Dear freshmen,
The Connector wants to welcome you to SCAD with a few important tips to help you navigate through your college experience. The next four (or five) years are going to provide you with endless opportunities and challenges, so we’ve made a list of all the things we’ve learned the hard way. Trust us, we’re old.
The tour guide wasn’t exaggerating.
There will be many times when sleep just isn’t on the agenda. You’ll take studios that will have you up until 8:45 a.m., measuring foam core for mounting because it’s 25% of the project grade. Or you’ll be whimpering over your drafting table because you’ve rubbed Cheetos dust on the bristol board you’ve been working on for 2 weeks. I’m looking at you, color theory. There will be times when all-nighters won’t be enough time and you will feel defeated, and worse, untalented. It’s going to happen, but it can happen less often. First, always be conscious of your time. Stay on top of your projects; don’t procrastinate. You won’t have to rush last minute, so you’ll be careful about making mistakes. But if you make a severe mistake, you’ll know the best way to start over since you’ve already done it.
Take advantage of critiques.
Critiques are like the comments your teacher would write in the margins of your papers, but this time she’s reading them out-loud, in front of 20 other students who will do the same. They can be really intense, especially if you’re not used to hearing opinions about your work. Don’t waste time being all self-important and unreasonably confident and listen to what is being said about your work. Your peers are probably right; take what they have to say seriously. Be gracious. A bad attitude makes you look immature and unprofessional. Be thankful for this part of the process, It will make you better.
Take care of yourself.
Busy schedules can mean little things like eating real food and exercising get left in the dust. Doritos become sustenance and lugging books and supplies up the Spring House steps becomes a marathon. Days spent hunched over tablets or sewing machines leaves little room for thinking ahead and giving your body what it needs to operate as smoothly as possible. To make things easier on yourself, use your planner to treat meals and walking breaks around midtown like they’re appointments.
Get involved and take risks.
College is entirely what you make of it. It’s possibly to leave college unchanged, but what’s the point of that? Don’t be afraid to take a printmaking class even if you’re not entirely sure what it is. Risk getting a lower project grade to make something you’ve never made before. Befriend people whose work inspires you. Be brave enough to ask Jeff Koons a question during a lecture. Make mistakes — find out who you are. Join a few clubs and student organizations; become part of the school.
Built your portfolio.
GPAs don’t get students jobs — work gets students jobs. While it’s always important to treat your classes and professors with respect by trying your best and investing a sincere interest in the material, even if it’s 8 a.m. art history, remember grades are not everything. The key to internship and job offers is having the work to backup your studies. Keep that in mind when you’re working on projects. Make work that’s true to your style, not just to get a grade. Think about projects you’d like to do over multiple quarters. If you want to do a photography series on drag queens use your photography studio projects to your advantage by using them as part of the process to getting it done.