i want this to be a helpful post with suggestions, recommendations, tips, resources for new creatives in the industry. if you got any to share, comment them!
not here to tear anyone/anything down, rather i'm posting this because i wish someone drilled this in me before i started. if you're looking to build a portfolio with cool work, i'm telling you rn you can do this without spending an arm and a leg and a whole 2 years. all portfolio schools are largely the same in terms of what you will learn. miami ad, though, def had great times in the past, can't say the same now. today, the only reason you should be spending that much time/money is if you're in an actual school for undergrad/grad program. at this point the only "benefit" with miami ad school is that you can get loans via fafsa to help pay for the program if you really want to do it, but i think that's changing because of accreditation, could be wrong. it's true, you get what you put into it, but that's not the case here. let me tell you they are more than happy to let you fail forward and take your money.
gonna just spill some of my thoughts here. i had a lot of challenges with miami ad. i tolerated it, now i'm over it. i see all the cool stuff and mentorship coming from other schools, and it just makes me so sad and disappointed. i won't waste your time with the details, there are plenty of stories on here for that. teachers and instructors aside (because there are a few that i absolutely love and am grateful for), this school is not worth the money. the communication is so poor. leadership since the acquisition feels so disorganized. i look at my work feeling like i could've gotten just as far on my own for a lot less money...I even ended up spending another 2-3 months basically re-doing my portfolio with fresh work with a friend of mine, and now none of my work from miami ad lives on my portfolio...other than the "stamp" on my resume that i went there. when they tout their strong network, let me point you to the mannny students (some with good books mind you) who still are without the "network" that was promised post-graduation. they don't even have a job placement coordinator of some kind. so many students in the past few years have yet to have a job, some even missed out on internships. i know of a handful that have given up. I understand if this was a smaller school/program, shit happens. But, with respect, I find it unacceptable from "the Ivy League of ad school" or "punk rock school" whatever they call themselves.
if you're still not convinced, I'll put it this way. I interned somewhere and the CD basically had me unlearn and relearn a lot of things in just 3 months what I tried learning for 2 years at portfolio school.
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Alright, I'll start with recommendations and starting points.
If you're seeking a degree, I hear and see really good things about VCU brandcenter, BYU, SCAD, Newhouse School @ Syracuse, ArtCenter College of Design, and School of Visual Art. Check in with financial aid to see what help you can get.
If you do want to do portfolio school, I’d consider these. I hear great things about Book180 (online), Denver Ad School (also has online I think?), The Book Shop (in LA), Creative Circus (run by VCU now?), GS&P Academy (SF, but free).
Books to start with if you wanna do it on your own (and def with a mentor of some kind):
Advertising Concept Book (read this whether you do or don’t go to school!)
Hey Whipple, Squeeze This (this one too)
Advertising: Concept & Copy (learn about advertising overall)
Handbook for Hacks
I’ll try adding to this as the recommendations come in. It’s a tough time in the industry for everyone, but you don’t need to fall for the pay-to-get-in schemes today. I want to steer creatives away from what's not necessary.