<p>Hello,
I was sur[rised that my D got accepted by most of her dream schools. Carnegie Mellon, USC, Pratt, MICA, SVA, and more. I myself like CMU, and USC comes next. But she gets enormous scholorship from Pratt and MICA. My daughter wants visit every schools to find out which college she would fit the best. Please give us some thoughts on any of these schools. My D is rather introverted, very petite and smart child. I don't know if she will fit into New York.Thanks.</p>
<p>Hi bewildered2 it seems like you have a “clone” of my D. schools NYU, USC, MICA, Pratt (and others), petite, shy and smart.</p>
<p>As a USC grad (we just toured the Art program last weekend) I would love my D to go to USC. Staff seemed top notch, dynamic and caring - it’s a bit smaller program than some of the others 40-45 incoming freshman. Like NYU or Pratt or even MICA the surrounding neighborhood can be a bit “rough” the campus king of locks down at night. Don’t get me wrong people are out and about 1-2 am and if you live off campus they have free safe ride programs (in fact all the other do too - so I won’t talk about that again). </p>
<p>NYU seems a lot like USC but it is in a hip artsy NY setting (spread out a bit in the city). NYU can look a bit unnerving as it has no gates and is integrated in the city - but it is quite lovely and such a unique experience and the kids all love it. After touring NYU - I could actually see her going there. I can’t vouch for NYU’s facilities or staff (not part of my tour – you watch a video and tour some [newer?] buildings). It’s a big university 29K undergrad (29K grad) don’t know how many kids enter into the art programs.</p>
<p>MICA (yes good scholarship) was wonderful it was like NYU without Washington square and all the "packed in qualities of New York City e.g. pizza, cafe’s, etc). Baltimore is a bit more of a “working” town but it has good transportation only lacking that “hip” NYC feel a bit. But the staff and facilities seem awesome. I think there are 400-450 freshman admits. MICA also has a MFT (5 year program for teaching if that’s your D’s thing).</p>
<p>Pratt Institute (yes good scholarship) - I didn’t tour it with my D as she did a pre-college summer program. Brooklyn can seem rough but she adapted and loved it. She probably only looked into NYU because she fell in love with hopping on the subway and going to Washington square (middle or heart of NYU). My point here Pratt my not be “in” NYC but due to proximity and the subway it is “in” NYC. Pratt is a bit more of a traditional “closed” gated campus. I only say a “bit” because I personal didn’t see it.</p>
<p>So to answer your comment “My D is rather introverted, very petite and smart child. I don’t know if she will fit into New York” if it’s NYU or Pratt I will guarantee she will make friends and fall in love with the City - I sent my D a 16 year old high school student out to Pratt in Brooklyn for 4 weeks. When we visited NYU one of her Pratt friends came down form Connecticut to visit (D’s friend committed to RISD). It’s so easy to travel up and down the Eastern seaboard (subway and light rail in the cities, trains between cities). If you choose MICA, Washington DC is only 40 minute train ride, NYC about three hours. Then again for USC they now have a subway/metro system with two stops right next to campus so you can actually get around without a car.</p>
<p>Just make sure you have your D live in a traditional dorm style on campus housing (no apartments) and your D will make some great friends her first year. MICA required, NYU the only way you can afford it, Pratt (I’m not sure but I think freshman are required to live on campus), USC avoid apartment style dorms. This advise is for “freshman” only.</p>