Paris College of Art — Local services in Paris

DO NOT ATTEND PCA. We stayed in HORRIBLE dorms for the summer program. They don’t even wash the sheets, they just buy new ones for each time a group arrives because the sheets are SO LOW QUALITY it’s cheaper than to wash them. You also aren’t provided with any basic amenities for the entire 2 weeks, you must buy your own TP, soap, trash bags, laundry detergent, EVERYTHING. Also, my room literally REEKED of cigarettes half the time.

The school itself is also horrible. They don’t have any materials available to the students that an ART school should, such as good scissors or paper or a printer. The course I took was great at first, our instructor was actually very helpful and a great photography teacher.

Later on though, he unfortunately got covid, and the summer program coordinator made one of the most mind boggling decisions possible and gave us a new instructor for the last TWO DAYS of the course when EVERYTHING was already finished in the syllabus and we were still having online classes with our original instructor that were very helpful still. The summer program coordinator seemed to lack any serious decision making skills and social skills, even wanted us to redo our introductions in class when all of us already knew each other and were just trying to finish our projects.

To top it all off, the summer coordinator didn’t even tell our previous instructor he was being replaced until we all found out at the same time. She even lied on the students behalf about us being unhappy with the online format, even though there only MIGHT have been one out of 7 of us who talked to her. She lied to our professor about our dissatisfaction with his class, and replaced him.

The coordinator always puts on a PR face while continuing to make frustrating decisions that are not in the best interest of the students.

Overall for the price you pay for the dorm and course, you can easily find a better living situation and university with a summer...

This is my first semester at PCA and I am very disappointed with this school. I am considering not coming back next semester. There are leaks in the ceiling, there is no soap, some of the bathrooms are completely inoperable, the printer(s) is always down, there is a lack of resources, the ceiling is missing in some classes, there's no library or even space to sit and work. For this amount of tuition, (~$30,000) this is scandalous. This is not at all what I signed up for - the school feels like a scam.

The worst is that we are expected in class without heating in DECEMBER. It was just said that the heating wont be fixed until summer (?) We are unproductive in class because of this issue. I can't draw or type because my fingers are too cold. For example this week, the administration's offices had heaters but our classrooms did NOT - we had to ask to have one from administration's office (1 person) because the 10 of us were freezing. When we had it finally, we stopped class to stand around the one heater. Their only solution for students at the moment is putting cheap teabags and nasty coffee in the lobby. I am actually curious where the $30,000 we all pay in tuition goes to. Every student I have talked to feels the same way and wishes they could have picked a different school if they knew how PCA really was.

A number of photography students are dropping out due to lack of resources in the dark room. My friend had to drop out because her dad died and the school gave her no option to continue/finish the semester and no refund on the tuition.

I have found that this school is an embarrassment and I am currently looking at other schools...

Paris College of Art is not only a school - it is a community! From the first day I visited the school four years ago, I immediately sensed the great atmosphere, where creativity, academics and fun would blend in a unique inspirational environment! This year the school moved to a new building on Rue Fenelon. It was a fresh new start, a breath of fresh air that gave everyone the strength to think and plan bigger. The tuition may be high compared to other public European universities, but I have the feeling every penny is worth it. Not only its location in the centre of Paris, but also the opportunities and freedom that the school gives us, are worth the price. All my friends that graduated are already happily employed in various companies or working as ambitious freelancers. As well, current PCA students - including myself - have the opportunity of being put in contact with a variety of fashion and design houses, art institutions, where they can work or expose their projects. Our professors at PCA do not teach, they mentor us and help us discover what we are good at and expand our visions. Now I am in my third year at PCA, studying Design Management and I am already scared of the day I will have to leave. This community of creative schoolmates, passionate professors and energetic staff,...