I'm a junior in the ComDes program and I love it. We have some of the greatest professors in the entire school, and the work is fun. Also the MFA program is top 10 in the nation. (I think it's actually number 10 lol)

If you come into the program with some knowledge of photoshop/illustrator/ indesign your work will stand out above your peers. Especially when you're pre-comdes, trying to pass portfolio review, and get accepted into the program. I can't tell you how many people try to enter the program with zero knowledge. If this is your case fear not, you will be taught. Pre-ComDes is all about the basics.

About portfolio review: You get 2 tries to get accepted into the program. No matter what, make sure you submit a portfolio at the end of your pre comdes semester. They are pretty tough during portfolio review but even if you don't think you're going to make it, at least submit. We had a few people that went through the entire semester and then at the end when portfolio review came up, just didn't submit theirs. That counts as 1 of your tries.

I would say the worst part about ComDes is how many god damned thumbnails you will make for each project. I have had professors require up to 100 thumbnails for a logo/design/project. Might not sound too bad but it's a huge PITA. They really harp on the process of how you arrive at a final design, which is a good thing, but a huge pain sometimes.

Also you will basically live in JCM. I rarely see other parts of campus anymore which is fine with me. You also get to know most people/professors in the building really well so it becomes like a big family. Even with the art studio majors, who aren't too bad. ;)