why i chose otis as one of my safety schools...
I profiled Otis College of Art & Design as one of my safety schools because it accepts almost all applicants (and still has good programs), yet their school is extremely small. I’m also in the upper range for their average SAT scores and I exceed their largest GPA ranges for accepted students. I like that Otis has a main campus and one specifically for fashion, though I have not had the chance to visit it yet. These campuses are also located in the heart of LA which makes transitioning into the industry easier later on because of the opportunities to make connections and obtain strong internships. Fashion/costume students have even worked with Cirque de Soleil to create costumes used in actual shows! However, the price tag is very high for such a small program and school. I would still have to pay around $24,000+ per year if I received the average amount for financial aid, which is the price for total tuition and fees (not including the amount reduced for financial aid) of other design schools I’m considering that have larger programs. Since 91% of applicants are admitted and the GPA requirements are much lower than my own GPA, I’m not so sure that I will be surrounded by the type of students that I would feel the most empowered by as compared to some of the more selective schools. In addition, there are not any activities that interest me (there are only two offered) and there are no sports. I have toured the main campus and wouldn’t mind attending Otis, but it is definitely not the best choice on my list.