By on February 19th, 2016

Becoming an International Student at CCA

California College of the Arts in San Francisco, California, is a great college if your future lies in creative work. Their interdisciplinary critical studies of art, writing, design, and architecture are applied to the fields of business and technology in ways that help to shape today’s society worldwide. Their international student program offers 21 undergraduate and 13 graduate majors to help point your career in the right direction for a responsible, engaging future.

Applying to CCA

International students make up almost a third of CCA’s student population. Their admission advisors even travels internationally, to meet with you and discuss your future at CCA. Once you’ve filled out the online application, you’ll then need to submit a personal essay, school transcripts, a recommendation letter, your artistic or writing portfolio, and your proof of English proficiency scores. Their graduate programs will prepare you to work in the fields of architecture, design, civic innovation, comics, film, and writing. You’ll leave CCA with not only the skills to become a leader in your field, but also with the skills to engage in your community, and a sense of environmental and social responsibility that will let you pursue your career and improve the world around you. CCA makes a concentrated effort to keep their curricula, faculty, and programs representative of the diverse city around them.

Living in San Francisco

Choosing to stay with a host family in San Francisco immediately plunges you into the culture, language, and family-centric life of America. Your host family will help you acclimate to the new country, help you sharpen your English skills, and serve as an adopted family while you are here. Having them there to support you while you pursue your education at CCA is invaluable. You’ll be introduced to a wider social group and many more experiences than you could have been on campus. San Francisco is a beautiful bay city, with a quirky artistic culture that values social diversity and the history of the region. The friendly atmosphere and many great museums and events will make your stay in San Francisco as fun as it is educational. As a popular and liberal area of the Pacific Northwest, San Francisco’s population is largely young and energetic, and full of opportunities for creatives.

Summer Programs

For international students, CCA has several summer programs to help you succeed. For a high school senior considering CCA as their next move, the Summer English and Art/ Design program is there to help improve English skills while also laying a foundation for an arts education at CCA. If you don’t need the extra English practice, the four-week pre-college program focuses on high school students who are considering a future in illustration, design, architecture, or any of CCA’s other programs. Their Summer Writing Skills Workshop allows undergraduate students who have already been accepted into a CCA program to get a head start on their year. CCA also offers a six-week summer program for students enrolled in a graduate program. No matter what level you are at, CCA cares about giving you every opportunity to succeed.

With the excellent faculty, small class sizes, and focus on interdisciplinary curricula, the California College of the Arts is a fantastic choice for your future in a creative field. If you want to change the world and make it more beautiful along the way, CCA shares that goal with you. San Francisco makes the perfect backdrop for an education at CCA, with its many historical and artistic features that promote a sense of community engagement and social awareness.