i didn't graduate, and i don't make a living. so there's that.

lol

what is it you do then eh?

live.

-__-

make a life...not just a living!

I did and now I'm rich as fuck!

Gimme some yo money steve!!!!!!!!

jk I'm brokeass

NOT COOL!

Graduating with a BFA from Michigan State University this Friday. Have yet to hear back from a single person I have sent an application to.

I will get back to you.

Awesome to hear you are graduating! :D Hopefully something comes back to you soon!

If you don't mind me asking, what was your tuition like?

BFA in Graphic Design / business minor from Ringling College.


I'm also brokeass and will be for a long time.

It sucks that school costs so much, and you got crazy talent XIV, it isn't fair that you gotta be broke for so long!

I got my BFA, and now I'm getting my Art History BA, then planning to get my MFA at Pratt or some other absurdly expensive private school thus proceeding to be in debt for the rest of my life.

2 years of "intensive" Graphic Design (which is supposed to equal 3 years, but I'm not so sure), which has lead to me working as a graphic designer occasionally for a company whenever they need cover.

The rest of the time, I'm at a call centre.

But really, my city has zero design jobs going right now, our CBD got destroyed by an earthquake so I might have a legit design job by now if that hadn't happened. Maybe...

I really would love to do some more study, perhaps get a proper illustration degree. But I'd have to shift cities/countries and honestly, all I really need is a kick in the pants to get me motivated.

I've got a degree in Illustration, although I haven't really used it.

I would like to be an illustrator or an artist one day.

i'm doing a BFA in ceramics and then getting teacher accreditation post-grad. not sure if there are more jobs in teaching or in ceramics right now.

im asking myself the same question, zach. im considering getting a second bachelor's in illustration but am wondering if it'd be worth it. while im on the fence about going for a degree, i think ill definitely sign up for art classes at some local school just to improve my skills.
maybe you could consider doing something like that just to start off. if you planned it right, any credits you earn may be able to transfer to a 4-year school if you ever decided you wanted to continue on with a degree.

I'm in my state university and it's pretty cheap. I can only hope I learn something from it, and I hope the degree gets me through the door for some jobs. I just signed up for FAFSA and stuff and I'll be going through loans from now on.

MSU was out of state for me, but I had a lot of scholarships to off-set the costs (gave me in-state tuition, and then some on top of that for being in the honors college, and money from the art department for not having a shitty gpa). All in all, I feel the money I spent was worth it.

Just hoping I get a call back for an interview soon.

Currently getting my BFA in Printmaking (2D Visual Studies) at Weber State University. Tuition runs me like $2500 a semester. I plan on getting a MFA degree after this one.

I never studied art at any level, but it shows.

I never studied art at any level, but it shows.

That's rubbish bram, your stuff's great.

i was in the process of applying to go to art college when my Dad took me down the pub and said that he and my Mum thought it best if i got a job instead

i've got a degree in communication design although i'm yet to make it worth something

one thing, school has definitely made me a better/more complete photographer but in all honesty, getting a job has nothing to do with your relevant skills and everything to do with your networking skills.

getting a job has nothing to do with your relevant skills and everything to do with your networking skills.


This fact sucks. Especially when those that land great jobs are sub-par at best at what they do (design, illustrate, photograph, etc.) But because of their connections and being in the right place at the right time, the job is handed to them.

If I could do it all again I wouldn't. I can't speak for everyone, but my degree level education didn't teach me anything about the industry, all it did was provide graphic design briefs. At the end of the three years, all you're left with is a portfolio of work and a degree, and no creative employer worth working for will give a fuck about your degree. I should have bought myself a mac and done some self initiated work based on existing degree level briefs. I would have had a portfolio bulging with work within a year (degree courses always give you waaaaaay too much time to complete projects) AND saved myself a ton of money.

getting a job has nothing to do with your relevant skills and everything to do with your networking skills.

not always true. if you are the shit and good at promoting yourself, you will find work.

I didn't exactly learn much, but I had fun. so I probably shouldn't trade that experience for anything.

anything to a certain degree is about connections and who you know, but thats only gonna get you so far. going to school and getting a degree definitely cant hurt. having good portfolio + a degree to back it up probably makes it hurt even less?

BFA majoring in Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design.

I personally hated it and it's definitely not worth the 40+ grand a year. However, each to his own. I'm sure it's not the highest ranked art college for nothing and many of my classmates had a blast and were extremely successful. And the degree is definitely a plus on any resume. It all depends on how much time (and money) you're willing to give up.

I graduated HS in AP Art, won a few art contests and awards in my day! No college though. ;)

no creative employer worth working for will give a fuck about your degree.

That's disheartening to hear.
I hope my courses prepare me for a job so I know what's technically required of me in the industry. That's what I took the classes for.

i have a BFA...

... but i went a different direction after graduating... into the medical field... art careers didn't seem to pay enough for how I wanted to live

Ryder wanted to live on a plane and have a new woman every week.

maybe with Southwest Airlines... i fly enough to say i live there i think...

but the women on southwest... oh my...

I got rejected :(

you don't have to go to an "art school"... plenty of universities aroud the country have excellent art programs.

The only good reason to do it's because you want to be better in your craft and the best way to do it is finding a place that can do that.

If you want to go for a degree or if you think that because you have a degree you will magically find work... no, that doesn't happen.

I studied Graphic Design and Art Direction, learned a lot and polished my skills and my craft also had a blast, but I was working before and after I finished school, nobody cared about my degree, only my portfolio.

For me it's worth it, I know my craft better because of it.

good answer

Ryder Revolution on May 03 '11 at 2:49pm
you don't have to go to an "art school"... plenty of universities aroud the country have excellent art programs.

Truth. I got accepted to (and offered some money by) the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but I took the University approach instead.

Round yo' educations!

SHY GUY IS ALSO MY HERO!

I should probably mention - the only way I got work as a graphic designer, minimal as it has been, was through the 3 week internship I did with the same company during my study... and the only way I got that internship was through my mum's friend, who works at a large-format printer. She thought that I really suited the company and put in a good word for me.

So yes. I'd agree that networking is important.

No degrees here, I just fake my way into everything. :)

Wow, I thought this blog just died! Thanks to everyone for their comments so far :D

I have had community college classes, but only one or two actually taught me something I didn't already know. Cartooning class was one of the best ever, and some of my 3d classes were helpful. Otherwise it was just like Photoshop 101 over and over again.

What have your classes been like at these different colleges? Learn new things a lot, or just a lot of repeated knowledge?