Students, Let Your Voices Be Heard
By / /
Our Schools of Fools editorial has sparked a fantastic conversation. It’s gotten us thinking about ways to do more than just flap gums. As a start, we’d like to get a feel for how many future creatives are hanging on every twisted word The Egotist lovingly pens. Our ultimate goal is to determine if this site is the right forum to feature some of the ideas we have in our head for improving the education of the students in Colorado.
So let’s hear from all the students. Tell us what school you’re attending and any thoughts you have on what you’ve been reading here on The Egotist. Feel free to post anonymously (the only time you’ll ever hear us say that) in case any of your instructors are looking in.
Comments
Katie May 12, 2008
I’m not a student, but I went
I’m not a student, but I went to art school in Colorado. What about the professors teaching these kids? I’d like to know their take on this issue. If they’re to blame in all this, why not let them know why you see this as a serious problem? They might care more than you think.
Justin McCammon May 12, 2008
I’ve already posted a bit of
I’ve already posted a bit of a reply to Schools of Fools here , but here’s some more on the topic:
I’m a senior up at UNC studying marketing and looking to break into advertising after graduation. Advertising is almost non-existent at UNC. There are two classes in the business school, one that’s an overview of what advertising is that let’s you work with a small group to develop a local campaign for either State Farm or Wells Fargo which is pretty good real-world experience.
The other class is comprised of students from across campus in the journalism school (they have an ad program as well) and the graphic design department. Everyone gets together and competes in the AAF’s NSAC competition. I just did this class this past semster and you can see some of our work here
I’ve let my professors know I’d like to see more advertising classes but budgets are tight and new programs are hard to come by.
Honestly though, I think it comes down to the students. If you want it bad enough you’ll find a way to make it happen no matter where you are. If you want it bad enough you’ll buy the books and read them, subscribe to CA and CMYK, and take the time to go through countless blogs like this one. I just don’t see other students doing that (although I’m exposed to an extremely small section of the Colorado student ad world). I shouldn’t have to explain what Communication Arts is when I bring it to show my classmates a great ad.
I do think it would help to get all these students tied together through something like AD2, which I know Ted Morse is trying to do (as of our conversation last Friday I was one of 5 paying student members). Maybe some local student ad awards or contests? Maybe some workshops? Maybe portfolio review nights? Maybe some cooperation between schools? Maybe we should all just pack up and move to NYC, Chicago, Minneapolis, etc.
I don’t know what the answer is, but at this point I think the more discussion and ideas we generate the better.
Justin McCammon May 13, 2008
Yowza, am I the only student
Yowza, am I the only student reading the Egotist or is it just bad timing with finals / graduation for everyone in Colorado right now?
anonymous May 13, 2008
I am a recent grad of the CU
I am a recent grad of the CU ad program. The school is a well developed program in which there are many serious teachers and students. The program has two “tracks” the creative and the strategic. I can’t speak in too much depth about the strategic side of the school since I went through the creative track, but I think the CU ad school did a pretty good job in preparing me for life in the real world.
Highlights of the program overall included mandatory internships (the j-school in general does a nice job in helping students find good internships), good speakers (Alex Bogusky, Scott Kaplan of BBDO NY and Cal McAllister of Wexley School for Girls to name a few) and committed adjunct professors namely Schoenie and Norm. The program emphasized strong, original creative thinking in new and old mediums.
I think that the biggest downfall of CU’s program and likely any undergraduate advertising program is the lack of time students have to develop as creatives. I only took 6 “creative” classes in my four years at CU, and I would say that 4 of them were really worth my time. With this lack of preparation it is difficult for grads of CU’s program to compete with grads of VCU, Creative Circus and Miami School when it comes to getting jobs. By the time of graduation, graduates of the portfolio schools will have spent two years straight honing their skills, and will have a developed student book. CU grads will have spent four years taking a class or two each semester many will have a book that will not likely land them a job. This is not to say that graduates of the CU program aren’t ready to enter the field of advertising, but it certainly takes a lot of work. Students in my class that are extremely committed and blessed with talent are certainly making a go of it. Many are entering the real world through internships at TDA, Leo Burnett and Wexley. These internships have allowed students to work on their books and have led to “real” jobs for many CU grads in the past. Those who don’t have these opportunities however, will have to work a thousand times harder or will likely have to attend one of the many portfolio schools.
All in all I think that CU’s ad program is one with strengths and weaknesses. Classmates of mine did extremely well in this year’s student One Show (a gold pencil and three merits.) I also believe that the creative thinking that happens in the program is on par or above many of the other portfolio programs. I read a post from a professional on the original “School of Fools” editorial that said that “CU’s ad program was on of the worst in the country.” I understand that this is only this persons opinion, but I couldn’t believe it. I think that CU has a lot to offer aspiring ad people.
Grant Miller May 15, 2008
I will graduate from RMCAD at
I will graduate from RMCAD at the end of the summer.Personally, I would prefer to see more work that deals with design conceptually; more innovation and less conventional work. I know what has been done and beaten to death, but seeing whats on the frontier is helpful and more interesting
Its your blog of course, and I read it as is.