The Ringling College of Art and Design

Date: Nov 08 2012
Major: Art & Design Department (This Major's Salary over time)
Let me start off with this school is not for everyone.

I was pretty excited when I found out I could pull the loans to come here and work towards an illustration major (honestly the acceptance wasn't that surprising because I was positive they wanted my money). I felt privileged and lucky to have this opportunity and that my parents were so supportive. I can't say as much for the school.

Hear me out, not everything here is terrible and not every is peachy. Even for someone with a lot of passion for art and who is willing to put petty faults aside for the bigger goal, the school is pretty weird.

Starting with the obvious MLK ghetto surrounding you. NEVER WALK ALONE NO MATTER HOW SHORT THE TRIP. The people are really dangerous and there is a terrible history of violence and vandalism per year. The drivers around will hit-and-run and not even give it a second thought. The old men on golf carts don't really make me feel secure either and sometimes they actually almost run me over. Also the only place to go within walking distance for food is the ghetto Burger King across the street and a man kindly offered my friend a good deal on weed.

So as a freshmen I expect basics, but their new and "improved" curriculum for the freshmen of 2012-2013 is beyond ridiculous. The completive nature of the school can be seen as positive but in all honesty I think they lose sight of what they are selling. We are required to take a regimented schedule of "Drawing I" (which is a brutal perspective class in disguise), Figure Drawing I, Writing, 2D Design, and Film & Narrative first semester which adds up to a recommended 56 hrs/week work schedule outside of class as said by the ARC.

The school prides itself on wanting to be the best art school (wanting to be better than RISD that is) that they are willing to accept you for your money, knowing you're not prepared, and flunk for failing one course. Another big thing is the attendance policy which is unheard of. If you miss more than 4 classes per semester without an excuse, which would be along the lines of a medical emergency with a note from a physician (the flu doesn't count, must be bleeding out your eyeballs), you fail the course which again means you fail the year. Also don't trust the academic adviser, at least for illustration. My friend had a terrible experience with them along the lines of wanting to withdraw a course, which was extremely stressful for someone who didn't already have experience in the subject, but was told they specifically could not without failing out of Ringling. Later to find out that wasn't true when discussed with a higher up. They were allowed to drop it but got an "F" anyway because it was past the deadline to withdraw even though they had asked several times before the deadline.

I have watched many of the students in my classes (which are all the same people in every class by the way, due to "freshmen families"=cliques) fail out or leave due to stress within the first semester. The academic advisor was of no help, and just pops up last minute to tell you that you failed and to leave within 24 hours.

The teachers and students here can be pretty vicious and I think that lends itself to the completive nature and superiority complex of the school. There are nice people here but that doesn't mean they are not judgmental or close-minded. Same goes for teachers. Some try to help, others don't help at all, and some are just racist…white supremacy.

I haven't even said everything but I think it's understood. This is by far the most left-brained art school I've ever encountered with a weird sense of values and not much promise for 40 grand a year. I am seriously considering leaving even though my grades are not poor. I can't imagine 4 years of this.