The A T Still University of Health Sciences

Date: Jun 02 2014
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
KCAI kids.. We're like Renaissance kids..

I am a senior in the Photo/Digital Film department and to be honest I almost left my sophomore year because it wasn't what I expected. Let me start off by saying I came here with the intention of learning to be a commercial working photographer- that isn't at all what I got and if that's what you're looking for KCAI isn't for you. Photo/Film is arguably one of the most conceptual departments on campus. The faculty knows you can shoot film/ take pictures well, BUT what else? People in general come to KCAI to learn practical skills and although you get some of that their biggest goal is teaching you how to think. After all it is an art school with the intention of molding ARTISTS. And as Steve Witacre so blatantly put it foundations year

you are paying for inspiration

and with that being said I think I got my money's worth.

KCAI students are trained to be working artists. They teach whatever you need/want to know based on being able to make a living. They prepare you to be able to problem solve, make, do anything once you leave academia and enter the real world. I'm confused by most of the comments of them proposing false hope of everyone becoming rich and famous. My studio teachers have both presented their struggles of getting to where they are and have made us very aware that being a practicing artist isn't easy. Make no mistake, KCAI definitely indulges dreamers, but is that not why we're here because we're narcissist enough to believe we'll be great artists one day. In addition to that KCAI is very self driven. "Assignments" are very loose after all no one can tell you how to make your art. This is where the downfall happens for most students. With little to no boundaries you only have to work as hard as you want to- so if you're a person with bad work ethnic/ need supervision to make ' what you're passionate about' AGAIN, KCAI isn't for you. Most people get caught up in all the crazy partying and flunk out. If that at all seems probable don't even waste your time.

If you're a dreamer come to Kcai. If you're in the business of making dreams reality come to Kcai. The campus is lovely and the staff is awesome. Carl Kurtz (foundations instructor and Witacre's best friend) once told me " if you really want to be a photographer don't have a backup plan." This doesn't just apply to me it's something everyone should keep in mind. Fuck money and fuck student loans you have all your life to be practical so chase what you love right now.