ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena is one of the most prestigious art and design schools in the nation. They go full force on preparing you for the intense, make-or-break world of high class design: The instructors, guest speakers, and even Department Chairs have a background in design, and push you toward your goals and aspirations, whether you want to be a shoe designer, furniture designer, or a straight up oil-painting artist. The resources are plentiful, help is there if you ask, and the chicken quesadillas from the cafeteria aren't too bad either.
All that being said, no amount of advice from either instructors or ArtCenter alumni can prepare you for what you're about to face as an Orange Dot newbie.
Note:
I received my acceptance last October in the Product Design Department, as an Asian-American male, born and raised in Los Angeles County. So this article is definitely not an extensive guide to ArtCenter. I don't claim to know everything there is about the school, and probably have a lot to learn.
But here's a quick unconventional perspective through the lens of my own experience during my first two terms at ArtCenter.
1. Your other friends will wonder why you fell off the face of the planet.
"Whatever you hear about the workload... it's worse."
What a boost of confidence, I thought, as they proceeded to tell me how many nights in a row they've gone without a shower, just to keep up with schoolwork.
But it's true. I then asked how I'd be able to keep up with friends outside of ArtCenter, or keep a social life.
"You can't."
Super.
I'm pretty involved in church and have a close circle of friends. Which is great. But I can't even count how many times I've received a, "I haven't seen you in forever" or "Dude, are you still alive?" text. What's worse is that some of them really believe that they can compare their finals to our finals.
2. "So You Just Draw All Day?"
No. We don't.
That would be a community center doodling class. We research, present, make, and problem solve. But everyone assumes we "just draw all day". Like, when would we eat? But you're right. We spend $20,000 a term so we can do what we've already been doing our whole life for free.
3. You will wonder if showers and sleep exist.
This may be the worst part. An all-nighter is only good for your schoolwork. Not so much for your hygiene. I live about an hour away from campus, so sometimes the better option is to search for an open black couch (or the Nap Room) to lay on for the night. And even when I do make it home, it's usually so late that I just collapse in bed.
There's the legend of the basement shower on Hillside, but I've never seen it.
Pro Tip: Leave a toothbrush and toothpaste in your car. It'll save you from doing a presentation with last night's poke bowl breath. While you're at it, throw in a sleeping bag and pillow. Just in case.
4. You will become familiar with the late night food options around Pasadena.
No, I'm not talking about Denny's. Those are everywhere.
The ArtCenter cafeteria closes at 8, and during the summer, at 7. The model shop, however, closes at 10. You can't waste precious shop hours by eating. What's weird is that eating (which is usually my favorite thing to do) becomes a waste of work time. Wait until after the shop closes, and explore Pasadena. Sometimes we forget that some of the best food in the nation is right around the corner.
If you're looking for cheap-but-good, I recommend TeaSpots or SushiStop, which are open until late!
Another Pro Tip: Do not rely on the vending machines. I know you think a Hot Pocket or a Cup Noodle will save your day. But the machines break and can gobble up your money, so be wary.
5. You will be reminded of your tuition in painful ways.
$20,000 per term is a lot of money. But what they don't tell you is that most classes require you to buy your own materials (which can be close to $1000 per class). This includes sketchbooks, specialty pens, boards, laser cards, foam, wood, and any other expensive piece of equipment. Why these materials aren't included is a mystery to me. If I knew exactly where our tuition went, I'd tell you.
There was even a week where fake dollar bills were posted on the hallways. 20,000 of them. With every step, you were reminded that none of these dollar bills will ever return to you. That's like 20,000 McChickens.
6. You will learn languages you never thought you'd learn.
ArtCenter prides itself on diversity. Well, their version of diversity. The majority of the school is still of Asian descent, and apparently what counts as diversity is that there are students from Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, etc.
Yes, there is ethnic diversity, but not necessarily racial diversity. That being said (being an American-born student myself), I've learned so many phrases from many different kinds of people, and mostly Asian phrases.
Forget the "shiba" of the Korean guys, that's a given. I've learned how to order food in Korean, tell someone what I want in Japanese, how to introduce myself in Chinese, and even write a few characters in Arabic. It can be lonely at times being in a room full of people not understanding any word that's said, but if you enter this school with a learner's posture, your eyes will be opened to so many different cultures and unique perspectives.
7. Do you smoke? You do now.
Everyone smokes. And it's not a bad thing.
But if you're like me and don't smoke, you'll breathe in a respectable amount of secondhand smoke every day you walk in through the double doors of Hillside or South Campus. Don't be fooled by the "No Smoking on the Stairs" signs. There will always be smoking on the stairs.
8. You will get caught if you speed up the Hill.
There's an entire Facebook page called "Cops on Lida", where the ArtCenter community rallies together to attempt to warn each other if there are indeed cops on Lida Street. I don't know how many times I've come up the Hill, and some poor student who just needed to get to class on time was pulled over for going five over the limit. 25 mph is not fast enough to go up this hill. But the cops just read the signs and point their gun. It would be wise for us to do the same.
9. Relationships with upper-termers can save your term.
I'm someone who likes doing things my own way and rarely asks for help. It's come back to bite me in the butt sometimes. Upper-termers know what they're doing, simply from experience. Keeping tabs/befriending a few upper-termers can save you from taking that unnecessary class, choosing the wrong teacher, or they could even be of help sharing their early term hardships with you. They, of all people, understand the first term doubting period. Everyone goes through a time of "do I really want to be here?" or "is it really worth it?", but...
10. You will love what you do, and you'll never turn back.
As crazy, stressful, and scary as ArtCenter sounds on paper, your time there will be as valuable to you as any job or internship you might get later. They have the resources to make you into the designer you were meant to be, and the drive to push you towards those aspirations. As terms go on, you'll find your niche, find your groove, and savor your time at one of the nation's top schools.
Don't be frightened, newbies! You're in for the ride of your life. Keep pushing through, be open to learning, and remember to take warm showers.
Trust me, you'll be just fine.
