I am finishing up my second semester at Syracuse right now as a public health major, but realized a few weeks ago that I really don’t even like public health and want to pursue illustration. I have applied to transfer within Syracuse into their Illustration program, but considering how much debt I will be in ($60,000) i’d rather not get an art degree from a school that doesn’t have a great program.
I would be applying next year, to transfer for Fall 2017, as they don’t take sophomore transfers. I have a 3.5 gpa (may go down to a 3.3 after this semester though…), am a member of a public health organization on campus, as well as a couple club sport teams. Obviously, i wouldn’t be transferring into the art program at UCLA if I can’t even get to the one here at Syracuse - and i would love to stay here but it’s just way too expensive, so in-state tuition at a UC would cut my debt in half.
I understand it is nearly impossible to transfer from a private school to a UC, so what would i need to do in order to increase my chances? Obviously work on my portfolio, but also i am considering leaving SU after this semester, starting at Santa Monica College (a community college), and transferring to UCLA from there. I’m just very confused and stressed and would love some insight from anyone out there.