Virginia Commonwealth University

Date: Jan 10 2012
Major: Art & Design Department (This Major's Salary over time)
VCU has been quite the experience. I can't speak for the other programs but Art Foundation is what you make of it. Cliche, I know, but it's true. I came to VCU with no art experience other than 3 years of graphic design classes at my high school. The first week scared the crap out of me -all freshmen art majors were mixed together, meaning there were some students who did really high quality work and some who could only manage mediocre. My teachers said that mediocrity would only earn Cs and one had to be at least exceptional or extraordinary to earn Bs. All of highschool I had been an academic who earned straight As, but now I was being told I would only earn Cs! And on top of that, my teachers did not teach technique or skill. Students were just thrown into projects and told to use certain mediums, regardless of previous experience. It was very stressful. As a part of the honors college I needed to maintain my GPA at a certain level in order to keep my dorm and scholarship.

BUT! I finished my first semester with a 3.5 GPA. I did not get any Cs, only As and Bs. I do not consider myself much more than a mediocre artist, but I worked hard, had fun, and showed up for class on time (attendance is strict and a big part of your grade!). And while being thrown into project after project was not ideal, I did come out of AFO with a good eye for proper technique and style. The AFO program is not the best, but it's not as scary as it is made out to be. It is extremely conceptual -the weirder your art is, the better your grade will be. The portfolio review in the spring isnt that scary either. You are 99% likely to get into the major of your choice.

**TEACHERS are EXTREMELY important in AFO. If you get a sucky teacher, you will absolutely hate the class and probably the whole program. I got lucky… make sure you check rate my professor when picking classes. Generally teachers who are recent grad students are much nicer and actually care about your work.

I hate Richmond. I don't like hobos and I don't like big busy streets or sketchy alley ways. It's not very safe here. I'm not a party person -i dont drink or smoke- and I was afraid of coming to VCU. Don't go out at night by yourself. Ever. People get robbed… one time someone got robbed at 7pm right outside the AFO building. I do, however, really like VCU and its art program. There's all kinds of people here. Sure, it wasn't my top choice school, but financially it was the best (scholarship!!) and the West Grace dorms are suh-weet (private rooms, private bathrooms!). Can't speak for the other dorms. Honors college is worth it for the dorms, early class registration, and perhaps for applying to grad school, but overall a little too stressful (GPA maintenance, berglund seminars). The Berglunds seminars aren't usually that great. Some honors modules are so pointless that I wonder why they even exist.

VCU can be awesome. I know plenty of people that just love Richmond. Just be safe.