CCS is a challenging, fun, and rewarding school to attend. It demands a lot of hard work and effort due to the rigorous curriculum and high expectations. However, it is one of the best schools in the United States for the visual arts and hard work really pays off in the long and short term.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
One of the biggest recommendations I would suggest for students planning on or are going to attend CCS is to be aware of time management. One of the main problems students have is managing their time efficiently and staying on top of their work. It is also very important that students put forth their best effort and work hard. Students who do not work hard and/or don't put a lot of effort into their work will not last long here. Even if your work is not the best in the class or up to par for what it should be, as long as your teachers know you are trying your personal best and putting in the time for your work, that's what matters. I think it is also really important for students to be prepared for how much money they are about to spend here. There are a lot of art supplies needed especially in the first year and it is very costly. Try to save as much money as you can before attending here because you will probably end up spending a lot more money than anticipated on supplies. I would also strongly suggest getting to know your fellow peers, upperclassmen, teachers, and staff. Networking is a huge part of life at CCS and the people here are a big part in helping you while you are in school and later on in your career. It is also important to use the resources available to you are here like the gnomon workshop, Lynda.com, printmaking, etc. Outside of school these resources cost money, might as well use them here as their costs are built into an overall resource fee. I would finally recommend getting to know the city of Detroit and its culture because it is a big part of CCS. There are a lot of art galleries and upcoming studios in the local area and it would be a good idea to check them out.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The academics are very strenuous and demand a ton of work and time. You are constantly working on a lot of projects at once and it is very important to stay on top of your work for this reason. You can't get away with procrastinating because you will become really behind in your work and fall behind in your classes. You really need to start your projects when they are first assigned to you and work on them little by little so you can finish all your assignments on time. Art takes time to complete and you can't just make it up or copy from other people. It is important to use as much time as possible (that you have) to complete an assignment and to give yourself more time than you think you will need to finish a project. When you rush to complete your work mistakes always seem to happen, so don't let the same happen to you!
Describe the dorm life at your college.
There are two different dorms at CCS depending on what side of campus you are on. The ACB dorms are on the WB campus and the other dorms are at the Taubman campus. Both of the dorms are larger and give a lot of space for the students to do their work. The ACB dorms at one time used to be a large apartment so the door rooms are actually larger apartment rooms. This allows students to have a lot of room to work and do their art which is important. These dorms also have a small kitchen in all the rooms. This building is older however, so there are some maintenance issues at times with the dorms like mold, water heater problems, and issues with the pipes. Other than the age of the building which sometimes causes problems it is a great place to live. The Taubman campus at one time used to be the GM Argonaut building and it was later converted into the Taubman building for CCS. This is a newer building and has newer dorms in comparison to the WB campus and ACB dorms. The dorm rooms on the Taubman campus do not have kitchens in comparison to the ACB dorms, however, they are newer and don't have as many maintenance issues. However, if you live on the Taubman campus, you have to have a meal plan (in the ACB you can opt to have one or not). Each building has its pros and cons and are overall very good, it just depends on your personal preferences and taste. The dorms are very homey and people in the same floors and same building tend to become friends and hang out a lot.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
There are a lot of different dining areas that are close to campus. Some of the popular restaurants that are close by are: Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes, Wasabi, Detroit One Coney Island, and Slow's Bar BQ. There are also a lot of fast food places that are nearby like Domino's, Jimmy John's, etc. Greektown and downtown Detroit have a lot of good restaurants also. Most of the food in the city isn't super expensive also so it's good for students on a budget.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There are a lot of different activities and events going on in downtown and midtown Detroit all the time for students to go to. There are almost always good shows nearby in venues like the Fillmore Theater, St. Andrews Hall, The Majestic Theater, and The Magic Stick in downtown Detroit. Comerica Park is close by so students can go catch a Tigers Game. CCS is also near the Fox Theater and they show different kinds of plays there all the time. During Memorial Day weekend there is Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF), where a lot of people attend. Around this time there is a large Jazz festival in Detroit also. The DIA, African American Museum, the Detroit Science Center, and the Detroit Historical Museum are all in walking distance to CCS and are good places to visit. Belle Isle is an interesting spot to visit in Detroit and they have a conservatory, aquarium, nature center, swimming beach and a lot of open park and area to walk around. This is a good place to visit in Spring and Summer when the weather is nicer in the year. Detroit also has Campus Martius in the downtown area where there are a lot of shops and restaurants and it is a fun place to walk around. It also has open ice skating in the winter. Greek town is a fun place to visit on the weekend, and there are a lot of good restaurants in that area. There are also local art galleries in the area which are good for students to check out also.