…yeah, I know I’ve asked a similar question before but now I’ve narrowed it down. While I can self-study my other interest, I’d be well-served in a classroom environment in regards to learning how to make great art.
I’m not sure how to come into terms with UCSD’s art department’s heavy emphasis on theory. A lot of the classes I’d be forced to take have nothing to do with improving my drawing skills.
Should I
a) stay here and deal with the art program, possibly dabbling in some programming, while taking part in a free or a cheap online art program (I swear there’s a few ones that aren’t rip-offs) and teaching myself drawing?
or
b) jump ship and try something else starting in the summer, or even the spring?
I don’t know. I just feel uncomfortable with both options, for different reasons. a feels like I’m taking advantage of the aid and, to a certain extent, that much of my studies would be a relative waste of time.
In b’s case I have no idea where I should start. I don’t have a full portfolio and my educational background is all over the place. Would any good and beautiful mid-range art school be able to provide me a similar financial aid package to what UCSD gave me (it gave me an almost full ride)?
I’m not sure if they’d see me as deserving the position, let alone the package. 
What do you want to do with your art?
Degrees are not always about what you want to learn most, rather what you would have a harder time learning elsewhere. We tell ourselves that we create our art for ourselves, but the truth is that everyone wants to have a career doing what they love. The fact that we are among the most talented of our craft means little if we are never allowed to prosper because we are working unrelated jobs and making work from time to time that no one ever sees. Learning about Chaucer in an English program did not provide me with what I wanted to improve my writing, so I had to ask myself what higher education could reasonable offer me. We have a lifetime to refine our crafts, but we have a finite amount of time to devote to these degrees and we have to be practical about our expectations. What do you want these skills to lead to? What might that goal require aside from talent?
Are you interested in working in television animation? Consider double majoring in business or related major. Employers are interested in creatives who can create and proceed to management positions later in their careers.
Are you interesting in film animation? Consider venturing over to the film department, as similar rules apply.
Are you interesting in illustrating? Consider double majoring in English or literature.
Are you interesting in working independently? Consider double majoring in communications, media, or graphic design.
Are you interesting in teaching art? Those theories might be boring, but they will be necessary for future graduate studies.
Even if you attempted to attend an arts institution, there will be limitations to what that environment can offer. There is a saying that a creative writing workshop is least beneficial for its best writer. There is a point after which others cannot teach us improvement. We can only evolve through our individual work. You can study your craft for as many years as you are alive, but you will only have one shot at a bachelors degree from a well-respected university system. Especially the third most well-respected university in that system. ESPECIALLY with nearly a full ride. You have to take advantage of opportunities like this.