The admission quota IS NOT FULL. The deadlines on their catalogue ONLY REFERS to scholarship deadlines for each term. I even know of people from the night class here that are still applying for the summer term. Admissions at ACCD is on rolling basis, meaning that if they like what you see, they will accept you with gurantee of placement in requested term in the condition that you forward the tuition deposit by certain date. Therefore, they can admit you all year around as long as the quota has not been filled. You should call and ask regarding their admissions schedule for the upcoming fall if you are still interested in applying.
On another note, the admissions office does not look at everything all applicants send in. In addition, I've also gotten used to seeing instructors just flipping through students' admissions portfolio when they bring them in for a review. They will not read call-outs and texts. Development of design should be apparent as they are just flipping through your pages. At the same time, they should be able assess your drawing skills how they are improving as they are laid out chronologically.
How often do they reconsider admissions decisions? after all they have already rejected me for the fall term, can one apply for the same term more than once? Either way I would definitely need a scholarship...
As for the text in my portfolio it was more for explaining ideas behind the final concepts than design process, which was shown very visually. The problem is there is a difference between a stack of paper and a booklet that is in order when it comes to showing idea development and explaining projects. Although I always got the impression that they like it when ideas are explained, things that go beyond just aesthetics.
A good 15 minutes is all my portfolio needed, and I would think that the best ranked design school in the nation would give its applicants at least that, especially when they constantly boast about how selective they are. When you're selective, you don't just glance over applications, or in my case, not even look at 60% of it. Or perhaps this is an example of the falling standards we keep hearing about?
For the record I have nothing against ACCD, it is still my dream school and one for which I have a ton of respect, and one that I will attend one day. I just wish this hadn't happened, and even if they still had rejected me, I wish they had done so after reviewing all of my work, or at least pretending to. Because when I applied I was hoping to at least find out if I was good enough or not, and now, four months and $200 later, I still don't know for sure.
If you could post a link of your portfolio or email me a link privately at jmvdesign@mail.com, I could probably give you some pointers about your design process/pacing/strategy/system as a whole by critiquing it as a Communications/Information designer. (No offense, but some of you industrial design students don’t have the capacity to organize information well such as your research and design process into a summarized interpretation)
As well, I went down to ACCD with my portfolio last year and had a one on one assessment with one of the counselors about my work. She acknowledged that I was competent enough to get in but had to improve on some work processes and hand illustration in order to be worthy of a scholarship. This year, I took her advice and applied to the most recent portfolio that I just did for my 4th year graduation requirements here at Emily Carr, Vancouver, and received a quite an exceptional grade for it.
I’m about halfway done towards my Transportation design portfolio for a CCS and ACCD application and we could probably exchange inputs.
Quote: [How often do they reconsider admissions decisions? after all they have already rejected me for the fall term, can one apply for the same term more than once? Either way I would definitely need a scholarship...]
I'm curious, have you contacted ACCD yet about your situation? I'm sure that they can answer some of these questions you have. But, you need to call them "now".
Honestly, I would never send my portfolio in a sealed bag. "Alexei is right." These people look through hundreds of portfolios and may not take the time to open a package. They may actually have a policy against doing such a thing.
Even when you apply for an internship or a job after graduation, your portfolio has to be simple to look at and easy to follow. If not, then they will only look at part of it, or "toss it into the trash". Then send you a basic rejection letter.
There are some companies that only accept "online" portfolios. If you mail them a physical portfolio, then they will "throw it in the trash" without looking at it.
Whenever I send a company samples of my work, I always contact them ahead of time to see what type of format they prefer.
Yes I emailed them. Today I got a call back, which I'm thankful for! they apologized for the mistake and asked me to resend it for proper review, so that's good
I'm very pleased with how they responded.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mr. Burns,
If you could post a link of your portfolio or email me a link privately at jmvdesign@mail.com, I could probably give you some pointers about your design process/pacing/strategy/system as a whole by critiquing it as a Communications/Information designer. (No offense, but some of you industrial design students don’t have the capacity to organize information well such as your research and design process into a summarized interpretation)
As well, I went down to ACCD with my portfolio last year and had a one on one assessment with one of the counselors about my work. She acknowledged that I was competent enough to get in but had to improve on some work processes and hand illustration in order to be worthy of a scholarship. This year, I took her advice and applied to the most recent portfolio that I just did for my 4th year graduation requirements here at Emily Carr, Vancouver, and received a quite an exceptional grade for it.
I’m about halfway done towards my Transportation design portfolio for a CCS and ACCD application and we could probably exchange inputs.
