Photography Universities - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

08/20/2005 11:50:13 AM · #1

Well my senior year came fast so now I am looking into colleges. I want to major in Photography and of course will start applying for scholarships a.s.a.p.!...Does anyone recommend any specific university?? These are a couple colleges I have been looking into, but would love opinions and or advise :)

Brooks Institute
Rochester Institute
University of New Mexico
Art Institute of Chicago

pawdrix

Nikon D700

08/20/2005 11:56:08 AM · #2

So you are looking to teach at the school or to attend as a student? ;)

You have an amazing portfolio, I look at it all the time. I have no advice on schooling but I'm sure you'll do fine as a pro, whichever way you go.

Good Luck!

Message edited by author 2005-08-20 11:56:41.

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

08/20/2005 11:58:51 AM · #3

Brooks is the harvard or better yet MIT of photography.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

08/20/2005 12:12:56 PM · #4

Originally posted by hyperfocal:

Brooks is the harvard or better yet MIT of photography.

i contacted Brooks and they send me all the info for their classes etc.. and looks really really interesting. The price tag is pretty high though....but im trying to see if i can get a full ride there with scholarships (if not i probably can't do it). I also want to look into other places to have more options available.

adyus

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/20/2005 12:16:06 PM · #5

I've been looking into Photography Colleges too, so I know what you're going through.

Brooks is a very classy university, it's also very expensive and they don't offer many scholarships. You also need a recommendation from some known artist.

U of Central Florida also has a photography program, and it's also sunny all year :)

Let me know how it goes.

08/20/2005 12:17:41 PM · #6

Originally posted by hyperfocal:

Brooks is the harvard or better yet MIT of photography.

I heard the standard academics at Brooks were at best mediocre.

A good university would be a better long term choice. You have to know what direction you would like to go in photography before you can decide.

08/20/2005 12:30:32 PM · #7

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by hyperfocal:
Brooks is the harvard or better yet MIT of photography.

I heard the standard academics at Brooks were at best mediocre.

A good university would be a better long term choice. You have to know what direction you would like to go in photography before you can decide.

Well I was really surprised by their admission requirements, GPA 2.0, No SAT, NO Portfolio...(seemed kinda weird to me)

For a while I was thinking wildlife photographer (or something like it), now im thinking that digital imaging and advertisement seem to be the "money" makers.

08/20/2005 12:33:07 PM · #8

Originally posted by elsapo:

Well my senior year came fast...

You are just now starting as a senior in highscool or did you just graduate?

Mostly where you attend will depend on where you can or want to attend. Most states in the US have at least one good university with a photography major. Narrow down the areas you would be willing to relocate to and you will nawwow down your choices. That would be a start.

Then go about contacting the universities to see if thier programs match your goals. After it is further narrowed down you should visit each of the universities still on your list to see if you would really want to spend the next 4 years of your life there.

By January you should have the field narrowed to no more then five universities, at which time you should begin applying for acceptance and getting your portfolio together.

By no later then the begining of March (unless the universities' guidelines state otherwise)
you should begin presenting you portfolio to try and secure a scholarship. After March most scholarships have already been awarded.

08/20/2005 12:36:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by elsapo:

Well I was really surprised by their admission requirements, GPA 2.0, No SAT, NO Portfolio...

Try getting into MIT with those credentials. Brooks just want your money.

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

08/20/2005 12:39:18 PM · #10

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by elsapo:
Well my senior year came fast...

You are just now starting as a senior in highscool or did you just graduate?

I just started my senior year a couple days ago... also my school told me to start apllying around october (for college and scholarships)

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

08/20/2005 12:40:35 PM · #11

I really don't think it's necessary to major in photography, but rather get a degree in something broader, such as art or graphic design. If you have your sights set on a photography program that leads to a degree, and if you don't mind extremely cold weather, and the high costs of an ivy league school, then Cornell in Ithaca, NY has a program in fine arts photography, as does its neighbor, Ithaca College. I also think it's probably better time, and money, spent getting educated in digital imaging. If you have any interests in doing studio photography, then I would consider a degree in technical theater, where you learn about lighting and set design, amoung other things. Seems like that would be a lot of fun too. Just my two cents.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/20/2005 01:09:23 PM · #12

Originally posted by elsapo:

...also my school told me to start apllying around october (for college and scholarships)

You really should. My timeline was a worst case no later then dates. If it has not been done by the dates I have mentioned you might have to wait a year.

petrakka

08/20/2005 01:18:06 PM · #13

im lookin into mfa (masters) programs right now and university of new mexico keeps popping up as a great program.

I take some courses with photography majors at the university of illinois (my major is advertising - in school of communications not art) and I can tell you this - you really get what you put in to it. Some kids just dont care about photography and use Program mode on their camera for the first 2 yrs of the major... You should be good at any university that is decent, you just need to supply the strong work ethic.

photodude

08/20/2005 01:31:34 PM · #14

There's also the School for Visual Arts (SVA) in NY

Spork99

OM System OM-1

08/20/2005 02:34:30 PM · #15

Cal Poly SLO has a great Art program and scholarships, but unless you are a California resident, your chances are slim.

Brooks is a good school if all you want to do is learn photography, but the general ed classes and requirements are a joke.

Look at Savannah College of Art and Design too.

ShannonLee

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

08/20/2005 02:45:44 PM · #16

I was in your same boat exactly a year ago and decided to start out at a state school, get a good CHEAP general education, major in visual arts to get a broad range of all the great arts out there. After 2-4 years I plan to transfer to a photography school, perhaps Brooks Institute. & now here I am startin' college next week. Best of luck to you and have fun in this exciting time of your life :)!

08/20/2005 08:37:18 PM · #17

thanks everyone! this is definetly helping...anyone else?

08/21/2005 11:14:58 AM · #18

bump ^^

w24x192

Canon PowerShot S50

08/21/2005 11:34:04 AM · #19

A university gives you a broader education, which when you are an undergrad, is a good thing, as it exposes you to a lot of stuff from math to literature, philosophy to psychology, etc, etc, etc. Once you have your undergrad, if you want additional education with a more rigorous focus on photography, you can go to grad school. Just remember to keep busy on your ultimate goal, like working for the school paper, joining or founding clubs, working in the summer, etc.

You'll be fine, just keep your eyes on the prize on so on.

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/21/2005 12:14:43 PM · #20

Alot of camera guys in the industry that I am in went to Brooks, the only thing is that they make a decent living, but are usually stuck as a loader, Assitant Camera, or Focus Puller.