We’re getting close to decision time and S is feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to decide. He’s in the very lucky place of having a lot of options but unfortunately his original fav (Pratt) is a bit over what our household can afford.
Looking for an insider’s perspective on Parsons since it’s his best ‘fit’ price, academics and location wise.
Background: S wants to eventually work as a Concept Artist in film, TV, animation, or gaming etc. so will major in Illustration and would ideally like to work in NYC.
Here’s what we’re looking at already in cost order (least to most expensive), what we can afford with his merit packages:
FIT
Parsons/New School
RISD (big sis is a junior here, so he knows the program well)
Currently over our budget:
MICA (more $ may be forthcoming on Monday with competitive scholarships)
Pratt (his fav, but dang too expensive)
Ringling (also too expensive, added travel costs and S his very meh about FL)
No inside info, I’m afraid—just wishing you luck with your choice. My daughter will be entering Parsons in the fall, majoring in strategic design and management with a minor in art history. She wants to work in an auction house, gallery or museum. She considered Pratt, RISD, SAIC, Brown, Bard, Barnard, NYU and Tufts, but ultimately she applied only to Parsons as she found it to be the best fit.
I have no expertise on your son’s major, but Parsons is definitely known for being well connected in New York as far as internship and job opportunities. My sense is that FIT’s reputation doesn’t extend as far outside of fashion, but that’s really just a general perception from having grown up in New York, and from my daughter’s process. I’m sure he can’t go wrong either way, but we’re very excited about Parsons!
Thanks for the Parsons info @Vineyarder ! S has already dropped FIT (I made a big comparison chart and that seemed to help sort things out a bit) but that insight is similar to some things he was questining too.
S’s going to Parsons accepted students day on the 13th and is hoping that helps finalize things. So far it seems like MICA and Parsons are the main contenders. MICA came in with more $ this week that makes it affordable for us and he really liked all his interactions and visits with them.
Parsons sounds like a great fit for what your D wants to do - Congrats!
@ArtAngst @Vineyarder
Since Parsons is famous for its fashion design, is it also a good choice in other majors?
D just received the offer majoring Illustration, and quite hesitating whether it’s good or not in Parsons…
I just looked at some rankings of illustration programs. On different lists, Parsons was 5th, 9th, 11th and 25th. On general rankings of art schools, Parsons is often No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 2 or 3 in the world.
James - I think it the fit depends on what your student’s career goals are via illustration. My S is gearing toward concept art and would like to ultimately work in some capacity in film, tv, theater or gaming. So Parsons NYC location and their other performing arts departments are appealing to him. For MICA they’ve got a more multi-disciplinary approach and that ties in well to the kind of illustration and work he wants to do (ie some more classes in 3D etc). And he’s followed the careers of a lot of concept artists (several from MICA) who recc’d this approach.
We’re probably the least familiar with Parsons program but are going this Saturday for accepted students day so hoping that helps fill in any gaps and S can decide after that.