Thanks for the thought, but I'm fairly confident in how my book is organized. I am also confident anything you do will blow mine away so for now I'll stick to my relatively high confidence level about getting in the "second" time around
Mr. Burns, I am glad that you were able to push this matter up to this point. The fact that you called ACCD and got them to want to re-review your portfolio was nothing less than astounding! On the side notes though, "If" I were you, I won't re-send my portfolio back, and try for Spring semester instead. The first reason is that you (just like me and the most of us) are aiming for some scholarship/$$$ aid. I am aware that the scholarship portion given is rank-based on merit and needs. While showing "need" isn't a issue, merit is. Which means your essays AND quality/quantity of visual works must support your cause by being the most promising there is. I don't think you should second guess your work even compared to some of the works around here in this forum. Secondly, They will announce the amounts of awards before the 15th of this month. Which makes less than four days to get the portfolio to the US, have the re-review, rank your position if so you are accepted, etc,etc. I'd suggest you re-send your portfolio overnight-express NOW if you so decide to pursue this route. Third, you mentioned "Art Center or nothing" policy. I understand that too, but I think If you re-work, add , edit your portfolio (and essay) for the next scholarship term, I am sure you have a better chance to prepare yourself and come up with more superior work. At least, time is on your side. I DO know 2 young girls who received 7k each for last Spring term. Seen their work too. Suggestion: take a fine art class and a design development course. It will be a pleasure to help you thru if I can, if you need so.
Originally posted by angeladay: Or get married with the right person before starting design school. I can't imagine doing this without my spouse's support.
I didnt know you're married!? I should've guessed when you asked if I am...
Originally posted by LiGHTWORKEr: This is quite irritating.. i've also stood by art center, held it up on a pedestal a... I've seen more and more students being accepted who's work is anything but innovative. ... Like a little kid who realizes santa claus isn't real. I've seen numerous posts by current students who aren't happy with the program.. ... However Art Center WILL get your worked viewed by the most eyes making it the easiest for you to in fact get noticed.. I'm really starting to wonder if its worth the what, 16k a term?... Someone just tell me the best school to go to for Trans Design already!!!!!
:P
One, I used to put ACCD and its Trans design program up on the pedestal myself, BUT no longer. The thing is, I've met so far, 3 famous car designers... Freeman Thomas, Steward Reed (ACCD Trans dept. Chairman), Ken Okuyama, and I also met Geoffrey Wardle from ACCD (among other notorious instructors)...and Frank Gehry at LA Auto Shows' AUDI unveiling event. I used to idolize these figures until the day I met them in person. They're not Santa Clauses, and the works they did ain't magic. Its just skills honed and taste acquired over the years. There is no magic superschool. There is some with outside connections, just like any school who looks after their alma mater. But even ACCD alumnis will smack another colleague if they're lazy and faling behind. It is tough all over and all we can do right now is to keep visualizing ideas, help each other in venues, and give credit when credit is due. The rest is politics, and if thats more interesting, then go to a business school instead. Putting ANYthing on a pedestal and hoping to ride one entity's popularity (i.e ACCD, RCA, etc) undermines creativity. That's the last thing I'd want to happen to any designer in love with beauty and innovation.
Originally posted by AMH: Mr. Burns, I am glad that you were able to push this matter up to this point. The fact that you called ACCD and got them to want to re-review your portfolio was nothing less than astounding! On the side notes though, "If" I were you, I won't re-send my portfolio back, and try for Spring semester instead. The first reason is that you (just like me and the most of us) are aiming for some scholarship/$$$ aid. I am aware that the scholarship portion given is rank-based on merit and needs. While showing "need" isn't a issue, merit is. Which means your essays AND quality/quantity of visual works must support your cause by being the most promising there is. I don't think you should second guess your work even compared to some of the works around here in this forum. Secondly, They will announce the amounts of awards before the 15th of this month. Which makes less than four days to get the portfolio to the US, have the re-review, rank your position if so you are accepted, etc,etc. I'd suggest you re-send your portfolio overnight-express NOW if you so decide to pursue this route. Third, you mentioned "Art Center or nothing" policy. I understand that too, but I think If you re-work, add , edit your portfolio (and essay) for the next scholarship term, I am sure you have a better chance to prepare yourself and come up with more superior work. At least, time is on your side. I DO know 2 young girls who received 7k each for last Spring term. Seen their work too. Suggestion: take a fine art class and a design development course. It will be a pleasure to help you thru if I can, if you need so.
Thanks for the heads up! I will call them right away and ask to see if I can still make it for the fall term, or if they recommend I go for spring instead. When I asked about scholarships last night they said they would have to look at how much money they have left, but if I am accepted it seems I will be considered for scholarships. I guess it depends on how good the people who applied for fall are in general. Hopefully I can make it for fall but if I can't I'll go for spring instead and take the classes you suggested in the meantime. The thing is they've promised to pay for shipping for me to resend it. I don't know if I can take another few months of portfolio prep! But what happens happens I guess.
