Just finished the Work in Progress class with Lindsey Crittenden. This is the second class I've…read moretaken from her and I would be happy to take anything else she offers. Organized, engaging and enthusiastic. I can't recommend her enough.

Very nice building ..Ive heard of this workshop group u pay for ..writing aside the building is an…read moreold block building from the war and industrial days ..different views of SF industrial scape ..mission or soma ..spacious ..workspaces with nice desks and outlets ..sofas ..workshop office ..nice to see the views

Amazing lectures. So well prepared. Love the whole atmosphere. People are so helpful.read more

As an employee of USF, I have had the opportunity to sit in on a couple of Fromm lectures. If it…read morewasn't for that, I wouldn't have the chance to experience this opportunity for myself for another 30 years! I think the website summarizes the Fromm program much more eloquently than I could: "Founded in 1976 by Alfred and Hanna Fromm, the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning is an educational program for retired persons at the University of San Francisco. The program offers daytime, noncredit, college-level courses in a wide range of academic subjects. With a faculty of over forty emeriti (retired professors), the Institute presents approximately fifty courses each year over three eight-week sessions: fall, winter and spring. While the Fromm Institute creates a peer age setting in its classrooms, program participants also have the opportunity to interact with the multigenerational community while on USF's attractive and accessible campus." They also offer an amazing holiday program complete with holiday luncheon and special lectures. Highly recommended for your parents and grandparents to keep them mentally stimulated!

Took a class Spring Poetry Workshop II with Hollie Hardy. Impressive course…read more Hollie's course was attended by poets of all types of experience. Some were MFA educated, others had been published and some, like me, self taught and unpublished. The group was very respectful and engaged. Hollie's direction was clear. She provided excellent examples and critique. This workshop was, by far, the best writing class I've taken. P.S. I signed up for a Stanford workshop online about the same time and I must say the Stanford class really let me down. It paled in comparison to the class experience and content with SF Creative Writing Institute. Not only was it WAY more expensive it was all content I could have googled. So disappointing! I will continue taking courses from SF Creative Writing Institute.

One of the best ways I found to write consistently and learn more about poetry!read more

Finished Lauren Krauze's Creative Nonfiction in person course and gained useful skills in just a…read moreshort period of time. She's smart, runs a great classroom and inspires everyone to write authentically.

I took the memoir writing class on zoom the summer of 2024. The teacher advised that people were to…read morelisten to everyone's final project, a personal memoir, without commenting on the content. It was extremely difficult for me to write about my traumatic and very personal experience of an abusive coworker from over two decades prior, and completely erased from my mind. I bravely wrote my memoir and even more bravely shared it. I alluded to this abuser having "a special place in hell" for what she had done. This well-earned sentence was torn apart by another participant in the class. Her complete disregard for the trauma I had been through and her single lens focus was totally ignored by the teacher. I was humiliated. The teacher not only ignored her comments about the content in my writing, but she even encouraged the participants comments. I never shared my writing again and I never will.

I have taken a lot of writing workshops over many years. The Ripe Fruit School of Writing is the…read morebest place to take writing classes that I have found. It is inspiring and you can benefit from the guidance of an experienced writer, namely Leslie Kirk-Campbell. One of the things I like best, and which is different from most other writing workshops offered locally, is that Ripe Fruit has a clear sequence of classes. That way, you can move through the series with a group of writers who share a common language for talking about writing, and who have a similar level of experience. Many writing workshops have 8 or 10 week sessions, and then you have to start over with a new group of people at all different levels of writing experience. After I had been writing for awhile, I found this challenging. In contrast, with the five class sequence at Ripe Fruit, you can choose to develop your writing over the course of a few years with a like-minded group of writers. The most valuable thing I learned from Leslie, and something that she is superb at teaching, was how to revise and edit my own writing. I have always loved to write, and I have always hated to revise my writing. These classes showed me how to do it in a way that was enjoyable and productive. My writing has grown tremendously over the past few years, and I owe it largely to these workshops. I'm looking forward to taking another one as soon as I get a chance. If you love to write, if you want to find out how to activate your writing voice, and if you want to find a community of writers to grow with, try out the Ripe Fruit School of Creative Writing. It has been a wonderful experience for me.

Leslie is masterful at drawing out others' nascent creativity. She is respectful to every person's…read morecontributions, whatever their level of involvement in the craft of writing. And she has a way of getting strangers to encourage each other. I highly recommend her classes.

