See California Institute of the Arts reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending California Institute of the Arts. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free California Institute of the Arts reviews, or contribute your own California Institute of the Arts review if you're a current student there.
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11 out of 12 people found this review useful.
Jay Cee
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot You make CalArts what you want it to be. If you emerge yourself into the community and work interdisciplinary than you cannot go wrong. CalArts is a school for people who are true artist. Who live, breathe, sleep being an Artist. The faculty and staff at CalArts are all professionals in there fields, and they are active in them. You are not a kid when you are at CalArts, you are a professional artist and you will be treated that way.
Am enjoying being here I love being at CalArts. It is a balance that everyone needs to achieve when coming into the school. So much of the culture is networking, collaborating, however also living life for the moment. If you come into CalArts with an open mind for life, love, and challenge then you will soar.
Bang for the buck CalArts is a pretty expensive school, and still is lacking on some basic thing. However, the network of alumni and the invaluable people you connect with more than compensate for the lack of services and facilities.
Tips for prospective students Start applying for financial aid early, and visit the school and form relationship with your prospective department. CalArts is a very hard school to get into and you need to find out what is going to set you apart from all the other applicants. Don't be afraid to contact current students and ask questions or advice, we all know what it means to want to be apart of the CalArts community.
Great for these types of students Artist that live, breathe, sleep for creating and making art. Experimental artist that want to be subjected to a different stream of art.
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6 out of 6 people found this review useful.
Yeun Angie from Pleasanton, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot CalArts is an internationally renown school with many highly recognized faculty and a very interesting history. (For more info: http://calarts.edu/about/history) From day one, the professors expect a certain level of work/ talent from you. Unlike many other schools, CalArts offers studios or own cubicle desks for Graphic Design students and Animation students, which allows you to learn from not only your teachers, but from your peers. Having your own working space really allows you to concentrate and do your work. There is a different vibe here; everyone wants to do their best so the work they create is exceptional, and yet the high level of competition doesn't hinder people from helping each other. With different majors all mingling in one huge building, you can get inspired by not only your major, but from the galleries you visit and the beautiful dance or music performances. Knowing people from different majors is also a business advantage. From meeting people in music, I did a paid job to design album covers, and from meeting actors, I was paid to design a poster for a play.
Am enjoying being here CalArts has a vibe that no other school has. Everyone is friendly, helpful, talented, and not afraid to be who they are. There's no trashing new-coming students and there are no sororities or fraternities. Meeting new people and making new friends is not difficult, especially with art galleries and parties happening every Thursday night. We also have many events to allow new-coming students to make friends. (My first year, the first years and transfer students were invited to go on a trip to Santa Monica together on a bus.) Not only do you get to meet people, but you get to enjoy creative art in so many different aspects. You come across some strange things that inspire and also arouse different emotions from looking at art, listening to music, to observing dance performances. But you have to prepare yourself because this is a VERY liberal school--no one is afraid of being naked (the Chouinard dorms have a clothing-optional swimming pool, and there are people swimming or tanning naked there. We also have a Naked Gamelon. You'll find out what they are when you arrive ;) ) The parties are outrageous; our Halloween party is the craziest. I've heard that it's been ranked by Playboy to be one of the top 10 parties in America. Also, as I have mentioned before, not only is the social life here great, but the education is awesome. You learn from both your professor and your peers. Everyone is very supportive and encouraging. You also have to keep in mind that this school is relatively small compared to other universities (CalArts acceptance rate is 31%; it's relatively low.), but I think that it's an advantage because you receive more concentrated attention and critique in your work and you develop a close relationship with your professors. (Graphic designers have barbeques together and invite teachers and we all mingle and drink. It's really awesome.) The average class size is around 14 people. In my year, I had 17 other first year Graphic Designers, which were a lot compared to the other years. The graduating Graphic Design class of 2011 was only 8 people. I'm not trying to scare anyone, but it's a tough school. There are drop outs every year. The professors don't even get paid as much as other professors at different universities, but they work here because they are really dedicated in teaching their students and helping them to grow. I can't imagine being at any other school!
