, learning techniques and high quality curriculum. My college program provided great learning techniques and quality of education, implementing both, traditional tools such as books and hand drawing as well as utilizing the latest digital computer software. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program had a considerable amount of home work and projects. However, it was helpful and very useful as far as developing skills and experience necessary to be successful in the graphic design field. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was a more hands-on oriented experience. The courses provided drawing, composition and digital courses. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school had flexible schedules: day time, evening, weekend and summer courses were offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Some classrooms in the facility need renovation. The computer lab need upgrades as well as the library. |
| Social Life | 4 | My academic experience was good however, the social experience was lacking. I did not connect with my classmates and the school did not provide too many social efforts or events. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The school provided no help in my career search. The career services lacked tools and resources necessary to help students. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Although I received an excellent educational foundation during my studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I felt that alumni and network support needed improvement. They did not provide any career search support after my graduation. |
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