<p>It's one of the schools nudging its way to the top of my daughter's list of choices, but most of what I have found looking around the forum is that it is: not selective, not rigorous, nasty administration, dirty and out of date facilities. </p>
<p>We visited in the fall and I wasn't unduly impressed or depressed, but I have to admit, it was lower down on my daughter's list at that point, so I wasn't paying too much attention.</p>
<p>My D was accepted to Pratt for Fall 2011. We visited recently (on a dreary, rainy day) and the facilities seemed quite bright (surprisingly) and no different than most and better than many. The buildings ARE old, but I found them to be charming. But that’s me. I understand the acceptance rate overall to be 41%, but have read (on these pages) that the Art and Design school has more of a 35% acceptance rate. I would consider that to be selective. I think the academics are decent, and foundation year very rigorous – with a required 17 or 18 credits per semester. Why is it moving up your daughter’s list? what other schools is she considering?</p>
<p>Pratt was kind of down the list with my kid too, though she liked it much better than SVA or Parsons. Even more than Cooper (sorry Bears, kid only applied to Cooper because it was free and then spent all her time on the RISD drawings and Parson’s challenge rather than the Cooper hometest – so I wasn’t really surprised when she didn’t get in there). I think she liked Pratt better than the other NYC schools because it did have a bit more of a ‘campus’ atmosphere to it. They offered her a fairly decent scholarship, but she really had her heart set on MICA or RISD.
So while we don’t have much great to say about Pratt, we’ve never had anything negative to really think about it either.</p>
<p>Where did she go?</p>
<p>Hi – The other schools in the running are VCUarts, MICA, and Ringling. Pratt moved up because she thought Ringling was her top choice, but we visited and, though she liked the campus atmosphere and loved the facilities and professors, it seemed very small and isolated to her – though everyone was very nice. It is just that there aren’t that many students and the school is in the middle of Sarasota, which is a great place to hang out if you are over 60 and rich.</p>
<p>We’re going to look at MICA and VCUarts soon (we live close to both, DC). I think what’s most important to her is: campus atmosphere, dedicated and talented students and teachers, good job placement records (she wants to work!), and friendly people (she is a happy kid, a hard worker, but happy). I add to that a good foundation year because, though my D claims that she is 100% sure she wants to do Interior Design, this is the third 100% sure art field she has decided on in the last year (and, in my mind, that is a problem at Ringling).</p>
<p>All input welcome and appreciated!</p>
<p>I know a fine arts major at MICA (freshman) and she is very happy there. Was also a top academic student at our hs. It has campus “moments,” but not like Pratt, which is a real campus. Dorms are great at MICA – with their own kitchens, although there is also a dining hall. Although you pursue a common foundation year (except for photography, film, arch and fashion), you can start to explore different areas from the first year (at Pratt). And it’s a traditional foundation year. MICA puts students together from similar experience and background (ex. photo majors together in a drawing class, if they did not focus – no pun intended – on drawing in the past). School is on the outskirts of an active city – but you’ll see when you visit. It has to feel right for your D, in the end.</p>
<p>kssdc - we thought that Pratt had a very nice campus, which is rare for a stand-alone art school. They also have a gym - what other art school has a gym? I’m sure all sorts of large events can happen in there. The proximity to Manhattan and all it’s glories can’t be overstated either, and Brooklyn is just as great, in its own way. </p>
<p>You should also like that Pratt has interior design as a major (and is usually ranked #1 or #2 in the US). I don’t believe any of the other schools on your list have interior design ( I know MICA doesn’t) – just in case your D doesn’t change her mind.</p>
<p>Also, Pratt is in Brooklyn which is much more of a target-rich arts and youth community than Manhattan these days. We live right outside of NYC. Brooklyn is ground zero for a youthful, creative mindset. Manhattan, Chelsea, Greenwich Village are becoming more and more gentrified these days. I liked Pratt. Its campus is a short subway ride from Manhattan, but Williamsburg and DUMBO are more the places to be these days.</p>
<p>I can tell you this, it’s the West Point of art schools - you get worked to death - but in the end the degree is a door opener. I can’t stand the dorms and I’m looking to get my folks to buy an apartment across the street. Good school in my op.</p>