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Utrecht is a local art supplies store close to school that has really good discounts for students and a lot of times you can get quality supplies on sale. Biggby coffee also has weekly discounts on an assortment of their drinks for people who like to drink coffee or enjoy specialty drinks. The school bookstore on campus has discounts at different times of the year for students on supplies which is helpful also.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The Screaming Peacock is our mascot which is pretty unusual compared to other mascots. During finals week at CCS they have massage therapists come in and you can sign up for massages during lunch and get a massage which is cool. They also have a room where they supply students with free food during finals week. Sometimes the school provides fun activities on campus for students such as: moon bounces, zip lines, live bands, moving showings etc. Our school also has art contests on campus at times like: pumpkin carving contests, building a skeleton, drawing characters, etc. Throughout the school year art and business professionals come in and talk to students and answer questions about the art world, career opportunities, upcoming internships, display their work, and more. At the end of the school year we also have a Student Exhibition where they showcase the best works of the students from all the different majors where the general public, staff, students, and business professionals look at the work.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
CCS is great for motivated, talented, and hard-working students. It is the ideal art school for students who really want to improve their work and develop as an artist. It is also really good for students who want to broaden their horizons; there are a lot of people from different walks of life, experience, and background. People who are open-minded and have positive attitudes are great fits for CCS also. If you are a student who is willing to work to their fullest potential, improve their work, and have a good attitude, this is the school for you.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are no sports at CCS but we do have GSA and a Student Government for the different majors. We have different activities on campus like print making and different workshops but that is really it. CCS also has volunteering opportunities available in Detroit for students and helps organize groups of students for convention events.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are parties in the area with Wayne State kids who live in apartments and CCS students who live off campus also. Because of school rules and policy you can't have booze in your dorms rooms or anything like but you can find it close by if you know people who party. A lot of times students at CCS are so busy with their work they don't have a lot of time to party, but you will get opportunities to go out when you really need it. You can organize a group of people to hang out at the bar or something like that, they usually don't ID in bars in Detroit.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Campus is really safe and secure at CCS. There are a lot of cameras on both campuses and there are always campus safety people walking around campus. Campus security is strict about who they allow in the buildings on campus and you need your ID to get everywhere. The parking structure is also exclusive for CCS students, faculty, and employees. You need an ID to get in and get out of the structure. Wayne State has their own police force which is always patrolling the area and by our school because of Wayne State's proximity. CCS is on top of their security and good about keeping it safe, I am a female and I almost never worry about my safety there which is good. At night you do need to be more aware of your surroundings but other than that it's fine.
CCS is a challenging, fun, and rewarding school to attend. It demands a lot of hard work and effort due to the rigorous curriculum and high expectations. However, it is one of the best schools in the United States for the visual arts and hard work really pays off in the long and short term.
One of the biggest recommendations I would suggest for students planning on or are going to attend CCS is to be aware of time management. One of the main problems students have is managing their time efficiently and staying on top of their work. It is also very important that students put forth their best effort and work hard. Students who do not work hard and/or don't put a lot of effort into their work will not last long here. Even if your work is not the best in the class or up to par for what it should be, as long as your teachers know you are trying your personal best and putting in the time for your work, that's what matters. I think it is also really important for students to be prepared for how much money they are about to spend here. There are a lot of art supplies needed especially in the first year and it is very costly. Try to save as much money as you can before attending here because you will probably end up spending a lot more money than anticipated on supplies. I would also strongly suggest getting to know your fellow peers, upperclassmen, teachers, and staff. Networking is a huge part of life at CCS and the people here are a big part in helping you while you are in school and later on in your career. It is also important to use the resources available to you are here like the gnomon workshop, Lynda.com, printmaking, etc. Outside of school these resources cost money, might as well use them here as their costs are built into an overall resource fee. I would finally recommend getting to know the city of Detroit and its culture because it is a big part of CCS. There are a lot of art galleries and upcoming studios in the local area and it would be a good idea to check them out.
The academics are very strenuous and demand a ton of work and time. You are constantly working on a lot of projects at once and it is very important to stay on top of your work for this reason. You can't get away with procrastinating because you will become really behind in your work and fall behind in your classes. You really need to start your projects when they are first assigned to you and work on them little by little so you can finish all your assignments on time. Art takes time to complete and you can't just make it up or copy from other people. It is important to use as much time as possible (that you have) to complete an assignment and to give yourself more time than you think you will need to finish a project. When you rush to complete your work mistakes always seem to happen, so don't let the same happen to you!
