I LOVED it.  The school is small, the faculty attentive, the darkroom plush and well maintained.  Even as a transfer I had room to take a few classes outside of my major.  The kids who do well in art school are the same kids who'd do well anywhere - it's just as challenging as any other program, just in a different way.  The “formula” for doing well doesn't work - you have to be self-directed, communicative, AND produce good work.  There's no “just” doing the assignments.  I had professors who'd worked under Ansel Adams, Noam Chomsky, and who belong to Magnum... I had one professor I really disliked, and they only lasted one semester as many students complained (and the dpt.  listened!).  I didn't get along with my dpt.  advisor, which is a shame as there wasn't really an alternative I could go to w/o chaning my major.

There are *some* trust fund 18 yr olds, but they don't seem to last.  Most of the people in my class were studious, hardworking, and a number were older or second degree students.  There wasn't much “partying” because everyone was working or studying!  I can't speak for other departments, but photography, graphic design, architecture etc... have reputations for being a bit more straight-laced.  That said, you are in SF!  and the whole city is there as a resource - great place, though a bit pricey.  There are few traditional extracurriculars, but lots of kids are involved in non-profit or grass-roots/community art projects; I also studied abroad over the summer, which was excellent (year-long exchanges are available too).

I had trouble with financial aid off and on - I got enough funding, but the occasional administrative error (not always CCA's fault either - some govt./bank errors and typos) led to some stickiness.  Be assertive, and stay on top of things!

I have never had trouble finding employment - and though it's not been “in my field”, that's also been my choice.  I currently work in finance (of all things!) and am using that to fund my work.  I know several people who graduated at the time I did who ARE employed as artists, designers, etc...

The campus is urban, but I liked it - the Oakland campus is a hodge-podge of odd looking buildings (beautiful library!) surrounded by park-like redwoods and a cute neighborhood; the SF campus is in a beautifully rennovated, light-filled warehouse.  Both campuses could use more parking.  I skipped the dorms and lived in share-houses, usually with UC Berkeley students, which worked quite well and allowed a safer neighborhood than downtown Oakland!