Pratt Institute

Date: Feb 26 2004
Major: Communications (This Major's Salary over time)
I've been here for three and a half years and there hasn't been a single one where I have not had a problem with my financial aid. Fixing anything is a long, painful process. Advisement is a joke; if you're short one credit they will probably neglect to tell you until it is too late.

The dorms and facilities are filthy and/or broken or eternally under repair. The Willoughby dorm rooms are stripped apartments crammed full of as many students as possible, and often infested with mice. No effort is made to group students by like interest or major. The food and supplies are priced to get as much money out of students as possible (and if you're on a meal plan you have no choice in terms of where you buy food). Food from the cafeteria will probably make you sick 3 out of 5 times.

Not enough emphasis is put on the creation of a portfolio!! I can't stress this enough - a portfolio is ESSENTIAL to illustration majors seeking jobs. There should be a mandatory class that specifically focuses on this. Senior Projects are supposed to, but it rarely works out that way.

Freelancing used to be mandatory, but it isn't anymore (a shame).

If your style does not fit with Pratt's Image, you're in for a rough time - they favor students who have work that looks a certain way. Some teachers are actively closedminded, egotistical jerks who don't care if they are ONLY ONE class out of *8* you're taking. A very few are amazing.