<p>I'm thinking about going to an art pre-college this summer but, I don't think I could afford to get into one. My parents want me to study for the SAT for fall (I'm a sophomore this year) and are planning to make me go to a tutor specialized for the SAT's--which pretty much drains up all our money for the year...</p>
<p>I know I could try to get a scholarships so it lightens my load but, I'm really losing inspiration and confidence in my artwork (I feel like I've been having an art block for the whole year now) so I don't think they would even think about giving me a scholarship. And I don't believe I could apply for financial aid. </p>
<p>I really want to get into RISD. I had so much confidence last year but this year, it just plummeted. I don't think I could get into any colleges even if I tried my hardest...</p>
<p>I've been planning to apply for the Maria Walsh Sharpe Summer Semester next year but I doubt I would get in now.</p>
<p>So I was wondering if pre-colleges are actually worth the money. (Is it as great as everyone is making it?) And if it is, is there any that I could apply for so late in the school year that would fit into my price range? ($4,000 at the most)</p>
<p>But if there isn't any pre-colleges, what's your opinion on getting better at art? (I do go to art school on the weekends but they don't teach as much as I'd like them to)</p>
<p>I'm sorry if this makes me sound depressed or anything. (Didn't mean to) And for the long read :PP</p>
<p>Edit: i live in New York so it'll be better if the pre-college is in the New York/New Jersey area. But a bit farther is good for me too.</p>
<p>Hi Littleorange. First, I think it is normal to go through times when you doubt your work. This will change and then ebb again–hang in there. My experience is through my dd. She did programs at all of the art schools in Philadelphia (Moore, Tyler and UofArts) during the school years of her soph and junior years and they were good, but not great, I think because they are sort of more high school programs. Then over the summers, she did two precollege programs. These were exceptionally helpful and strengthened her work. There are a lot of programs that are not the whole summer and would be cheaper than going for a 6 week program like RISD. Mica has a four week program in Baltimore and Tyler in Philadelphia has weekly and maybe two week programs. SAIC has a two week program too, which was very good, but expensive. I know there is a resident program and I believe that the kids stayed at UPenn, but this might be wrong. So, you have a lot of choices for summer. Good luck!</p>
<p>I will consider getting into those pre-colleges that you listed. And hopefully I could convince my parents that they are worth the money!</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Edit: I just researched Tyler’s program. Their price is surprisingly affordable. But I don’t know if it’s residential or not. (I sorta prefer that than commuting everyday)</p>
<p>little orange…as philly says there are so many other programs to look into that fit your budget. Off the top of my head there is MassArt. If I have time tomorrow I will dig up a few more. It sounds like doing a program would be very helpful. It would give you experience and support.</p>
<p>If you reconsider the commuting idea, there are plenty of programs in the NY area - Pratt, SVA, Parsons. Cooper Union’s program is by portfolio review only but it is FREE!</p>
<p>Littleorange, I broke my reply above. I know some of my dd’s friends stayed in Philadelphia while at the Tyler program, I think in UPenn dorms, but that might not be the place. I also know a young woman who participated in the MassArt program last year and it helped her work tremendously. It is a state school in Boston, with nice dorms. As a state school, like Tyler, perhaps the programs are more reasonable. Good luck.</p>
<p>Hi littleorange, Just in case the pre-college programs are out of reach, check out the ateliers in your area. I know you said you don’t want to commute, but the upside is that it might be more affordable, and learning at an atelier is a wonderful and also intense experience. You can choose to take one or many classes, so if you have a summer job you can schedule certain days, evenings, weekends, etc. An atelier is also cool b/c you will be among all kinds of artists: experienced, young, old, fellow students like yourself, etc. Precollege would be fun b/c you’d be with kids about your age and you’d get a taste of college life. Just want you to know there are options, so don’t give up just b/c of the cost…I have found there is something for everyone. You just have to dig a little to find it!</p>
<p>littleorange…would you give a little more info. Is their a specific area you want to study? Do you want to do life drawing? painting? film etc. </p>
<p>How far are you willing to go? Are you a NYC (5 boroughs) kid?..if so there a bunch of programs that are only for NYC kids that you might want to look at.</p>
<p>It actually is not to late to be applying for these programs it is just the right time. Most schools are just beginning to post their summer schedules.</p>
<p>Colcon2010, I will try to find any ateliers in my area. Thank you for the suggestion. It does sound interesting. :D</p>
<p>Drae27, I’ll consider MassArt. And I live a bit upstate so, commuting would be a bit of a problem for me since most if not all of the programs are in the city area. (I live in Rockland which is on the other side of the Hudson River…which upsets me 'cause it limits my choices)
I want to study illustration but I also like painting and drawing (in that order). And I also need to make some drawings from still life or models so programs for that would be helpful too.