There are two different dorms at CCS depending on what side of campus you are on. The ACB dorms are on the WB campus and the other dorms are at the Taubman campus. Both of the dorms are larger and give a lot of space for the students to do their work. The ACB dorms at one time used to be a large apartment so the door rooms are actually larger apartment rooms. This allows students to have a lot of room to work and do their art which is important. These dorms also have a small kitchen in all the rooms. This building is older however, so there are some maintenance issues at times with the dorms like mold, water heater problems, and issues with the pipes. Other than the age of the building which sometimes causes problems it is a great place to live. The Taubman campus at one time used to be the GM Argonaut building and it was later converted into the Taubman building for CCS. This is a newer building and has newer dorms in comparison to the WB campus and ACB dorms. The dorm rooms on the Taubman campus do not have kitchens in comparison to the ACB dorms, however, they are newer and don't have as many maintenance issues. However, if you live on the Taubman campus, you have to have a meal plan (in the ACB you can opt to have one or not). Each building has its pros and cons and are overall very good, it just depends on your personal preferences and taste. The dorms are very homey and people in the same floors and same building tend to become friends and hang out a lot.
There are a lot of different dining areas that are close to campus. Some of the popular restaurants that are close by are: Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes, Wasabi, Detroit One Coney Island, and Slow's Bar BQ. There are also a lot of fast food places that are nearby like Domino's, Jimmy John's, etc. Greektown and downtown Detroit have a lot of good restaurants also. Most of the food in the city isn't super expensive also so it's good for students on a budget.
There are a lot of different activities and events going on in downtown and midtown Detroit all the time for students to go to. There are almost always good shows nearby in venues like the Fillmore Theater, St. Andrews Hall, The Majestic Theater, and The Magic Stick in downtown Detroit. Comerica Park is close by so students can go catch a Tigers Game. CCS is also near the Fox Theater and they show different kinds of plays there all the time. During Memorial Day weekend there is Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF), where a lot of people attend. Around this time there is a large Jazz festival in Detroit also. The DIA, African American Museum, the Detroit Science Center, and the Detroit Historical Museum are all in walking distance to CCS and are good places to visit. Belle Isle is an interesting spot to visit in Detroit and they have a conservatory, aquarium, nature center, swimming beach and a lot of open park and area to walk around. This is a good place to visit in Spring and Summer when the weather is nicer in the year. Detroit also has Campus Martius in the downtown area where there are a lot of shops and restaurants and it is a fun place to walk around. It also has open ice skating in the winter. Greek town is a fun place to visit on the weekend, and there are a lot of good restaurants in that area. There are also local art galleries in the area which are good for students to check out also.
Utrecht is a local art supplies store close to school that has really good discounts for students and a lot of times you can get quality supplies on sale. Biggby coffee also has weekly discounts on an assortment of their drinks for people who like to drink coffee or enjoy specialty drinks. The school bookstore on campus has discounts at different times of the year for students on supplies which is helpful also.
The Screaming Peacock is our mascot which is pretty unusual compared to other mascots. During finals week at CCS they have massage therapists come in and you can sign up for massages during lunch and get a massage which is cool. They also have a room where they supply students with free food during finals week. Sometimes the school provides fun activities on campus for students such as: moon bounces, zip lines, live bands, moving showings etc. Our school also has art contests on campus at times like: pumpkin carving contests, building a skeleton, drawing characters, etc. Throughout the school year art and business professionals come in and talk to students and answer questions about the art world, career opportunities, upcoming internships, display their work, and more. At the end of the school year we also have a Student Exhibition where they showcase the best works of the students from all the different majors where the general public, staff, students, and business professionals look at the work.
CCS is great for motivated, talented, and hard-working students. It is the ideal art school for students who really want to improve their work and develop as an artist. It is also really good for students who want to broaden their horizons; there are a lot of people from different walks of life, experience, and background. People who are open-minded and have positive attitudes are great fits for CCS also. If you are a student who is willing to work to their fullest potential, improve their work, and have a good attitude, this is the school for you.
There are no sports at CCS but we do have GSA and a Student Government for the different majors. We have different activities on campus like print making and different workshops but that is really it. CCS also has volunteering opportunities available in Detroit for students and helps organize groups of students for convention events.
There are parties in the area with Wayne State kids who live in apartments and CCS students who live off campus also. Because of school rules and policy you can't have booze in your dorms rooms or anything like but you can find it close by if you know people who party. A lot of times students at CCS are so busy with their work they don't have a lot of time to party, but you will get opportunities to go out when you really need it. You can organize a group of people to hang out at the bar or something like that, they usually don't ID in bars in Detroit.
Campus is really safe and secure at CCS. There are a lot of cameras on both campuses and there are always campus safety people walking around campus. Campus security is strict about who they allow in the buildings on campus and you need your ID to get everywhere. The parking structure is also exclusive for CCS students, faculty, and employees. You need an ID to get in and get out of the structure. Wayne State has their own police force which is always patrolling the area and by our school because of Wayne State's proximity. CCS is on top of their security and good about keeping it safe, I am a female and I almost never worry about my safety there which is good. At night you do need to be more aware of your surroundings but other than that it's fine.