I'm currently in the Communication Design program at Virginia Western, and I've learned more than I thought I would have, especially in my classes for Comm. Design program. The program head is Steve Huff and he only hires teachers who are out there making money at what they're teaching us. He treats us as though we were employees in his business and does things you don't normally get taught to deal with in school. For instance, for one project he had us come up with ideas for a new energy drink. We had to have three sketches of different ideas for it and then he had us choose our favorite. After that, he switched up every one's ideas so that we had to use someone else's idea. While it was very frustrating, things like that happen every day in the designing field, so we have to get used to it.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
This is my second year here and I love Western. The whole college has a laid back feel to it--it isn't too small and it isn't' too big. So far all my teachers have been really helpful and nice as well as the rest of the faculty that I've met. Not to mention we have a Chick-Fli-A!
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Definatley. So far I've only had one class that I felt as though I wasn't getting my money's worth and that was a Psycology class. I'm sure the rest of the Psy program has good teachers, I must've just gotten a bad one. But in all my Comm Design classes, I feel as though I'm getting more than what I paid for. Not only do the professors teach you what you need to know for the class, but they're out there making money doing what they're teaching you, so they can tell you exactly what it's like.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
If you're ever in one of Steve's classes, a deadline is a deadline and don't forget that! Also, you should really ask someone in admissions about which classes will transfer and which won't and to which colleges they will or won't. You don't want to spend money on something you can't take with you.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Students looking for a smallish, laid back environment, a pretty campus, going into Communication Design, Fine Arts, or those who just don't know what they want to do yet. It's cheaper at Western!
I'm currently in the Communication Design program at Virginia Western, and I've learned more than I thought I would have, especially in my classes for Comm. Design program. The program head is Steve Huff and he only hires teachers who are out there making money at what they're teaching us. He treats us as though we were employees in his business and does things you don't normally get taught to deal with in school. For instance, for one project he had us come up with ideas for a new energy drink. We had to have three sketches of different ideas for it and then he had us choose our favorite. After that, he switched up every one's ideas so that we had to use someone else's idea. While it was very frustrating, things like that happen every day in the designing field, so we have to get used to it.
This is my second year here and I love Western. The whole college has a laid back feel to it--it isn't too small and it isn't' too big. So far all my teachers have been really helpful and nice as well as the rest of the faculty that I've met. Not to mention we have a Chick-Fli-A!
Definatley. So far I've only had one class that I felt as though I wasn't getting my money's worth and that was a Psycology class. I'm sure the rest of the Psy program has good teachers, I must've just gotten a bad one. But in all my Comm Design classes, I feel as though I'm getting more than what I paid for. Not only do the professors teach you what you need to know for the class, but they're out there making money doing what they're teaching you, so they can tell you exactly what it's like.
If you're ever in one of Steve's classes, a deadline is a deadline and don't forget that! Also, you should really ask someone in admissions about which classes will transfer and which won't and to which colleges they will or won't. You don't want to spend money on something you can't take with you.
Students looking for a smallish, laid back environment, a pretty campus, going into Communication Design, Fine Arts, or those who just don't know what they want to do yet. It's cheaper at Western!