And I don’t think I could get into any of the major programs like Cooper Union. Only because they require you to summit a portfolio. I don’t have a portfolio although I tried starting one. Which is one of the main reasons I want to go to a pre-college program. (The art classes I take at school and at my weekend school are so slow at teaching–which is good but not what I need right now)</p>
<p>If you are a sophomore, I would definitely consider taking classes in the city next year as a junior whether you do pre-college over the summer or not. In Rockland County you are definitely commuting distance to the city. Weekend classes are less of a $ commitment and they will still allow you to develop your portfolio. Both FIT and Pratt have classes on Saturdays and Sundays that D took. They helped her in many ways. For starters, the Pratt class was taught by a former Pratt admissions head. Not only did she write D a letter of recommendation for an NYU summer program last summer and a letter to go with her Pratt undergrad application, but she also gave imput on D’s portfolio along the way. D just got admitted to both NYU for studio art (after attending their summer pre-college this past summer.) She also was admitted to Pratt with a merit scholarship. </p>
<p>Think of it this way… input from the Pratt pre-college ($500) helped her get into her dream school and could have helped her receive a $14K/ year merit scholarship at Pratt.</p>
<p>Another option that is relatively inexpensive is to attend the New York State Summer School of the Arts. D attended after sophomore year. It was held in Fredonia College. The only drawback is that you are admitted through portfolio review so you would ned to get some pieces together for review. It was an intense 4 week program. Some of the sculpture and figure drawing she did there became part of her final portfolio. Hopefully it will continue to be offered this summer. Budget cuts may be an issue.</p>
<p>Then there is The Hopper House in Nyack. They have weekly life drawing sessions. No instructor, but getting the opportunity to draw from a model is invaluable.</p>
<p>RCC allows high school students to take their classes. Call them and find out how you go about it. I know a few young people who used RCC classes to build portfolios to apply to art schools. </p>
<p>Like unskoolfish’s D, my older son took single classes on Saturday’s and evenings at SVA in the city starting in his Junior year. This gave him enough material to be able to apply to Cooper Union’s Saturday Outreach Program in his Senior year.</p>
<p>Here is a new approach to portfolio prep.[Art</a> Tutoring & Portfolio Prep Center in NYC | Oogie Art | Tour](<a href=“http://new.oogieart.com/tour/]Art”>http://new.oogieart.com/tour/) I can’t vouch for it but I know a boy in my son’s class who is working with them. They develop individualized programs to help you meet your goals. If you were curious I could ask what he thinks of it. They have locations in NYS and Queens and closer to us in Ridgewood, NJ. I would tread very carefully with them and get it clear what the charges are. I think it can be pretty pricey. </p>
<p>None of these suggestions imply that you shouldn’t take a summer residency program. Having time away from your usual environment might be just the thing you need to get yourself going.</p>
<p>I found the website of the illustrator who does teen portfolio prep classes in Rockland County. It says she is starting up a class at ROCA in April.
<a href=“杭州冠回汽车用品有限公司”>杭州冠回汽车用品有限公司;
<p>For Teens:
Portfolio Projects
Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack, NY
Dates TBD | Begins April
Attention aspiring artists: This class will help you develop a portfolio of artwork for application to art school or college art program. We will focus on figure drawing from a clothed model, painting, collage, mixed media, etc. Projects will enhance the students’ observation skills and creative thinking. At the end of this class, students will have a number of pieces reflecting their personality and creative ability.</p>
<p>uskoolfish, Thank you. I will reconsider the commuting idea. And I will research about New York State Summer School of the Arts. Maybe I could get into it next year.
And just wondering, if I enter some of my art work to get to get into New York State Summer School of the Arts, would I be able to use them for my portfolio for my college applications?
And Pratt does sound very tempting…</p>
<p>drae27, Wow what’s the chance of that! It is a small world!
I did go into ROCA last year for the summer (I got a scholarship from my high school art teacher so I didn’t have to pay) So I will see if I could get another scholarship there. And I never heard of The Hopper House before! I’ll add that to the list. And thank you for the other suggestions. I’ll be sure to research them as well!</p>
<p>Assuming things have not changed, to get into the ny state summer school of the arts, d put together about 10 to 15 pieces in a portfolio. An adjudicator came around to various locations to review each portfolio. D picked up the artwork within a week or 2 of submitting it. So yes, some of those pieces were later photographed and became part of her final portfolio sent to colleges.</p>
<p>I really do recommend the program. Personally I would recommend it the summer before junior year and a college program the summer before senior year so that exposes you to the faculty/campus of a top choice college.</p>
<p>Although fredonia houses the ny state summer program, it was taught by faculty from all over the state.</p>
<p>Pratt has a Saturday Art School program during the school year, which i don’t think is too expensive.
Especially, as others mentioned, Pratt has an excellent, focused precollege program with classes both on their Brooklyn campus or in their Manhattan building. They do offer some scholarship aid and I don’t think you’re too late to apply. you could save by commuting maybe.
Several great tuition-free options are mentioned by writers above. Two others:
Cooper Union has a free weekend portfolio prep class. You may have to show work to be accepted, not sure; you may have to be a HS jr or sr.
And the Joan Mitchell Foundation, main office in Chelsea in NYC, has free art classes on saturdays for teens, no portfolio review required. They also have figure drawing some weeknights. Anyone (who cares enough) can register for these. The classes aren’t as rigorous as Pratt et al, but some of the teachers are great and they’re incredibly nice. The teachers have MFAs, they’re young and enthusiastic and offer all kinds of help.</p>
<p>I talked to my parents a few minutes ago. They are limiting me to find programs that are in the $1,000 or lower range. I know there isn’t a lot (at least in my area) but any suggestions would be helpful.</p>
<p>littleorange, Don’t worry, you just have to explore your options! Is there an Art League in your area? How about museums; they often have classes for teens and most older teens are welcome in the adult classes. You can also look into the ateliers; you would get a great education there and can pick and choose courses to fit your budget. If you want to go away, look for scholarships and apply early. Let us know what you choose!</p>
<p>A very reasonable summer program can be found at New Hampshire Institute of Art. My D went there her junior year and improved her portfolio significantly. I can’t remember how much it was, but she got a $500 scholarship for the program, which reduced the cost considerably. At the end of the program, she got a 3K scholarship and after applying, a $5K scholarship. She ultimately chose another school, but enjoyed her time there.</p>
<p>littleorange …I tried to PM you but I don’t think it went through. I will try again tomorrow Don’t despair. Where there is a will there is a way.</p>