If you’re stuck in a tedious 9-5 job, you might be looking for ways to switch careers.
Or maybe you recently graduated college, but you’re looking to further your education.
Ad schools help aspiring copywriters build a quality portfolio. These programs can also get you connected with well-known companies after graduation!
Keep reading to learn more about advertising schools!
What Are Ad Schools?
Advertising is a very competitive field that looks for the best creatives.
However, to get into this lucrative career, you need a portfolio that stands out and shows your personality. That’s where ad schools come into play.
Depending on the institution, an advertising program usually takes 1-2 years to complete. Sometimes you’ll see people refer to ad schools as “portfolio” schools.
That’s because the primary goal of going to ad school is to build an outstanding portfolio.
Having a good portfolio is the key to a long career in marketing and advertisement.
Furthermore, an ad school can help students refine their creative process. Knowing how to think through an idea and bring it to life is an essential part of advertising.
What Is a Copywriter?
Believe it or not, anyone can be a copywriter! If you’re not sure what copywriting is exactly, then keep reading!
The main role of a copywriter is to understand basic human behaviors and needs.
From there, they can initiate a strategy that accommodates the needs of the targeted audience.
This means creating content that intrigues and informs the audience.
A four-year program can teach you about the business side of marketing and advertising.
However, an ad school can teach you the core components of being a copywriter for less time and money.
1. Miami Ad School
This two-year program teaches its students the fundamentals of good copywriting.
Students will also learn how to use new-age software, like Adobe Creative. By learning how to use this software, you will be ahead of the curve!
After the first year, students can apply for a placement or an internship. For placements, the student works for a company for six months to a year.
In internships, the student works with a company for a few weeks. There are pros and cons to doing a placement versus an internship.
For example, since placements last longer, the chances of establishing yourself are higher. In contrast, internships let you explore various options in a quicker timeframe.
Nevertheless, both of these routes allow students to get hands-on experience!
Some of the companies that students work with are Youtube, Burger King, and Facebook.
The price to attend this institution is about 38,800 in tuition fees. Per year, you can be looking at paying about 19,400. These costs don’t include living expenses like food or rent.
2. San Diego Portfolio Studio
The San Diego Portfolio Studio is a top leading school with over 32 Addy awards in the past year.
An Addy award is given to students with the best creative work in advertising! This type of award is essential, as it can increase your chances of finding a great job in advertisement.
These courses are all taught by an art director and copywriter from a large ad agency called Vitro. They have over 20 years of experience in advertisement and teaching! The price to attend SDPS is $1,995.
This course is also shorter than other ad programs, with only a 6-month workshop.
So if you’re not ready to commit to a 2-year program, SDPS is a perfect middle ground.
3. Austin Creative Department
If you’re from the big state of Texas, you’ll be glad to hear about this ad school in Austin! ACD is perfect for students who want to brush up in certain areas but don’t want to waste time taking unnecessary courses.
This ad school offers individual courses for only $750! ACD was founded in 2011 by Will Chau. He currently works as a creative director for GSD&M.
Will Chau believes in providing real-world solutions to common advertising problems.
That’s why they teach students presentation skills, copywriting techniques, and client building.
After graduation, students can expect to have a better understanding of the advertisement and marketing world!
4. Adhouse in New York City
Adhouse in New York is great for college graduates! Classes are at night, from 6:30-9 pm!
So you can keep your daily work routine. This ad school teaches their students a comprehensive curriculum in 10-weeks.
Because of the small class sizes, every student has an opportunity to connect with their professor on a day-to-day basis. There are also many chances to meet hiring managers during seminars and other events.
After the 10-week program, you can expect to have a clean and lengthy portfolio. Plus, skills and practices that you can take with you to your next venture.
5. The Creative Circus
Creative Circus is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently has over 3,000 students enrolled.
Creative circus is one of the most popular ad schools because of its exceptional graduation rate of 98.53%.
This ad school has many different study programs. Some of these programs include creative technology, photography, and of course, copywriting!
They also have good relationships with top ad agencies. In fact, many graduates land jobs with DDB and Burnett!
Creative Circus teaches students The price to attend the Creative Circus is about 16,879 per year.
