CIA Spring>Summer program helps student quickly transfer, stay on schedule

Arayha Golden took a semester off after graduating from high school so she could have extra time to decide her next step. After enrolling at CIA, the College's Spring>Summer program helped her get that time back.

Golden grew up in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood and attended high school at Cleveland School of the Arts. She was fairly confident she wanted to pursue a career in art but felt like she needed a little more time to make the best decision for her future.

"I was unsure about what I wanted to do. I didn't want to jump into college and then be, like, 'Oh, I actually want to change my major'—which I ended up doing anyway," she says. "But at least I didn't go for, I don't know, pre-med or something and then switch all the way to art."

So, she took a gap semester. She eventually chose to enroll at CIA and start spring semester, which she said meant she "had to make up those credits" from fall semester.

CIA's Spring>Summer program helped her do that. The program allows students to start classes in January (spring semester) and take a condensed nine-week term from May to July (summer semester) to get on track to start their sophomore year in August (fall semester).

"I got my credits up and I'm on track to graduate with my class," Golden says. "It was good. I feel like if I could take it again, I would."

Golden was initially interested in studying Painting. But, her appreciation for film led her to major in Photography. Now a sophomore, she's enjoying "capturing scenes" and telling stories through her photos.

What did she like most about the Spring>Summer program? "I liked how fast it went," she says.

"We kept getting warned that it was very intense, but it didn't feel as intense as they said it would be," she says. "It was kind of breezy."

Golden learned a lot about time management and discipline by participating in the Spring>Summer program. Her advice to others who sign up: "Keep up with the amount of work you have."

"If you keep up with your work and you do everything and you're on time, you'll be fine," Golden says. "I didn't really run into any problems as long as I did what I was supposed to."

Interested in learning whether CIA's Spring>Summer program can help you? Visit cia.edu/spring-summer or contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@cia.edu or 216.421.7418.