The Academy of Art University

What makes my faculty good is that everybody works hard to improve and increase the level of work, and most are very experienced professionals. Although one teacher at the industrial design department is not very approachable or considerate, everybody else I have met at the department is fantastic and devoted people. Especially the last year since Tom Matano became director of the industrial design department things has changed for the better.

Not every instructor is the same and some are not as good you wish they were, but most of them has been fair, and the most important thing is always you work and how you can improve. Remember, in the end its your portfolio, your work and your decisions not the teachers opinion that matters, as long as you pass the class of course. In college you are on your own, but most of the instructors I have met at my department has given me good help and instruction on how I may improve.

In my opinion, one of the weakest links at the Academy is the advisors, they know much less about my major than they should. They have not told me everything I needed to know, important information was not mentioned and I am behind schedule, graduating later than necessary. They signed me up for truly useless classes, telling me they were prerequiste, which they were not. That said, the best advisor in my opinion is Les Bowman, he's great, but it took me a couple of semesters to find out.

Also being located in downtown San Francisco has it weak and strong points. I miss being on a real campus with everything relatively close, not spread out in a busy city with hardly any parking. The Academy offers a transportation service for free taking you from you class to another or to the dorm, but they don't run very often and goes everywhere before arriving at your destination.

If you plan on going to AAC, I think you could have a great time and you can learn a lot if you work hard. In the upper classes expect to work over 80-90 hours a week, at least in my department. Don't live in the dorms, they are expensive, your fellow students may steal your clothes, supplies, not clean up after themselves, or be loud. Plus its rather expensive. If you don't have anywhere to stay when you come to SF, spend one semester at the dorm, find somebody you think you can live with and look for apartments on the internet (www.craigslist.com - its free and very very good) or just walk around in neighborhoods you would like to live and look for apartments for rent.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2005

Surrounding City: A+, Social Life: F

At first, I loved this school, but now I don't. I wish I had gone elsewhere. In the Computer Arts Department, my field of study, most of the "teachers" are sub-standard. Apparently, the school is now just hiring any Joe off the street who works in the animation field. They're not screening for people who can teach or clearly convey ideas and thoughts or for that matter clearly speak english. I've had many teachers for whom English was not their first language but the quality of teacher has slipped to people you can't understand and who can't understand you or just plan selfish industry people who are come here supposedly to teach but are really here to monopolize the facilites and plagerize student work. Now they are supposed going to raise they're already incredibly high tuition from $1500 a class to $1650 a class for undergrad not including lab fees and supplies. Oh yeah, the rents in San Francisco and surrounding area are unbelievably high. You can get a windowless, bathroomless, kitchenless studio apartment (approx 250 or less sq feet)in the seedy part of town for only $1,000 a month not include $275 for monthly parking if you have a car. Unless you're parents or you yourself are wealthy, I would think twice about attending this school.

5th Year Female -- Class 2003

Collaboration/Competitive: A+, Scholastic Success: F

College students need to understand that a college education is not necessarily a guarantee of a successful career. They need to learn proper work ethics before they enter their field. More counseling before entering college would be helpful.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000