6. The Minneapolis School of Advertising
The Minneapolis School of Advertising was founded by creative director Ed Prentiss.
This ad school is sometimes referred to as Brainco. They are known for being one of the first ad schools to offer online workshops for remote students.
The class sizes are small, which allows students to connect with professors and mingle with their peers.
Most classes are in the evening, so it’s great for those looking to make a career change. Each workshop is around $1,400, making it a very affordable school.
7. Chicago Portfolio School
Chicago portfolio school teaches its students innovative ideas that can be used in many industries.
They offer students a wide variety of classes that teach students how to problem-solve, create new ideas, and learn about consumer behavior.
Job placement is also very high after graduation. In fact, more than 4,000 jobs have been acquired since 2005.
Many graduates end up working in big agencies like David & Goliath and FCB.
The yearly tuition for this ad school is around 16,200 per year.
8. VCU Brandcenter
VCU is perfect for students who are recent graduates and pondering business school.
VCU is partnered with the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business.
This ad school incorporates advertising and business strategies to become well-known creative figures.
The placement rate for this school is about 70%.
Graduates can find jobs in high-ranking agencies like R/GA and Weiden+Kennedy.
The yearly tuition for this program is around 19,500, as well as various university fees.
9. Creative Advertising MA
This ad school is a little different than the ones mentioned before. Creative Advertising MA is located in the UK at the University of Falmouth.
The full term takes one year, which splits into three different courses. You can expect to learn about concept-building, creative advertisement, and interpersonal skills.
The great thing about this program is that it allows students to work with actual companies!
And these experiences are what help build a reputable portfolio!
After graduation, students will have relatable experience and comprehensive knowledge of the field.
Lastly, International students will pay around £16,000 and £8,500 for UK students!
10. West Herts College
West Herts is another school that’s located in the UK. The program began in 1961. It quickly became one of the leading schools for advertising and marketing.
This ad school teaches great communications skills, creative thought processes, and presentation skills. The average cost to attend is around £4,195, which is a lot cheaper than the college mentioned before.
It’s important to mention that you do need an undergraduate degree to attend.
This requirement is not necessary for most ad schools, so don’t get discouraged! Some ad schools will accept you if you have at least two years of relevant experience.
Cons of Going to AD School
There are some cons to going to ad school. For starters, ad school can be costly. Therefore, some students need to work while attending.
However, because of the comprehensive curriculum, many students cannot juggle both.
Fortunately, some schools do offer online curriculums. Usually, these online schools are less intense, which means you’ll have time to work!
Pros of Going to AD School
There are many pros to completing an ad school program. For starters, ad schools can excel your current career.
Whether you have a small business or work in the advertising field, ad school can help you brush up on your skills.
For those who haven’t yet joined the workforce, an ad school can improve your chances of getting a job. You’re also more likely to get a higher starting salary!
You might still be wondering why ad school is essential. Especially if you already have an advertising degree.
Well, a college degree in advertising doesn’t give you the necessary connections.
Not to mention, making a portfolio is the most crucial part. But with ad school, you gain connections and experiences, all while building a great portfolio!
San Francisco School of Copywriting
If you’re not ready to commit to a long course, the San Fransico School of Copywriting is a great alternative. These flexible study programs teach students the basics of SEO, digital ads, landing pages, and much more!
Students will also learn tips on how to work as a freelancer as well as copywriting techniques. This 8-week program is taught online which gives students more flexibility.
The teacher for these courses is Amanda Caswell, who worked for Nickelodeon as a scriptwriter. She also wrote for Campbell’s soup and the Disney channel!
SFSC courses run from $299 to $1500 per course. Students that successfully complete their course get a certificate of completion. Many students get their course fees reimbursed by their employer.
SFSC also offers free writing tips to improve your copywriting skills quickly. The course is self-paced, and each video is around 2 minutes long!
Final Thoughts
Overall, ad schools offer students a chance to network, create a lasting portfolio, and find great job opportunities!
After college, many students wonder what’s next for them.
However, by investing in an ad program, you can increase your chances of finding a high-paying job!
So don’t put your future on hold any longer and enroll today!
If you have further questions, don’t forget to contact us or visit our blog for more information on ad schools!
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