PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!! something bout schools?

Question

OK i am in my junior year at highschool, and they started to ask me what college or university i would like to go to and i just freeze, cuss i dont know.

But recently i have been researching i want to study Interior Design, and i live in California, and of course my parents want me to go to a school in california. ok so i researched schools that have the best interior design programs, i chose those schools not becasue of their popularity but their program ok... my final top 5 are:
1. Art Institute (** too espensive that's why i have other options!!)
2. Cal State Sacramento
3. Cal State Long Beach
4. San Diego State University
5. UC Davis (** this is the only UC i found with a Interior Design program!... but i'd like to go into a UC better than a CSU)

OK SO CAN U PLEASE HELP ME NARROW THIS DOWN TO THREE, AND WHICH ONE YOU THINK IS BETTER, OR ANY OTHER OPTIONS!!!!

THANKS PEOPLE... SERIOUSLY THANX ALOT!!!

Answer 1

If you can't afford the Art Institute (Pasadena or SF?), I'd definitely go to UC Davis. I went there for grad school. Talking to undergrads, I'm pissed because that school's administration is sooooo good at helping students get internships and stuff. Good ones.

I went to another UC. I got one of the better internships, but it only looked good on paper. Practically, it wasn't that great at all (which is kind of to be expected at the undergrad level).

I'm pretty familiar with CS Sacramento and Long Beach, having lived next to them, had friends and family take classes there, etc. Can't hold a candle to UC Davis. No idea about San Diego State, but I can't imagine it's that much better. There is a difference btw the UC and Cal State schools in terms of quality.

Answer 2

Look at all of their websites, if you haven't already, and also have them send you information about their programs by mail (there's usually a form on the website you can use to request materials).

While you are surfing those websites, pay attention to the faculty that are teaching the interior design classes. Most of them are going to have a resume (also called a cv, or vita) online. Look at what those people have done and what their research interests are. That will tell you a lot about weather you want to be their student or not. When you are looking at those vitas, take note of how long the faculty have been teaching, and how long they have been teaching at that particular school. If a school has no faculty that have been around a while, then either
a) it's a relatively new program (not necessarily a bad thing), or
b) there's something going on in that department that makes the people that work there hate it and leave (ALWAYS a bad thing for you, the student).

If that school has produced any particularly successful graduates, they will be talked about on the design department's website. Then look those people up on the web and see what they have to say about where they went to school, good or bad.

Also look at the website for the academic department that teaches interior design. How many teachers are there vs. students? Do most students that enter the program finish it or do they drop out - high drop out rate could indicate that the program is bad or has some unhealthy interpersonal dynamic.

Once you contact the schools, they may call you. Lots of schools will put you in touch with someone in your area that graduated from there who can tell you about their experience.

Good luck with your search - and don't sweat it too much. Remember, you're allowed to change your mind!

Answer 3

If you can go to a UC school rather than a CSU school -- do it.

UC-Davis would certainly be a good choice. Even though the other schools may not have a major in Interior Design, it doesn't mean you can't study it at another UC school. FOr example, Berkeley's school of architecture and design would allow you to major in design, and take several classes in interior design.

Go beyond the name of the major and see what you can do with design in general.

Answer 4

Look at other aspects such as student life, residence life, activities, etc. A college isn't just about their program. There are several other factors. Look at those other aspects and it should help you narrow it down to three. Some things you mahy consider are

Location
Clubs
Organizations
Study abroad program
Internships
Sports
Religious life
Residence life
Cost
Avaliability of financial aid
Where students studying in your program have gotten jobs after graduating

Answer 5

Design Institute of San Diego.. located near la jolla. It is an amazing school.. I also looked into the Art Institutes but yes they are way to expensive and some of them are not even fida acredited. That is very important... if they are not dont evan consider going there. The design institute is strictly an interior design school. a very small school under 1000 students so you get alot of personal attention from the teachers and faculty. I have learned more here then at any school i have ever been to including high school. It is amazing.. best education for interior design in all of california or the west coast. It is like going to a junior college b/c it is so small.. which you need in this major. It is important to get the personal attention and have the hands on/ up front workign with the teachers. Most all of the designers in the san diego area have gone here, and have nothing but good things to say about it. They have been open since the early 80's and it owned by a elderly couple that really care about the students. They own all of there buildings so the cost of the school is like going to a in state university or in some cases cheaper. Please please check it out.. you will not be disapointed. The head of ASID (american society of interior designers) for this upcoming year is a professor at our school. And believe me you want to be involved in asid if you are planning on doing well in this profession. All of our teachers are in the field.. so they have alot of valuable information beyond the classroom. Your classes are no more then usually 20 students. They a well known school on the west coast (and east) and have a reputation that serpasses any Art Institute. DO NOT GO TO THE ART INSITUTE.. i have done my research (they are not accredited, and they say your classes will transfer to your face.. but they say they wont in there paperwork.. they are strictly a business trying to make money) I was going to go there and then fiqured this all out.. and have heard it from a variety of different students that went through the same situtations us you and me. For the state schools.. dont go there unless you are planning on going into a business career, medical, science, engineering ect. Liberal arts schools are not for design students. You will not learn what you need to b/c your classes will be too big.. and the art department at most state schools is not funded properly... the majority of the teachers are just artists not designers (in the profession). San diegos great!!! but most of all I love my school. I like going to school...which was not the case when i went to state schools. Please check out the Design INstitute I know I seem too exstatic about it .. but thats b/c i am . its a great school.... but if you choose not to go there please hear me when i say not to go to the art institute or a state school (large university) I have been in your shoes, you will spend way to much money for a mediocer education. I am not putting down state schools.. but if you plan on going to one plan on majoring in a different major. I moved from the east coast to come to this school and have not been disapointed in the least. Its a great price, wonderful education, teachers are amazing, student body is small but very active.. and as long as you show that you are interested in the field.. have a good gpa.. (you dont need a 4.0, dont let people scare you most colleges know that students arent perfect and are going to college to learn ). contact me if you have any other questions. These people telling you to go to davis and other state schools are definatly not interior design majors. I have friends that go to davis and they love their school .. but there interior design program is not what you would want to go to school there for. I dont want you to waste your time and money going to a university taking all of those gen. eds. when alot of art schools do not even require you to take general Ed. classes like math and such, your going to be wasting your money and time in the long run. They will make you spend 2 years in gen ed classes not even touching on your subject for the most part, then for your last years you will take decorating classes, plus once you graduate if they are not recoginzed by fida or in some cases asid you will most likely not even get a job. Look for FIDA acreditated schools. Sweety i have been where you were and didnt think there were any other choices but the art institute and state schools, i know it is frusturating to find a good school and be able to trust it... you and your parents will not be disapointed in this school, price or education. There website is not as extravagant as the art institutes but it has alot of information. The art institute will catch anyones eye i know... they have some really good advetisers, but what you want is a school that can give you a great education for a great price and will still be around in 40 years, the art institute is too expensive for an education and if for some reason you dont like the major then you will have lost 30 thousand dollars for that year and not be able to transfer those credits anywhere.

sorry this was long .. but i dont want you to make a wrong decision when it comes to this major. I have wasted to much money and time in the past and i want to pass along as much information to freshman students entering this major as possible.

Answer 6

Move to New York! Better schools here