Questions about transfer deadlines, and portfolio vs. GPA

Marionette · 09-16-2007, 12:19 AM

I just finished my first year of college at Ohio State University, and I'm trying to transfer to a school with more of a focus on art by the 2008-2009 school year. I signed up for another quarter of classes for fall quarter (school years starts next Wednesday), because I want a higher GPA (currently 3.18). But I also only have my portfolio from high school - which I was happy with at the time, but I heard that most school wants your work from the past year (I know, I really should have been more prepared).

We can scarcely afford an in-state tuition, so I'll need an enormous amount of financial aid to go to out of state art schools - now if the deadline for transfer students (who needs financial aid) is usually the same for freshmen (is it?), than my deadline for most schools will roughly fall into early January - early march (2008, of course).

Now is the big question (know this probably vary by schools, but generally):

Should I go ahead and finish this quarter (ends on 12/4) and try to get a better GPA, and use the one to two month I have left to get a portfolio ready (I was think about using some of my pieces from HS, is that OK?), or should I just drop my classes and focus completely on getting the strongest portfolio ready, and hope that the schools I'm applying for doesn't require that much of a GPA? Or should I just apply only for the open admission schools? Are there any other options if I don't want to wait until the 2009-2010 school year to transfer?

Also, any more school recommendations will also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

RainingAgain · 09-16-2007, 12:41 PM

Depends on the school, and your major if you have to declare one -perhaps. Generally, I would say that a strong portfolio carries more weight, but I don't advise dropping classes especially if you have paid for them. These are credits that may transfer elsewhere.

A 3.14 GPA is not so "terrible" IMO. Geez, are kids so pressured these days that it is not? If you do decide to work on your portfolio, do you have a mentor, or someone that can offer regular critiques? Are you past the point in the quarter or semester that you cannot drop/add an art class?

Also...don't rush your life. It seems as though younger people hold themselves accountable to a timetable. Why not finish your classes and then take an art class per term for a year? It may help your GPA and your portfolio simultaneously and provide you with more recent pieces plus the guidance of an instructor.

Just my 2-cents.

jilldanielle · 10-01-2007, 12:31 AM

go to npd.
it is worth it.
i just received a portfolio approval from SAIC, and was not even considering that school...now i guess i am

larationalist · 10-01-2007, 01:08 AM

How about hidden option number 3? Take some art classes at OSU this quarter, which will both build your portfolio and get you started on a back-up option in case the transferring doesn't work out.

*KatMT* · 10-01-2007, 10:16 AM

Good option number 3!

Also -- check with each of the schools directly about scholarships for transfer students. Many schools have generous scholarships to recruit freshman, but do not allocate any money to transfer recruitment.

Good luck!

taxguy · 10-01-2007, 03:08 PM

Why did you not go to University of Cincinnati? It is VERY well known for art and especially design and would provide in-state tuition.

Marionette · 04-13-2008, 05:39 PM

Thanks for your help everyone! And sorry for not replying for so long. So I took RainingAgain and larationalist's advice and took a another quarter. I had only one art class, Life drawing, but raised my GPA, got a lot of portfolio pieces and the teacher turned out to be my favorite art teacher in the whole school who just happened to be very familiar with the admission process of a lot of art schools.

I got in SAIC, Pratt with enough money to afford them and SMFA (haven't got the financial aid package but don't think I'm gonna go there). I'm still waiting to hear from RISD (my reach school, will definitely go if I got in with enough money though I doubt that I will, not all my material got there before the deadline so I was told that I won't be hearing from them until 4/22), MassArt and AIB (but also already decided that I'm not going there).

@jilldanielle: what are you thinking about SAIC now? I heard some interesting thing about that school.

@KatMT: yeah that's what I was worried about. I really needs help financially to got to art schools. But now things are looking pretty good.

@taxguy: in state tuition is tempting but one of the important reason I'm transferring is to get out of Ohio :P

kalonity · 04-13-2008, 10:55 PM

if it's any consolation, I've heard RISD transfers usually get a lot more money than freshmen. good luck!

taxguy · 04-14-2008, 10:04 AM

Congrats Marionette. All of the schools that you noted are fine schools. Take the place that nets you the lowest overall cost.

Marionette · 04-23-2008, 11:16 AM

@kalonity: that definitely is

@taxguy: thanks! The Boston schools costs less but actually didn't end up giving me that much more money than SAIC and Pratt, and in the most recent graduate school ranking they actually all ranked lower than OSU, the school I'm transferring from XP for that and other reasons, I think it's narrowed down to SAIC and Pratt, which I'm having a hard time choosing from right now.