Five Tips for Art School Success from an Otis College Student

Otis is full of amazing professors and classmates that inspire and push me every day to be the best artist I can be.

My name is Avery Plummer and I am a junior in the Game and Entertainment Design program at Otis College, minoring in Creative Writing. Reflecting on my past three years here, I wanted to share with you five things I wish I knew when I started:

#1: Time management is everything. 

Your class workload can be pretty intense at times. You’ll be juggling multiple projects, papers, and deadlines, which requires a lot of self-discipline and time management. To prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed, be organized and try your best to stay on top of your work. Resources like the Student Learning Center and the Student Health and Wellness Center offer a ton of valuable support.

#2: Networking starts on day one.

A professor once told me, “Art school is a four-year job interview.” I can’t agree more. Your peers and professors are likely your first industry connections that you’ll meet. It took me a while to realize how important it is to establish and build connections early on in my college career. Being outgoing and friendly can make a big difference when it comes to others sharing job and internship opportunities, insider industry knowledge, and so much more. If you don’t know where or how to start, Career Services offers helpful resources and even coaching.

#3: You don’t have to be amazing at or love everything.

You are going to be exposed to a lot of different types of art, creating, areas of your industry, and so much more. It is more than likely that you will find something that you aren’t the best at, or something you might not really enjoy doing. And that is totally OK! A huge part of your time at Otis College is figuring out what you want to do once you graduate, so crossing a few subjects off your list is just as important as finding what you enjoy. 

#4: Embrace every critique. 

Critiques, or “crits,” are a huge part of all majors at Otis. At first I was petrified of receiving critiques, let alone giving them to others, but I quickly learned that critiques are an essential part of improving your art and design skills. Understanding that people are giving you feedback because they care and want you to improve, as well as learning how to separate yourself from your art, were two major things that helped make accepting crit so much easier. I no longer dread weekly crits, but am instead excited for them and hearing new ways to improve my work. 

#5: Art and design school is fun!

While art and design school is a lot of work, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in my entire life. I get to show up every day and do what I love most: create. Otis is full of amazing professors and classmates that inspire and push me every day to be the best artist I can be. Being surrounded by such amazing people encourages me to constantly keep pushing myself and grow every day.

Thank you for reading! I hope this makes you feel a bit more prepared for your time here at Otis and that you were able to learn from my experiences. I hope to see you in the fall!

More information about the Admissions process at Otis College. Check out our in-person and virtual tours for more insight into what life is like at the College. Admissions counselors are always available to answer any questions you may have via email, text (at 323-870-6820), chat, and phone. 

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