I’ve gotten one too many asks about artschool and the subject has come up a time or two too many among my friends for me to not rant about it (a bit). Full disclosure, yes, I went to AI (in SF) a few years back, and no, I didn’t stay through the whole program. As well, I feel I got a pretty good experience, for what it was worth.

If you’re thinking about going to an Art Institute school any time soon, all I have to say is just please do your research. And please please PLEASE DO NOT go off some knee jerk reaction of other people (like here on tumblr). Not all AI’s are created equal, however much they’re ruled by The One Ring. When I went there (as in, I’m not sure if it’s this way, still), AI in CA was just a subsidiary of AI as a whole, and thus ran a different business. Even more, not all schools run the same curriculum, have the same quality of instructor, etc. It’s common knowledge that the AI in Sacramento pales in comparison to the one in SF, and the one in SF isn’t as good as the one in Seattle. Just do your research. Make sure the school, its policies, and its cost fit YOU and YOUR lifestyle; not just what you’ve heard on the grapevine.

YES, they’re a for profit school. YES, they’re going to milk you for all you’re worth. YES, their financial aid department can be fairly shadey, but I know this from experience, not because it’s popular to bash the school.

Now, would I recommend anybody go there? Probably not, but again, I’d have to advise that one do their due diligence, first.

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH GOING TO A FOR PROFIT ART SCHOOL!!!!!! (JUST PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH AND MAKE SURE IT FITS WITH YOU FIRST).

Sure, trust fund babies go there to goof off, but you’ll find that at any school, really. And in my experience, at AI (or friends from AAU, etc), these types are usually wheedled out by the 3rd term or less, the workload is that intense.

So, y’know…..it’s a pretty damn douchey thing to do to belittle someone else’s degree and/or education based on where they went. There are PLENTY of people who come out of for profit schools who can illustrate, animate, design, etc circles around those who went to, say, a State school. So please don’t do that. It’s not cool.

And if you didn’t go to art school at all? THAT’S GREAT TOO!!!! :D

But I mean, seriously. Just do your research. School is a very personal decision, and should be made as such. And don’t be a douche and bag on people who go to for profit schools. Buuu!