Bang for the buck I have to warn you, this school is REALLY expensive. Tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year is $37,684 for full-time enrollment. It is seems as if the tuition gets more expensive every year. On top of that there are other fees and deposits, not to mention having to pay for your own art supplies. I'd highly recommend to apply for Financial Aid early. If you wait too late, funds will run out. In addition, tips for Graphic Designers: you have to buy your own computer. An imac or macbook pro is mainly used and preferred, but we do have a MacLab, which you can use and is up to date with all design softwares. I'd recommend Graphic Designers to purchase a tablet; it comes in real handy and you'll probably end up getting one anyway. I don't see how you can go four years without one. You'll also probably end up buying an SLR camera because during your first year you do have a photo/video class and photos help with inspiration, ideas, etc. I don't know how I would've been able to go here without a scholarship.
Tips for prospective students Apply for financial aid early!
For dance, theatre, and music, you must audition to be accepted.
Animation, Graphic Design, Fine Art, Film/Video, you must have a portfolio. For details: http://calarts.edu/admissions/portfolio-audition
CalArts don't focus much on academics as much as they do in talent.
Recommendation letters make a huge difference in acceptance. Keep a close relationship with a few of your teachers.
Animation, Graphic Design, and Film/Video students, prepare yourself for many sleepless nights!Great for these types of students CalArts is for those who are dedicated, creative, unique, different, bold, fearless, and enjoy what they do.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Tomas from Novato, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences this college is amazing. a lot of hard work, but plenty of friendly faces. i'm so glad i cam to this school
Tips for prospective students apply yourself, but don't overwork yourself. try to set times to sleep, everyone needs sleep, and i can tell you from experience how much it sucks to go days with very little of it.
Academic Rigor the teachers are supportive and love creativity when it comes to animation.
Dorm Life great, an easy place to meet up with friends.
Food and Dining nice, but can get old from time to time
What to do for fun hiking, sleeping, talking with friends, sleeping, finding inspiration through other students works, sleeping...did i mention sleeping?
Bang for the buck this school is very expensive, but a good way to look at it is a down payment on the rest of your life.
Campus Safety great, and great to work with
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1 out of 5 people found this review useful.
Quinton from El Paso, TX
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot I'm hoping to learn about computer and character animations.
Will enjoy being here I enjoy being in California. I think I will enjoy attending this university I look forward to learning animations and earning my Bachelor's in that field.
Bang for the buck Unknown at this time.
Tips for prospective students I am a prospective student I don't have any tips.
Great for these types of students I think this university would be a good choice for who want to pursue a degree in the field of arts.
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2 out of 9 people found this review useful.
Khadijah from San Antonio, TX
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Login to rate or flag the reviews
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Nak Yong from Honolulu, HI
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Best place in the world where dorks and geeks come to change the world.
Tips for prospective students Work hard!
Academic Rigor It's like you are on project runaway
Dorm Life great space and ok facilities
Food and Dining Pretty good
What to do for fun Malls and shopping all within walking distance
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Anonymous
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences A must to go here.
Amazing faculty and environment.
Expensive but totally worth it.Tips for prospective students Apply for financial aid and scholarships early.
Do your best and you cannot go wrong here.Academic Rigor haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
Dorm Life haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
Food and Dining haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
What to do for fun little free time, you will be very busy
Bang for the buck haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
Great for these types of students Artists
Clubs and Activities haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
Greek Life haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
Campus Safety haven't attended yet. plan to go in Fall 2012
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Diane from Los Angeles, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences this is the best music school on the planet for serious musicians/artists. the faculty are working professionals (as opposed to academics) with successful careers. it's about quality, creativity and innovation, not amassing meaningless units.
Tips for prospective students it's expensive! read faculty bios and get to know the ones who do what you want to. they are very open and supportive.
Academic Rigor more results oriented than grade oriented.
Dorm Life na
Food and Dining very good.
Bang for the buck excellent if you're not lazy and seek out what you want.
Campus Safety good
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