Guess who's back?

Wow. It's been weeks since my last post. I have been so busy trying to settle down and no, I'm not done yet!

In case you want to know, since you're reading my blog anyway, I finally decided to take some classes on Furniture Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Well the Academy may seem perfect if you're still a prospect student - but once you've paid and been photographed for your ID - little by little you realize that it's not much of a big deal really.


This is the building near my Bart stop so this is where I ride the school bus to my other buildings. That's the school bus right there.

I know it's my first blog entry since I got here, but I just want to let out my frustrations NOW. Lol. Since all you read about the Academy on the internet is positive, I might as well write something otherwise. ;)

1) Their class descriptions are vague and unreliable. Since I'm under "Personal Enrichment" (meaning I choose my subjects and not have the school provide me a course outline), I rely on these class descriptions. It's so freaking vague that I ended up taking then dropping 4 classes because they were apparently not what I thought they were teaching. And to think I was already talking to FIVE different student advisors.

For example, I took a class on Textiles assuming it was about the introduction to different textiles used for fashion as well as home furnishing, plus some silk screening techniques. That's what the catalog said plus it was recommended by an advisor for my furniture design goals. I arrive in class and the first thing we did was do silk screen. I asked the teacher and YES, she said, we will be silk screening every week until the very last day and we won't have any lecture at all, isn't that fun? - she added. Uhuh. I will spare you on my other class mistakes. Groan. I still haven't finalized my class schedule yet (as of the moment).


Here are my very kindergarten silkscreen artworks. LOL. I left them in class and didn't bother bringing them home.

2) The buildings of AAU are scattered around downtown San Francisco. It's not like Ateneo where you just walk to the next building or perhaps ride a trike. Sosyal sila. They have scheduled school buses to take you to your building before and after your class. So what's the downside? They have more than 10 buildings so I'm assuming they have more than 10 buses going around the city everyday - that's not too environmental friendly. Tsk tsk tsk. PLUS the bus schedule SUCKS. I've talked to students who have been going late to class because the school bus did not come on time.

3) AAU has been increasing their tuition every semester. Currently, undergrad is $670 per unit while graduate is $770 per unit. A class has the usual 3 units. Not to mention, there is an extra "course fee" of about $25 to $300 depending on your course (or class or subject). The lesser your course fee only means the more materials you need for your class. Materials may average to more than $100 while books average to an extra $100 plus plus. Goodness.

4) They boast of their cafeterias and kiosks - they even have one named Cafe Dior. Sounds sosyal diba. I dropped by one time and all I saw were 4 small round tables, 2 vendo machines, a coffee corner (in thermos containers) and the cashier. Wow. I'm impressed. It really lives up to its name. Chos.


This is the building where Cafe Dior is located. I go here often since the library is found here too. I will probably take photos of the infamous cafe next time. Lol.

5) Housing for AAU students cost about $5,000 per semester. That is San Francisco cost of living right there... but San Francisco way of living? I don't think so. Getting an apartment in a nice area near downtown will cost you probably half the price. You get your own room and probably your own bathroom as well. I heard AAU housing offers you a smaller room than the usual apartment room size. Not only that, you get to share the room with 2 other people plus you get to sleep in bunk beds. HAHAHAHAHA.

6) I don't know if this is how it is in the U.S. but this University does not even have a health clinic for its students - not even a school nurse. And so I wonder where that huge tuition goes to.

So what's good about this school, you ask? Or why haven't I refunded my tuition? Well to be honest with you, their students are really gifted. I don't know if that's a result of a good academic program or it just so happens that their students are really talented. I feel such a loser around these kids - to think they are much much younger than me.


This was made by a student. It's a huge-ass rabbit, probably 10 feet tall, made out of tin packaging material.

The school also boasts of their teachers as not only professors but also professionals in the industry that they teach - which is really great. I mean my Furniture Construction teachers are real furniture designers and makers and have their own shops.

And although there is no entrance exam or portfolio requirement to get in the University, it is very hard to stay in the school. They have very disciplined programs, demanding projects, and pretty high standards. So slackers are detected earlier on and eventually kicked out.

In fairness to the school, their educational program is really good and they are pretty much lacking only in the "other services" department - which should have been compensated given the fact that they have been increasing tuition. So it's either lower the tuition or put up a REAL Cafe Dior. Lol.