Crossing Continents for Challenging Classes

Laura Lopez could have gotten a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design in her home country of Venezuela, but it would have been a very different type of graphic design degree program than that available in the United States. Laura says graphic design in Venezuela is long on art and short on technology, while most U.S. programs teach as much technology as art. Wanting a technology component, Laura opted to move to the U.S. specifically to get her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design.

While there are hundreds of different U.S. schools offering Bachelor's degrees in this field, Laura immediately zeroed in on the International Academy of Design & Technology in Tampa. A friend had already graduated from the Academy with her degree in Interior Design, and Laura was impressed with what she had to say about the Academy in Tampa. "I came to the U.S. with the goal of graduating with a degree in graphic design from the Academy in Tampa," Laura says.

Already finished with her Associate degree and halfway through her Bachelor's degree—like many Academy students, she went right from one program to the other without stopping—Laura now sees firsthand why her friend talked so highly about the Academy. "I love it here. I'm being taught everything I need to know to succeed in graphic design," Laura says. "I can see myself using everything I have been taught here so far."

Laura says that while she came here for the technology-heavy curriculum, what makes her the Academy in Tampa classes most special are the teachers. Laura says she sees teachers go out of their way to help students who can't make it to office hours or out-of-class tutorials.

"Teachers are eager to share their real-world experiences and more than happy to explain absolutely everything. I've never been in an educational environment like this one. It was worth moving any distance for."