I am currently a freshman at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I absolutely hate it. I'm doing foundation year, but I also got into a sophmore photo class. It is basically the same thing I took sophmore year in high school. We even have the same book! I understood that going here meant I would repeat a few things, but I didn't think it would take until the end of junior year to pick up where I left off. I want to transfer out, but I don't know where.

I am interested in all kinds of photography, but I would like to do fine art and advertising.

My question to everyone is, what do you think the best photography schools are and why?

Let me start of by saying you should search the forum archives. On which you will see the first reply in every post of this nature says: "do a search" So yeah.

I don't know much about schools everywhere but I just started at Austin Community College in austin texas. It's a great school, and there photo program rocks. THe former dept head, Lynn Jones, used to post on here from time to time. Anyways, it's pretty far from where you are but yeah it's worth a look. Alot cheaper than most other photo schools. www.austincc.edu/photo

Brandon

what should I search under? I did a bunch of different searches, but the closest thing that I got to what I wanted was a couple of links on photojournalism schools.

if I had my choice I would go to http://scad.edu/ everything about the school and town is appealing to me. But I am broke and go to http://www.etsu.edu which doesnt look nearly as cool on a degree as other high-end art schools might. I have good teachers and all the dark room access I can handle...so no complaints here...hehe

I personally dont believe ranking or someone word will ever prove a school good or not, it either works for you or it doesnt. Its best to go visit the school, talk to the Photography Dept Staff, look at what they have to offer and make the choice on your own.

I feel your dilemma! I went to the Art Institute of Philadelphia and I wasn't too happy with that school either. I don't really know many other schools in Philly with an outstanding photo program but you may want to look at some in NYC. A fantastic school here is Parsons. I have never attended it but having lived in the city for 3 years now, I have gotten to know some instructors there. Many of them are working photographers in the field and their photography program is very broad. You may want to check it out.

http://www.lissettephoto.com

Some opinions on a couple of things to look for:

Look for faculty who not only have teaching experience under their belts, but also some "real world" experience behind them as well. If you want to succeed, you need to learn from people who have more than simple theory in their corner.

Look for a program that has some coursework in some sort of business of photography or "professional practices". These are the folks who understand how to help you after school is done.

Don't spend too much time worrying about working on fundamentals. It may be that they want you to be really well-versed in the basics so that you can adequately express yourself later on. In other words, your current school might be just trying to make sure you have the best "vocabulary" you can have. You may want to roll with it for a bit before moving on.

Another poster recommended a community college. This isn't a bad idea, as they often have more up-to-date equipment and more progressive ideas (not always the case, though, so be cautious).

Don't get too mired down in "process"... work within the system (whichever one you end up choosing) to express your own views. One of the most important things you can do right now is start making photographs that are significant to you, even if you have to jump through some "curriculum hoops" to make that possible.

-Jeff

Lauren,
There are four premier art schools in the US for commercial photography. Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA. Rodchester Institute of Technology, Rodchester, NY. Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara, CA. And if it is still there, Parsons School of Art, NY, NY.

Art Center and Parsons are concept schools, RIT and Brooks put the emphasis on technique. You will need heavy emphasis on both if you want to compete, but your concepts are your ideas. If you wish to pursue a fine art minor with your studies you can do so at Art Center. The other three I am not so sure.

I am an Art Center Grad, and although I did not take a fine art minor, I know people who did, and they are amazing visual artists. I highly recomend Art Center. It is a very tough school and some don't make it past the first or second term. I would imagine all try to weed out those who are not serious in the first few terms. If you have some schooling in photography, apply for advanced standing and you might be able to skip a term or two. Expect to work very, very, very hard.

Do look into and visit(if you can), all of the above EDU's. If you want to stay in the Philly area, look into Tyler Art School in Cheltenham, just outside Philly in Montgomery County.

Hope this helps
Good luck in your studies

did anyone here go to brooks? I hear mixed reviews about it all the time. Their catalog is failry impressive though...the website made me want to gag myself. Myabe if I go there I can build them a new on in exchange for a semester...haha

and how much does it cost exactly? All these schools are so expensive and many avoid ever giving a direct pricing. It boggles my mind that anyone can afford them to start off with.

I'm coming out of an Art Institute here in Pittsburgh with my two year and going to finish up at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. At the end of the day it about self drive. School can only teach you so much. It's what you do on your own time by your own will that truely teaches you.

I'm going back to school more so to have the luxury of being a student than to actually learn much new at the actual school.

Hey Lauren!!

I am attending Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara right now. I am starting my 3rd year and will graduate this coming December so I have gotten to know how Brooks works. It is a very good school for technical information. That is ALL you really do the first year (unless u get to skip some of it). For me, it has been a good school, but students do complain about how the system works sometimes, teachers, equipment, and whatever else, but i think you'll find that with all schools. If you want to get into advertising this would be a great school for you. Fine art isn't really pushed here though, but there are several people that I know that do fine art...it's just that they don't teach it.

Brooks is a great school and very very intense at times with not many breaks. You really learn about time management, commitment, and the teachers try to really teach you how the "real world" is going to work.

Good luck, and if you have any quetions email me.
dddphotoz@yahoo.com

If you want to move to chicago, I'd check out the school of the art institue of chicago it's mostly fine art based http://www.saic.edu or columbia college chicago they have a really huge photo program with floors and floors of darkrooms computure labs and studios, they even have a 20x24 polaroid camera http://www.colum.edu . I should warn you though that unless you have a really killer portfolio from hs and your current school most places are going to make you take photo 1 just so they know you really know what you are doing. I've seen people in photo one with years of hs photo who can't print at all or process film either because in hs they always sent it to a lab, so uf you want to by pass photo 1 be prepared to talk your way out no matter where you go.

Lauren,

Brooks is a good school, the problem is that it is ungodly expensive. People come out with easily $60,000 in debt, if you are POSITIVE that either Photojournalism or photography is going to be your career then feel free to come here but in order to get your moneys worth you need to WORK YOUR ASS OFF.

I am going here for an associates degree, just over a year's worth of classes, and I feel that I am getting my moneys worth because of the contacts I have made and the skill that I have gained. However if I had worked any less then I would have been throwing money away. This can be a normal school, you will get a degree if you pass all your classes, but you will not succeed if you dont work your ass off.

Hope this helps.

school of visual arts in nyc makes sure all their instructors are working in the feild. This is the best way to learn and more importantly network for after school

Lauren, Please go right to hallmark.edu
The Hallmark Institute of Photography is the best kept secret for photography schools who have a Unique Educational System, reality based grading,
Professional Photographers who love to teach rather than a professional teacher who occassionally takes a photograph. You understand the difference Right?
The facilities are second to none. Do yourself a favor and check it out before you make any desision.

Lauren, Please go right to hallmark.edu
The Hallmark Institute of Photography is the best kept secret for photography schools who have a Unique Educational System, reality based grading,
Professional Photographers who love to teach rather than a professional teacher who occassionally takes a photograph. You understand the difference Right?
The facilities are second to none. Do yourself a favor and check it out before you make any desision.