Central Saint Martins

...interested to know anything about Central Saint Martins with all the knowledge that I know about this Art college.

The London Institute, or the now more well known name of University of the Arts London is comprised of 6 distinguished colleges.

They are:

Camberwell college of Art and Design
Central St Martins College of Art and Design (CSM)
Chelsea College of Art and Design.
London ...
...close to the heart of Central London, making you being in reach of basically anything you need.

I am going to try and give my most unbiased opinion of this college if I may...

Personally, I was just so ever excited about going there simply because it's very well-known, come on, anyone would like to have a bit of recognition having said 'I went to Central Saint Martins' even if it was only for a year; it still looks good ... more

I just finished the Foundation Course in Art and Design there, so I am prepared to give anyone that would be interested to know anything about Central Saint Martins with all the knowledge that I know about this Art college.

The London Institute, or the now more well known name of University of the Arts London is comprised of 6 distinguished colleges.

They are:

Camberwell college of Art and Design
Central St Martins College of Art and Design (CSM)
Chelsea College of Art and Design.
London College of Fashion (LCF)
London College of Printing / London College of Communication (LCC)
Newly joined Wimbledon College of Art

CSM's Foundation building is located at Back Hill, of which the closest tube stations are either Chancery Lane or Farringdon. A short walk from one of the degree buildings located at Southampton Row (nearest station: Holborn), which is very good, being so close to the heart of Central London, making you being in reach of basically anything you need.

I am going to try and give my most unbiased opinion of this college if I may...

Personally, I was just so ever excited about going there simply because it's very well-known, come on, anyone would like to have a bit of recognition having said 'I went to Central Saint Martins' even if it was only for a year; it still looks good on your CV.
The foundation weekend was totally pointless, this year the party was situated at Whitechapel, to most people, this was probably their first or second weekend in London, Whitechapel? Where the hell is that? How on earth do I get home from there when the tubes shut? What a ridiculous place to have the party. Not to mention the ACTUAL party sucked too, so there we all were, about 20 of us, ended up roaming the streets until about 4 in the morning, then going 'let's just go home...'. I'm afraid I cannot say much about the halls of residence as I was denied the application. But I can say that the ones that I have visited are nice and the rooms are relatively big and modern.
(whatever you do, try to avoid Furzedown Hall, since that is all the way in Zone 3, and frankly, not in the safest area you can live in)

Even though the course was indeed only for one year, you manage to get to grips as to how studying at University is; most of the time you are left on your own to unleash your own creativity (which is fine, being artists you should do that), but there were just so many occasions when a tutor's help would have been preferred but they were just never there. I first accepted the fact that it was just part of Uni life that you had to be independent, but please bear in mind that I was at a boarding school beforehand, how much more independent can I get before I realise it's just tutors being lazy or not bothered to do their job properly?
When they did try to help, sometimes I did just end up arguing with them as they just seemed not too keen on your ideas; sometimes I only want to give them my opinions and their thoughts on something, but they totally disagree and tell you to do something else...sometimes it can get frustrating.
Besides that, the facilities are the foundation building are an absolute joke; even my secondary school's facilities were better than that one. We were given one induction to each of their so-called workshops, then that was it. (inside some were going: HELP!) the most disappointing thing was, I was much of a photographer / graphic designer orientated student, they didn't even have a darkroom located at Back Hill. The closest one is at located at the Charing Cross campus (about 30 minutes walk or 10 minutes on the bus) and the darkroom was just ever so disappointing when you can barely fit 2 people in the room to fit and load the canister for the film. Truly truly disappointing.

Two main points that I'd like to emphasise:
1.) The fact that most students that start there are overly-confident because CSM, to the outside world, is an extremely prestigious art college, being one of the top ones in the world, but once going inside, you will only find, that it is UP TO YOU to make it higher up in the artist ladder, NOT the art college. Some do not realise that, and end up using the CSM name to the full potential, and many, unfortunately, as I knew most of them (okay not all of them ,since there were about 700 students..ooh that makes it 3 points to make) they became over-confident (i suppose the more rude way of saying it they were just plain snobby for being there). That really doesn't help. Honestly. More employers nowadays are looking for talent more than networking. And there's no way you can just sit there and think you can get any job in the world you want the moment you say you went to St Martins.

2.) The fact that CSM is accepting more and more students each and every year into the foundation course sort of ruins the 1st year of the art college experience, there's no space to place ideas, no studio space to think in private. My tutor room was just tables and chairs. Not exactly the room you think you would be in in such a prestigious college.

3.) I suppose this does occur with all universities nowadays; more international students being accepted for the money rather than skill. It's just so unfair on those that have been waiting for a lifetime to embark on a BA course at CSM (me! initially at least...now im just bitter and over it) they give it to International students that pay 3 times more.

Despite that, I have managed to make lots of friends which is nice. After this year long experience, it's made me realise to definitely improve on my time management and vigilance on work...it's almost critical =="
I'm heading off the London College of Communication next year, so besides the location (Elephant and Castle , yeuch) I am hoping so much that I will enjoy myself a bit better than the year at St Martins with lots of over-confident students. And I really do hope that more people will start to realise that Central Saint Martins really isn't as good as it sounds, though it may be tops on paper, doesn't mean it's tops in the existing students' hearts. Because it certainly isn't in mine.

Just simply trying to emphasize that it really isn't as good as it sounds, seriously.
So please, if you may, do anything to re-consider before you try applying to St Martins and consider other art colleges beforehand. As certain universities (e.g. Falmouth, Bournemouth) offer good facilities as it has more space than the limited spacing that London can offer. 

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