r/OCADU

Hi everyone :) I got accepted to do an MFA at OCAD and I’m super excited about it but I’m a little worried about the costs of moving to and living in Toronto. I would be moving from Montreal. Those grad students who made the jump- where did you live? Did you receive any additional funding throughout your degree? Do many people have part time jobs as well? (I worked all through my BFA so this is not crazy to me but I would prefer to have as much time as possible to work on school stuff)
Basically is Toronto as expensive as everyone says? Any advice or info would be appreciated:-)

In my opinion, OCAD was a really disappointing experience. The admissions process didn’t feel very rigorous to me ....at all. I put a shit portfolio together the morning of my interview and was still accepted, which honestly lowered my confidence in the school’s standards right away. A lot of the faculty and overall environment felt unprofessional and underwhelming. The school is so filthy. As well, especially considering the cost of tuition. At times, it seemed like the school was more focused on bringing in students and money than maintaining artistic or academic standards. I also saw situations that came across as favoritism or nepotism, in certain teaching or leadership roles, a girl whose mother was part of the staff was given a teacher's assistant position( with mediocre to say the least wealth of knowledge and talent/taste), which made the whole place feel even less credible to me. Overall, it just didn’t feel like the serious, inspiring art institution I had hoped it would be. :(

I’m looking for the best affordable print shops. I need it for packaging design mockups like boxes, cartons, or pouches. I use paper that is thick and sturdy, but still easy to fold for dielines with tabs and flaps.

I already have a great matte, thick cover paper I found called: “Cougar Cover White 130 GSM” (20x26"), which works great for packaging prototypes. I buy this paper at Above Ground Art Supplies Store for $0.79 per sheet.

The problem is that the OCAD University print shop only allows this type of paper on expensive inkjet printers, and I’m paying around $30 per sheet to print (on large 20x26" paper). That’s really overpriced so I need a cheaper print shop.

Does anyone know:
Any print shops in Toronto that allow you to print large thick papers on cheap laser printers? Even if it’s a cheaper inkjet printer, that would be very helpful. I don’t want standard letter size (8.5 by 11”), I need print shops that print larger sizes: at least 11x17 inches (tabloid size)?

Would really appreciate any recommendations from people who do packaging design print mockups regularly.

I will always print on cheap laser printers and I print in tiles. I refuse to spend $30 for one sheet of ink jet paper for my assignments. I don't care if it gives me a better grade. I'll won't print HUGE prints for $30 for just one sheet. I do it in tiles (sticking together small pages) and the professors can lower my grade, I don't care, as long as I pass. I'm not wasting my money just for some school project to boost my grade. I focus on the quality of my design, not printing on an expensive printer.

Hi current Ocad students. Ill be starting in September! And while I'm very excited. I'm just...worried about living expenses.

Ideally I would like to live in Toronto. But I'm not against commuting. (I live in Hamilton, so it's annoying but not impossible. Id more than likely be using the go train/bus.)

So...people you had to relocate or commute how was it for you?

Can you feasibly work enough to afford rent and other living expenses while still doing ok in school? (I'm almost sure the answer is no but I'll take any advice I can get.)

I'm a little lost on the subject, especially since everything is so expensive right now.

I'm currently trying to find a summer job at home and save up as much money I can before September.

So...yeah...thanks for any advice.