What to Expect

A graphic arts program will ensure you don't become a starving artist. These programs train you to become a commercial art professional.

Yvonne Meyer took a two-year diploma program in graphic arts. "I like very much that we also have a completely diverse faculty that makes the student look at more than one point of view and subsequently can use that objectivity as a skill," she says.

Kelly Young studied graphic design at the Maine College of Art. "The teachers are great but they don't spoon-feed," she says.

"There's never a time without wheels turning. If you're not in class, you're always thinking about what you can do for one project or another. It's all about process, and how you get to a final product."

Mike McKenney also took graphic design at the Maine College of Art. He says students learn to use all the latest software in very creative, artistic ways. "It can be a lot of work, but it's not something students should fear. If you're there because you love it, then you won't have a problem."

Young usually has three to four hours of homework a night. But she says students shouldn't let that intimidate them. "It becomes your life and you honestly do enjoy it."

Meyer's homework consisted of drawing, reading, typing essays, painting, pursuing new ideas and reading design magazine articles. "I won't hand in work I'm not happy with, and am not afraid to stay up and do it over."

Survival Tips

Young says dealing with technology can create problems for new students. She dealt with these problems with persistence and patience. "You only get out what you put in."