Urban was a small school when I went there in 1969. Students could do pretty much anything they…read morewanted. While they received grades, they were not allowed to see them. Instead, they were given narrative evaluations. The school was selective, with more of an emphasis on the humanities than on the sciences. The overall idea was for independent-minded students to take charge of their own education rather than having it spoon-fed to them. Those who were interested in college went on to good schools, including the Ivy League. There was a definite "radical chic" atmosphere to the school, with a number of students from wealthy families going to Cuba to join the Venceremos Brigade. I remember reading Marx, Freud, Sartre, Marcuse, Baudelaire and taking a class from a beat poet. Each year, students were required to conduct an independent study project. Because I was interested in music composition, I wrote a piece for small orchestra that was performed as an overture to Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." I gather the school has become much larger, offering a greater variety of subjects to study. As an alumnus, I contributed small amounts of money to the school, but I drew the line at teachers going to "white privilege" conferences. Urban is an excellent choice if you have the money, are okay with an ideologically charged atmosphere, and have a highly motivated child who wants to take charge of his own education in a safe and supportive environment. The only negative thing I can say is that the Haight where the school is located is a sketchy neighborhood.

I interviewed at Urban wearing a fuzzy argyle sweater and baggy cordoroy pants. The person who…read moreinterviewed me said that "I didn't care about my appearance." I found that odd comment of her to make. And then it was really funny because I was going through a philosophical phase. So they had me come up with my own question and I came up with something kind of amusing actually and based on that I was admitted. Next I observed Geometry class and thought it was really interesting how it was taught, students worked in math groups which I wasn't so good at. It did impress me that the students made presentations on Geometrical formations, not just the usual proofs form of standard analytical geometry. Although I got the feeling that most of the work wasn't very rigorous, not for my future plans at least. I think Urban is too small, some rural schools can't help it. But Urban caters and coddles not making academics too hard or else students leave in droves. And it gives its students a leg up in boosting their egos by helping their odds of being accepted to Stanford. I always wanted to go to a big high school where you can meet a new person everyday. To that was an exciting prospect after an all girl's private school where you've known the same people for nine years and you want a mental divorce. OMG. I think there should be a Mega high school/secondary school located in the Presidio where students from all social circles can interact and learn that this is actually what the world is about. I think it would bring back the energy of the city which is plagued by the prestige factor. My sister attended Urban as a freshman and I don't think it was a good school for her to reach her potential and develop competency and a positive self image. And I honestly don't think the setting of the Haight Ashbury is really a good setting for personal educational success given that its located in a neighborhood world famous for elicit drug use. What do these schools do with all this revenue from tuition? I mean are administrators embezzling it or something. They don't pay teachers so much and the Urban school hasn't spend money on a new buidling recently. So it is a scam. Make your happy and get them to reach their potential try out School of the Arts if you are looking for an artistic school. Really talented artists go there and an infusion of more socio economic status diversity would benefit SoTa. Public school high school students in SF tend to become much more independent and responsible than the stiffling environment of the well meaning private schools. Public high schools in SF is a fun and stimulating experience where practically every AP credit class is available. Save your money and put it in your 401k or take really nice vacations abroad instead.

I was spoiled by my four years here and received an education that is on par with (if not superior…read moreto) that of many universities. Make no mistake the coursework here pushes students hard, but the opportunities here are endless and display an incredible diversity of passions and talents. During my time at UHS, I played on the varsity tennis and badminton teams, played intramural sports, performed in the spring musical, wrote for the school newspaper, founded a club, sang in the chorus, took a photo class...oh and I took a few academic classes in between. The kinds of classes I took included AP US History, Mandarin Chinese, Literature of the Vietnam War, Western Civilization, Calculus, and the list goes on. My only regret? Not studying harder and pushing myself to try more new things. You can be an artist or a businessman. You can explore the sciences or delve into the literature of your favorite foreign language. It really is as much as you want to make of it. The faculty is top notch, with credentials from outstanding academic institutions and more importantly, a great ability to encourage the students to WANT to learn. And let me save the best for last. The students. The people. Ambitious, talented, and bound to do amazing things. Yes, I sound like a propaganda tool. But I cannot say enough about this school. Alumni events connect me to a wide array of grads in locations and industries far and wide. If you are considering sending your child here, you are doing them a great service. Don't let the finances deter you - the education is first rate and financial aid is available to those who qualify.

