The Report Card: A Review of The University of the Arts

The Report Card series gives an insider’s view into college life at local Philadelphia institutions. Here at Tutor Delphia, we take a lesson from our tutors and explore their alma mater from their perspective.

The Basics:

School: The University of the Arts
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Website: www.uarts.edu
Undergraduate Students: 1,890
Public/Private: Private
Setting: Urban
Average SAT Score: Reading and Math Total 1060
Average ACT Score: 23

Meet our tutor Ashley:

I knew about the [University of the Arts] and took a couple summer high school courses there, and I loved it so I applied!

Campus Life:

It really is in the heart of the city. Avenue of the Arts has about four or five buildings on Broad Street. The city is part of your education. Exploring and going to different art shows, plays, and museums – you don’t really feel like you’re at a regular college. The only thing I think surprised me was the amount of kids from New Jersey there. I always saw it as a Philly school.

In the Classroom:

We didn’t have papers. We had projects, like short films, scripts, and paintings, so the homework took weeks to months at a time for the finished production. I made it an objective of mine to make sure I worked on the project everyday for at least two hours. A lot of the teachers were also freelance artists, so they operated and communicated with the class as if we were on the same level as them. This also meant we could go to their gallery shows and festivals to see their work. They were very helpful not only with helping you with your craft but also with the business.

Room and Board:

I was very timid the first year because I lived off campus, but I do think it is better. I think it’s really important to learn how to take the subway, and it’s also creatively helpful. The dorms at UArts were little apartments, anyway. Most freshmen stay there, but as a whole, usually people either get their own apartments or commute in.

In the Dining Hall:

They built [the cafeteria] after I graduated, but the best food I had was the kimchi ramen at the Bellevue Hotel cafeteria next door.

Extra Credit:

​​Take advantage of the jobs like working in the camera equipment labs and equipment rental offices. You can learn more about the equipment you will need to use, and you can get money for tuition. High resolution digital cameras can really improve the look of a photo or film, so learning the ins and outs of those was a good idea. Also, lighting equipment was a good thing to become familiar with. These are the materials that you would learn about if you are working in a lab.

Also, complete as many internships as possible. They are helpful in making connections.​

A lot of people assume that art college isn’t like “real” college, and you just do what you want and get an A, regardless. However, going to art school is like having a full-time job. You have to complete multiple projects, follow the client/teacher’s directions, and manage your time ​correctly to get everything done on time. Even if you don’t have to write 10 page papers, it can get stressful.

Ashley (right) with her friends at graduation.

Ashley studied Animation at the University of the Arts and is now working towards her Masters in Early Childhood Education at St. Joseph’s University.