pre-calarts
bfa-1 first semester | bfa-1 second semester
bfa-2 first semester | bfa-2 second semester

P.C.
Pre-CalArts
Otherwise known as 'How the Hell I Got Here'

I've wanted to go to CalArts for the longest time. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I had a chance at getting in so I assured that outcome by not bothering to apply. I allowed myself to get complacent, making a rather comfortable living as a web designer with a company that offered me almost rock-solid job security and just kind of doodled in my spare time when the mood would hit me.

In the spring of 2002, I took an evening figure drawing class at a community college. Taking art seriously again really stirred up the desire to pursue drawing for a living and, on the spur of the moment, I decided to apply to art school for the Fall 2002 semester. Although CalArts was my top choice, the deadline had already passed so I put in an application to Rhode Island School of Design.

I did not get in.

I was disappointed but not entirely surprised. So I shrugged it off and decided I would apply again next semester. I also decided that if I didn't get accepted where I wanted, I'd cut my losses and enjoy the happy little life I had already cut out for myself. Fall semester rolled around and I took another figure drawing class. I went to a National Portfolio Day down in Houston and showed my portfolio to CalArts, Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Pratt and the School of Visual Arts. I received great reactions from all four schools which bolstered my confidence going into the application process. However, I decided to only apply to CalArts. Applying to art school isn't exactly cheap and, when I got right down to it, I realized that I really only wanted to uproot my life for one school. I told myself that if I could get in, I would take it as a sign that this is what I was meant to do. If I didn't, well, at least I tried. So I kissed my portfolio, crossed my fingers and sent in my application for the Fall 2003 semester.

I did not get in.

However, I did not get rejected either--I was wait-listed. Since I had never heard of anyone getting into CalArts from the wait-list, I pretty much wrote it off. It was nice to know, though, that I was aaaaalmost good enough to get into the top school for Character Animation especially since I had assumed that the admission committee would take one look at my stuff before throwing it into the reject pile. So I gave myself a pat on the back and went about my life. Summer passed into autumn and I decided that I would not reapply.

In September, I was at work when I received a call from Libby Hux, the admissions counselor for the Character Animation department. She informed me that they had decided to give the few people on the wait-list admission for the Fall 2004 semester and was I still interested in attending? I don't think I hestitated when I told her 'yes' and I do believe I spent much of the remainder of the day jumping around the office and shrieking excitedly.