Savannah College of Art and Design Reviews

"I started off attending the Fashion Institute of Technology for Fashion Merchandising and Management. I obtained by Associates degree and continued for my Bachelors. While in school I interned for Michael Kors in their sales department. This is when I realized I did not want to be a buyer or a planner and at FIT that was the majority of the classes. They weren't satisfying my creative side. So I left FIT and New York and moved to Savannah, Georgia where the tea is sweet and SCAD knows fashion. SCAD really focuses on your core art classes and mixes in fashion design courses into the Fashion Marketing and Management program. We learn how to create mood boards, develop ideas for collections and sketch our ideas and bring them to life. They also focus a lot of the technology aspect of the industry. It was at SCAD that I learned the Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver) and we apply them to real life situations. All the professors at SCAD have been in the industry and made some type of major contribution to the industry. I wanted a career that satisfied both my business and creative side and SCAD really pushed me to do better and think outside of social norms."

"7 full time faculty with smaller number of graduate students makes for a great faculty/student ratio; small class sizes though sometimes classes will be cancelled due to not having enough students enrolled;"

"The pros about Savannah College of arts and design is the quality of the work students are given, the ability to network with professionals other than the professors and staff and the college. The cons about Savannah College of Arts and Design is the cost and expenses of the college."

"Both the pros and cons of the industrial design program at SCAD hinge upon self-determination. More often than not, projects a group-based, and roles within those groups are self-organized. Thus, cooperative professionalism and existing strengths are nurtured, but certain development can be avoided if one isn't self-motivated to address those skill gaps. Similarly, we often decide the topics of our projects, which I personally love, but I understand can be challenging for those who prefer more concrete direction in their work. Overall, it's a fantastic program, and I would recommend it to anyone who is confident in their desire to learn design."

"Pros: - The MFA in Service Design is a new field that only few Design schools in the world offer. SCAD has an amazing staff of teachers and advisers that are always up to date with the current state of the field, they offer key insights into the degree and are always willing to help you excel in your studies. - Teachers have a vast knowledge of the career and they are recognized in the field. - SCAD offers many many conferences with top designers constantly, and they give you the opportunity to speak with them and ask questions. - SCAD has an annual career fair where the country's top employers recruit talent and offer feedback on student's portfolios."

"pro: student/professor ratio affords easy access to professors; con: limited library holdings in area of study"

"SCAD offers top notch programs and the best faculty. However, if you have to work, your grades will suffer - at least a letter grade. This makes it tough to maintain the 3.0 GPA required to graduate. I'm constantly worried about paying my bills - which aren't a ton, but still. I want to build character, trust me, but not at the expense of my education. I know that if I just take away as much as possible from this degree, I'll be successful professionally and financially!"

"Pros: Students are given attention because of small class size. Student experiences constant critique of work in order to improve. No tests but lots of projects , which is good to develop your portfolio and skills. Small amount of classmates that you will keep seeing in other classes, tight knit community. High level of quality of work expected. Real life expectations as if in the workplace. Cons: Time constraints based on the number of projects given to grad students and the level of quality of work. Sometimes critiquing from fellow students and faculty can be vague. Not enough time slots for classes."

"I think is this a really wonderful program because is focuses strictly on non-profits in the arts. This is very important to the development of both the youth and arts education in our country. By offering this program SCAD has branched out to a very specific group of individuals that plan on using their business and management mind to help run and fund non-profit arts programs so that these important institutions will not fade away in this trying economy . This really can't be said for many other MA programs."

"SCAD is a wonderful place. Relevant, knowledgeable teachers, great networking and career opportunities, and a great atmosphere for artists. The only drawback is the expenses. It's pricey, but worth it."

"Pretty good education atmosphere and good place to study and explore yourself"

"The program is great in terms of curriculum and the opportunities which it affords it's graduates. The major con is that the tuition cannot be covered by the 20,500 per year grad students are allowed in unsubsidized loans."

"I feel that the Savannah College of Art and Design does a great job in trying to prepare student for a career in industrial design. The staff is amazing. They have some of the most down to earth and dedicated professors. The only con would be the quarter system of the college. It can be quite taxing sometimes."

"I like my graduate program best because it is a year shorter than other graduate programs. This gets me into the field a year earlier and that is great. I feel that the focus on technology at the school is very good and we are introduced to a variety of different programs that we will need in the future. On the negative side, some of the professors need a bit more professionalism, and the Art School part on my resume seems to off-put some of my potential employers."

"This program is intensive, and takes longer than the ideal 2-year program. Though it is more work, you are guaranteed to exit this program a true master of fashion design. The faculty maintain a valuable network with renowned companies and designers for internship placement, workshops, and special events. Modern and fast-paced, this program is hard work but turns out skilled professionals every year!"

"Great learning environment, great faculties, great facilities, available scholarships -: lack of natural views and trees."

"faculty support excellent commitment to student success technology is top of the line opportunities to get involved/network cons: expense is biggest problem but financial aid is available"

"SCAD, aside from being located in the very picturesque historic district of Savannah, Georgia, is an institution full of very committed and enthusiastic creatives, both in the student body and the faculty. The facilities are all located in beautifully renovated old buildings, with technology almost as up to date as the industry, if not more so, in some instances. The pros of the school are very similar to the cons. As with all graduate programs, you get what you put in, and if you want the experience to work for you, then you definitely have to work for it. It is expensive, but there are a number of academic and art-based scholarships that you can qualify for (automatically), and as far as career prospects, the school brings in speakers and recruiters directly from big industry employers - if you have put hard work into your portfolio and are willing to reach out to the network that the school has, you can definitely succeed. Networking is how everything is done in the career world, and SCAD makes no show of having too much "artistic integrity" to connect students to industry professionals. Where other schools I've attended insisted that "selling out" and working for commercial or entertainment studios undermined one's "artistic integrity", SCAD is trying their best to get you a job. Which, these days, is at the top of everyone's list."

"SCAD is a great school for graduate or undergraduate students. The Film and Television program offers valuable hands on experience that will surely prepare any aspiring filmmakers for the industry. The professors have years of experience in the industry and are always willing to help. They are constantly pushing students to do better and try harder. This a great university for anyone looking to pursue a creative career."

"It is an expensive school, but worth it. They offer financial aid begrudgingly."