How should you prepare for art university?
Finding the right place to study art comes down to one simple question. Where will you feel safe?
If you know a young artist who’s considering art school, this might be a good one to show them.
As a professor at an art and design university, you’d think I’d get this question all the time. But it’s actually rare and I think that’s because high school students considering college have no shortage of old people telling them what to do.
The fact is, higher education has changed drastically since I experienced it as an undergrad. Barriers are higher, costs are higher, competition among schools to attract the best students is intense. If my advice to high school students about preparing for college is based on my experience preparing for college, it’s irrelevant by several decades.
But I do have some thoughts for this advice seeker. It’s based on my current role as an art school business professor and my observations as the father of a college senior studying animation.
I’m a 16-year-old high school student in Florida who wants to become a character designer and visual development artist for animation or games. I’m currently building my portfolio by focusing on character design, shape language, silhouettes, expressions, and storytelling rather than just rendering. I’m trying to decide between schools like Ringling, ArtCenter, SCAD, CalArts, and similar entertainment art programs. My biggest concern isn’t just getting accepted, but graduating with strong industry connections and actually getting hired. If you were starting today and your goal was to become an entertainment character designer, what would you prioritize over the next 2-3 years?
Prospective art university student
I see plenty of evidence in your question that you’ll do great wherever you end up! So while your decision might feel heavy right now, try not to worry too much about it.
I have some thoughts but first, a disclaimer. I teach at one of the schools that you listed and my child goes to the same school. I’m biased but I’ll work hard to remove that bias here.
The Typical Checklist
What I see in your question follows a checklist of things to consider when preparing for college.
You have a specific career goal in mind and you’re using that in your search and your preparation.
You didn’t arrive at that by accident. You’ve done your research and probably a lot of reflection.
You’re already a practicing artist and you’re building the portfolio to prove it to admissions offices.
You recognize that higher education is about more than education. Career opportunities through institutional connections is a big part of your decision.
All of these things matter. Because of the hard work and reflection you’ve put in, you’ll likely have options when it comes time to make a final choice. All the schools you listed have the resources, the connections, and the faculty to take you where you want to go.
So how will you choose?
And that’s where I have one question to add to your checklist and guide your preparation over the next year or so: Where will you feel safe?
Psychological Safety in Education
I didn’t discover the importance of psychological safety until late in my career. It became central to my leadership approach in business and it remains my top priority in the classroom for several reasons.
First, let me define it. A psychologically safe space is one where students aren’t afraid of repercussions like judgement or ridicule if they do something that’s uncomfortable for them. Like sharing ideas. Trying something new. Asking someone for help. All the things required for growth.
Some say good education is challenging because it pushes students beyond their comfort zone. I say good education is safe because it encourages students to challenge themselves, to voluntarily step into discomfort without fear, because they know the benefits will outweigh the discomfort.
So my advice is to add psychological safety to your checklist and to put it at the top. Here’s how you might do that.
My Advice
Spend the next 12 months exploring psychological safety at the schools you’re considering. Make it your final research project before you make your choice. Spend as much time as you visiting your short list of schools or speaking to people there and find the answers to these questions:
Do you feel genuinely welcomed by the people you meet or do you feel like a number who’s being recruited?
Are the faculty and industry connections accessible to you on day one or are they hidden away and protected from being bothered?
Do the students you meet feel safe to explore and grow without fear of judgement? Ask them directly!
Do you genuinely connect with the people there?
I suspect every school you visit will have some strengths and some weaknesses across all of these questions. But in the end, your gut will tell you where you’ll feel safe.
Trust your gut.
