The Savannah College of Art and Design

Date: Dec 31 1969
Major: Design Arts - Industrial Design/Graphic Design/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
I applied to SCAD as a graduate student in their graphic design program. I chose the path of the Masters of Art because I don't have have plans to teach. My goal in the program is to further my development as a designer and enhance my skills for my career. I have always felt like I was treated with respect by my faculty, staff and fellow students. I chose SCAD based on the eLearning resources they have available. As a full time graphic designer, I wanted a program that I could do from home. After researching SCAD, I was a little concerned by the negativity I have heard but I also liked that it was a career oriented school. I decided to take the plunge.

Since I began my graduate studies at SCAD as an eLearning student, I have felt nothing but support from staff and my peers. I have learned a lot about myself as a designer and feel that I have received a comprehensive education thus far that has already benefited my in my career. SCAD faculty have always been available for advice and chats. I have never felt like I wasn't heard. We also get a lot of opportunities to show our work in large publications which is a great perk as a graduate student.

A few notes:

If you are looking for a program that has a hands on approach with their graduate students you will be disappointed. My journey at SCAD has been gently guided but the faculty has always respected our views as professional designers and are not there to change or modify our personal style in ourdesigns. They are there to teach you the theory and practice behind various mediums. SCAD eLearning for graduate school is more independent study with a mix of great resources, positive learning experience through guided projects and explorations as well as faculty that care deeply about your success as a student and professional. The curriculum is flexible and the class selection is compelling.

SCAD has a rather liberal acceptance policy. From what I can tell, the 500 level courses weed out prospective graduate candidates that aren't capable of handling the demanding work load at the school. I have seen a lot of fellow students get lost in the shuffle because they weren't prepared for the class and did not take initiative in their education. Most of those students did not make it through the first year of the program.

Overall, I am very happy with my choice to attend SCAD for my masters degree and do not regret the decision at all. I feel like SCAD has developed a program that allows graphic designers the ability to explore their potential and gain valuable feedback from our peers.