I am an Art Institute graduate that made the mistake in going in for Media Arts and Animation. There are quite a few reasons/excuses (depending on how you look at it) as to why I say it was a mistake, but I don't think anyone really wants to hear all that. Looking back, I wish I went in for Graphic Design. Pretty much all the reasons why the Media Arts and Animation was a bad idea makes Graphic Design a good idea, at least in my opinion.
Thing is, I have spent most of my art years drawing characters. That's pretty much how I started and I sure haven't stopped. So graphic design is just a tad bit foreign with a few things that are common to help me generally understand. I have been on Design contest and another website like it for quite some time. I have posted on the other website, determined that I was going to give it a shot, when I really should have been more determined to learn. So, that is my goal now. Learn.