How is the Art Institute of Houston? (Howe, Anna: credit, loans)

[nubianprincess]

Hello, I'm an Art Institute student in florida and due to my mother's job we might have to relocate to Houston. Has anyone attended or is attended the Art Institute? If so, is it a good school?

[Jocie]

Originally Posted by nubianprincess

Hello, I'm an Art Institute student in florida and due to my mother's job we might have to relocate to Houston. Has anyone attended or is attended the Art Institute? If so, is it a good school?

I am considering on attending that school this coming fall. I've heard stories. Like credits that are extrememly hard to tranfer. But overall it is a good school. If you go to their website you can talk to someone that can answer your questions.

[boxcar]

I went on a tour there. I spoke (and met) with several people--admissions officer, financial aid coordinator, housing--and generally, they were very helpful and speedy to get you setup to enroll. I personally chose not to go because of the monetary investment it would take for the type of degrees they offered compared to a local university of higher reputation and lower costs.

[leslieranea]

I've had several friends go. There was a thing a few years ago where the students pulled together and filed a class action lawsuit against the institute because they couldn't transfer their credits anywhere. It is now fully accredited in the state of Texas.

[garcia4411]

Originally Posted by leslieranea

I've had several friends go. There was a thing a few years ago where the students pulled together and filed a class action lawsuit against the institute because they couldn't transfer their credits anywhere. It is now fully accredited in the state of Texas.

"Fully accredited in the state of Texas" doesn't mean that the credits will transfer to other institutions. It only means that the state higher education coordinating board authorizes the school to offer courses in the state.

There are many accrediting bodies out there, and most public four-year institutions will require that the institution sending the credits be "regionally accredited" by one of six bodies. A link is here http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ/

It does appear that the Art Institute of Houston is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is one of the six regional accrediting bodies. However, it still doesn’t guarantee that the credits will be accepted by another institution. Does the receiving institution have similar courses? Articulation agreements with the sending institution?

It’s sort of like Automotive Technology at a regionally accredited community college….most universities won’t take the credit because it doesn’t apply to their degrees (psychology, engineering, education, etc.) in any shape or form. Accreditation doesn't guarantee credits will be accepted.

I would be interested in the amount of studio space that the art college has for students—do all students get space, or only juniors and seniors? Is there any gallery space and does the art college host any shows? In other words, will it be seen? Does the curriculum contain any academic foundations, such as English composition, natural science, behavioral science, ect., or is it all art-related?

[anna1029]

The Art Institute of Houston is a pretty good school, my husband just got his BA in Media Arts and Animation from there. It is a bit expensive, but worth it if you have a strong interest in the arts. The Culinary Program is very good there, and so is the Graphic Design and Media Arts and Animation Program. Good luck!

[VCGRAD8T9]

If you want to be a painter or sculptor, move on to a REAL art school. If you want to serve technology as a human slave, where entire digital resumes are scanned by computers to detect software, not the you. Go right ahead.

I don't know what you want out of life, but seriously look at the job market for the field you want to be in 2-4 years from now. Find successful people doing it already & ask THEM where they went to school. Keep a pc. of paper on your desk when you call them and after 100 calls, look at your tallies. Bet you won't find very many from these Art Institutes. Most will be from respectable colleges with programs interested in its critical curriculum & quality of education - not your wallet.

Also, please seek grants and scholarships HARD before getting financial aid through loans. You'll be slaves to the computer in no time...

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by nubianprincess

Hello, I'm an Art Institute student in florida and due to my mother's job we might have to relocate to Houston. Has anyone attended or is attended the Art Institute? If so, is it a good school?

What do you want to study? What are your occupational goals? Will you be studying for your undergraduate degree? I agree with some of the other posters who recommend attending a regular college or university--preferably a publicly funded one. Many public colleges/universities have excellent programs with credits that are easily transferable to other institutions in case you aren't able to finish at the first college in which you enroll. Why incur serious debt for an undergraduate degree that you be paying for a considerable amount of time when you can get the same education-- in many cases an even better education--at a public college/university, which incidentally you are already paying for through your taxes.

[MarkinHouston]

Hi Anna, I hope you still get to DJ

[rodrigoamorim]

Hey everybody, i just saw this topic. I´m from brazil and I was thinking to contact this school then i decided to research what people think about it, and now i´m totally insecure about it. Well, i dont want a real graduation i want some course to improve my skills in Design field, like animation or interactive media. A quick course is what i wan, about 1 year more or less.Do you have any sugestion, the place can be in Houston or California. If u have any suggestion please let me know .Thanks, see ya!