should i go to scad

The first thing you should know is that SCAD is on a quarter system, meaning that instead of a 16-week academic term, it's 10 weeks long. If you're used to a semester system, like I was, this will be a huge adjustment. Taking "only" three quarter-system classes feels like taking five semester-system classes! Every class runs 2.5 hours long, and you're only allowed 4 absences from each of them. Barring extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization, a fifth absence equals automatic failure of any given course.

Also, don't make plans for President's Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend. During the course of the academic year, only Martin Luther King, Jr. Day gets you out of class... but you're not actually getting that time off. Holiday-based missed classes are made up on Friday, no exceptions, and will count as an absence if you don't attend. In balance, Fall quarter starts after Labor Day and ends before Thanksgiving, and Winter quarter doesn't begin until after New Year's. Spring Break always coincides with St. Patrick's Day, due to Savannah holding the second-largest St. Patty's celebration in the country.

If you take classes during Summer quarter, be aware that some of them are condensed to 5 weeks, so you'll be attending those classes Monday through Thursday. Summer courses are very mellow, due to low student numbers.

The second thing you should know is that if you attend the Savannah campus, it's not really a "campus." Instead of tearing down existing structures to create a central campus, SCAD renovated dozens of old buildings throughout the city, thereby preserving the history and ambiance of the area. SCAD is mostly located inside the Historic District, with several departments located further south. While some departments are next door to each other (Graphic Design and Illustration used to be on the same street when I attended), most aren't. The maps they provide you on Orientation Day are your friends.

(Savannah, incidentally, is gorgeous. It's been around since colonial times, and it's the only city spared from General Sherman's March to the Sea during the Civil War. It has lush green squares, with tall shade trees, gardens, and benches, and architecture ranging from late 18th century to mid-20th century. The Historic District has a lot of specialty shops--four art supply stores!--and restaurants, too. It's nice to walk around on the weekends and take in all the sights.)

The third thing you should know is that SCAD is expensive. As of March 2016, tuition is $35,190/yr for an undergraduate degree. That doesn't include supplies, textbooks, housing, food, or other expenses. I had some pretty sweet grants and scholarships, but I still had to take out student loans to make up the difference.

Before you make plans to attend SCAD as a freshman, I urge you, on behalf of your parents, to look up the Foundation Studies and General Education requirements on SCAD's website, and then look up your nearest state/community/junior college for similar classes. I'm telling ya truthfully, a college math class is a college math class. The only difference between a math class at Your State College and SCAD is the fee you'll pay. Why would you want to pay triple the cost for the same thing? This is why I earned an Associate's degree first.

Oh, and along the lines of expense, be aware that bicycle theft is somewhat common. If you want to ride your bike to class, be sure to invest in a decent lock. I was not a bike rider (I either walked or drove my car to class), but several of my classmates had their bikes stolen. And please be careful when walking alone at night! One of my friends was robbed at gunpoint (and she was part of a group, for goodness' sake). This isn't meant to scare or dissuade you--every big city has some level of crime, so take the standard precautions.

The final thing you should know, and I can't stress this enough, is: don't go to this school thinking it'll be "easy." The professors are active professionals in their respective fields, and they expect you to produce high-caliber work. It's a crazy balancing act of experimentation, innovation, and meeting expectation. I don't know a single student who didn't tear their hair out or have a crying fit at least once.

Critiques can be the worst, not gonna lie. If a professor doesn't like your work, you'll know it. They will tell you all the things wrong with it. Occasionally your fellow students will pile on the negativity, too. While it stings, that feedback is necessary to your development. Accept the comments, take notes, and make changes as needed. Keep in mind that you're amidst your professional competition. If you want to leave SCAD with the best portfolio possible, keep your mouth shut and your mind open. No one wants you to fail!

One thing I'd advise is, unless you're super-efficient and always ahead on your projects, don't go crazy with the partying. You don't have to be a shut-in, but it's painfully easy to fall behind. (Personally, I wasn't a partier; I was just a procrastinator. However, I would have saved myself many sleepless nights and severe hand cramps if I'd laid off the anime marathons and kept a strict schedule!)

Okay, I think I've covered enough. I hope this at least gives you some idea of what to expect. If you want to know something a little more specific, ask me and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability.