Kansas City Art Institute

Date: Aug 17 2008
Major: Design Arts - Industrial Design/Graphic Design/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
I loved my college experience. There is no way to grow as an artist unless you are surrounded by other dedicated talented artists and educators. That was the most valuable part of KCAI. Foundations is especially rewarding, as is the liberal arts courses. If you're looking to be an illustrator like myself, that program is no longer available there, and was undergoing a painful transformation while I was there. That is my only regret about my school. The remaining departments are flourishing, and are relatively unique, in that they are mostly specialized fine art departments. Not all art schools are set up this way. They're usually dominated by commercial oriented departments. I tell my family that being at kcai was a little like being at Hogwart's as a wizard. It was so refreshing to not be an outcast like I was my whole life, and realize that there were other openminded, creative people that think like me. The work I was doing was so challenging, especially when I got there but it was learning that I could do magic, and that if I kept at it, there would be no limits to what I could see and what I could do. I was truly blessed to be offered need-based scholarships so I could afford to attend. I don't think there was another school that would help me with that.