First, Congrats on getting into UC DAAP program. It is one of the harder schools to get into academically.
My daughter goes there now and is majoring in digital design. I can give you some feedback from a parent’s perspective and from feedback from my daughter.
I was initially alarmed that UC didn’t require portfolios, especially since my daughter had a very good one. I was afraid that she wouldn’t be challenged by her foundation courses. She was, in fact, admitted to Carnegie Mellon primarily on the quality of her porfolio,but she did have good academic credentials too. I should note that my worries were baseless since she was challenged by her foundation courses and did learn a lot.
I asked of the DAAP deans about their lack of portofio requirements. They told me that research has shown that high grades with high SATS tend to provide better indicators for success. As for drawing ability, kids tend to pick DAAP because they feel that they have the skills. " If a kid has the talent, UC should be able to train them." HIstorically this has certainly been shown to be true.
It also may surprise you that as little as 20 years ago, design schools didn’t always require portfolios. My wife wouldn’t have had a good fine arts porfolio yet she has become one of the most successful and well-known interior designers in our state. Design does seem like a subject that can be taught to a properly motivated kid. I will admit, however, that I would have personally preferred if UC did use portfolios in admission.
UC DAAP is a terrific school in many ways,especially over the schools that you mentioned.
First, it is a full service university. This allows you to meet kids who aren’t just artists.
Second, there is always things to do. UC has a surprising 10 calendars of events. Yes, some of these calendars may not interest you such as the admission’s calendar, however, if you check on the “Main Street” and “CCM” calendars, you will see that there is something going on daily. If you combine this with their strong sports program, you will never be bored!
Third: DAAP is one of highest ranked design school in the US. They get top, well-known professors who seem to really like teaching. Their facilites are very new and up to date. Compare this to Pratt’s facilites and buildings. Pratt has a lot of deferred maintenance on buildings.
Fourth: It may surprise you that UC was the forerunner of the coop system of education. Coop in integral to many majors especially DAAP majors. They have guaranteed paid coop for 6 quarters. This not only makes UC cheaper than most of the other schools mentioned,but will provide you with a stronger resume than those from other schools. Kids really get out with some strong deisign experience. As one professor noted, " by the time kids become seniors, we (the teaching staff) don’t think of them as students but more as collegues."
I should note that they have coops in most stants and in many foreign countries as well. These coop vary a lot in the work offered. For example, Some lucky Digital Design kids had a coop with David Copperfield developing special effects for his show. Pixar used some kids to work on animated specials. Coops can give fantastic real world experience that isn’t as avialable at other schools. In addition, a large number of kids get offered jobs from their coop employers.
Fifth: UC has some of the newest and best facilites around. For example, they are fully wired for computers in all dorms and in most buildings. Wireless in omnipresent. This isn’t as true for a number of art schools. Also, UC also has one of the best work-out facilites in the nation. Every conceivable athletic machine is there along with running tracks (both indoor and outdoor), tennis courts and large climbing walls. They even have two pools. Speaking of pools, one of them has a “current.” Thus, can swim against the current for more exercise or with the current for fun. You won’t find facilites as good as UC at either Pratt or RISD or even CMU.
Sixth: I can’t speak for their transportatoin design program,but UC has one of the top ranked Industrial Design programs in the Nation. Transportation Design, being a subset of Indurstrial Design, has to be quite good too.
If you like music, UC has some fabulous musical opportunies such as CCM events, private tutoring and a very strong marching and concert band.
I should note that my daughter picked UC over CMU, Syracuse, RIT and other good schools and has NEVER regretted it. She also met two other kids who picked UC over CMU and other top programs as well.
Be advised: UC is a tough, demanding school Kids work very hard in the DAAP school. I don’t think that the academic requirements for other schools at UC, especially in the arts and sciences, are that great. However for some programs like DAAP and CCM, UC is unbeatable.