UHS has stellar teachers and offers a supportive environment for high school students. The school…read morepushes students hard on the college-prep route. Advanced Placement courses and tough courses all-around. They get you in to college and make sure you do well there. Top notch school. Very greatful for having gone there. They recently added a new building at 3220 Sacramento Street which houses Ceramic and Art Studios, a film lab, offices, and much more. They are in the process of renovating their lower campus on Washington Street and have already completed a new library on Jackson. A new theater was added in 2001.

I'm currently a junior at the school, studying illustration. Almost all I have to say about CCA is…read morehugely positive. I can only speak for my own department, but I love the professors here. Learning about becoming a better artist and professional has been a life-changing experience. They care about the students, and they're in it to give back and be mentors for others. I was lucky to have amazing teachers, amazing advisors to fall back on, and a student population that's engaged on stuff that really matters (diversity, social justice, equality). I'm an international student too, and CCA has shown more than just hospitality to me. I've also gotten the chance to meet and work with several people in the administration of the school - the Admissions Office, the Office of Student Life, and Student Affairs. I haven't met a single person that isn't excited about creating an awesome community for students and making sure that they feel like they feel cared for. If I was pressed to say what the downsides are, there are very little. The main one I can think of is the division of the two campuses - one in Oakland, and one in SF. But they're also going to consolidate everything in SF anyway, so I'm not even mad. I wish I had applied a few years later so I could get to see the new campus!

Its not the same school after 2020 and I'm applaud by CCA self serving attitude towards any BS they…read morecommit. First of all theres been at least two major on campus protest towards the previous president and his money laundering. 90% of your 250k total tuition goes toward the board of trustee. Cca has over 50 since 2021 (last I checked) while faculty werent paid and forced to take adjunct position.l, the first protest was for staff. The second by students who got tired of tuition increases while CCA gave us little in return. They didnt mention the school had a few labs 2021-2024. We were promised job fairs and assistance for internships but I found out were on our own. CCA also forces u to do an internship but if you cant find one yoyr forced to PAY THE SCHOOL FOR AN INTERNSHIP in order to pass. Cca does t care if you dont graduate the only consistancy is asking for $$$$$$. Everything else is a series of pathetic excuses, miscommunication, ans deflection. If you wana be academically challenged and learn technical skills which are important in the industry Id avoid this place at all cost. The only redeeming field left is maybe architure (6yr program) or Interactive (over saturated). Being a UX designer today is hard Id recommended a camp instead its the same equivalence. A lot of these course are hard to judge since they dont update the class summary on workday nor is it transparent. The class experience verse summary are two different things. Ive had low effort classes and the teacher is quick to leave. No office hours unless u demand it and they have a ridiculous on time policy. You'll spend wn extra $500-1k in class materials so aim for digital courses avoid the craft ones, unless your in those field. I hope your rich and have mega support cuz the rest of us its a huge finacial burden with little return. The campus is shit.... Like literally 20 million bucks and the new building is mostly for labs. Btw you cant use these labs unless you pay for a class thats attached to the lab. The only labs for everyone to use is the rapid prototype and 3D printing. The staff working there is somewhat helpful but mostly annoying useless students. I've met awful students working eager to give attitude or dont care. Inside hooper the main building its ugly and cold. Its also noisy because some classes dont have roofs. You can hear people screaming laughing and being disrespectful. CCA hires and accepts trash people. The network here is nonexistent as most of these students are talentless and self serving ppl. Ive met gen z who didnt know what is a stock img. Jesus and ppl who cried over drawing with paper and pencil. Obviously the school only looks for passionate and naive ppl who wana pay for their dream. Its a pity because CCA acceptence rate use to be 30% and they recruited some of the best. Either way its hard to accept after paying 20k a semester after scholarship this is the type of bs anyone can deal. *Look up current and past lawsuits towards this school. They are not a diverse thinking or whatever dei bs they wana hide behind. Lawsuits from a disabled student where they were called "Retarded" by trash campus staff. A jewish professor Fiss was fired for defending her beliefs there were posters of antisemitism on campus before the school took it off but still enjoy deflecting like they didnt do anything wrong. Overall, take the negative reviews seriously and consider choosing a private art school. A university would be better since this school is now an exoensive dipolma mill.