Is an art institute a college or a trade school?

Question

Which shows better on a record? Is there any difference between the two? I really want to go to the Art Institute of Seattle for photography, but should I go to the Seattle University instead for something else?

Answer 1

Your best bet in terms of studying art in the Seattle area is the Cornish College of the Arts. It's a strong art school - much better reputation than the Art Institute Chain of schools. If you are thinking of going to art school, I want to make sure you at least give them a look. They are reputable, they are solid, and they are good. Link, below.

Cornish is doing a portfolio day on 5 January. The link I gave tells you about that. It's where reps from art colleges all across the US come to one place and will give a look at your portfolio, and give you advice on what you can do to prepare it for admissions. They'll also tell you about their schools. It's worth going to - it's actually a lot of fun. Don't be intimidated - they're there to give you advice, not to dis your work. It's a positive experience, not an intimidating one. I went. You should go.

If you want, Cornish will actually formally review your portfolio on that day (if you arrange in advance), but you don't need to do this if you don't want to. You can just have them give it an informal look.

I don't love the Art Institute chain of schools. That's my personal thing. I don't think they're all that great, and I think they cost a lot compared to what you actually get. I consider the AI chain to be trade schools. I consider Cornish to be a reputable art college.

Seattle University is a broad university. As such, you can study art there - check into this - but the experience will be less intense than that at an art school. In the end, a degree from SU, even in art, should be a more flexible in terms of possible post-grad career options than a degree from an art school*. And SU DOES offer a BFA in photography, and it looks like a good program. I've linked, below.


*I actually got an art degree from a full university, like SU, rather than from an art school. I've found it to be a much more marketable degree than an art school degree would have been. It's broader. Yes, I majored in art, but it was from a full university, so I've been able to talk myself into jobs that any liberal arts grad could have gotten (well, any liberal arts grad who has a good art background and a lot of creativity.)

So visit both places. Go to the portfolio day at Cornish, and do a campus visit at SU. If you'd like, apply to both. When decision time comes, if you're still unsure, go for SU - go for the university. Because if you commit to art school, then that's what you're preparing yourself for - a career in art. If you're not 100% sure that's right for you, then studying art at a university would likely be a better fit. More options, post-grad, should your life take you in a direction you're not expecting.

Answer 2

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