<p>I would like to hear from the students and parents, how our creative students are doing at their chosen schools. I think this might help the high school students pick colleges for next year. It would be great to get to "know" some of these kids and schools online at CC. However if we can't get the students to post on a regular basis, I would like to hear from the parents. My daughter hasn't gone off to school. She leaves next week. So I can't help start the discussion.</p>
<p>My daughter just finished her freshmen year at University of Cincinnati's school of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning. She loved the school. She participated in marching band,which is very time consuming and loved the DAAP school programs. HOWEVER, and you will find this true of most good programs, she worked like a dog!</p>
<p>Although my daughter has a work ethic of "work till she drops," she really felt that she had to work very hard and put in a number of all-nighters. Perhaps this was caused by her lack of time due to marching band or due to her work ethic,but she worked as hard as anyone could. I think you will find this commonplace at most good art and design schools. She has friends at both Pratt and RISD who echoed the same sentiments.</p>
<p>For what it's worth she did,however, do very well there.</p>
<p>My son will leave for his junior year at RISD in another week. When he came home at the start of the summer, he said that sophomore year was MUCH easier than freshman year, although he was still pulling all-nighters at least twice a week!!</p>
<p>Freshman “boot camp” at RISD was very tough for him. My son had never, ever worked so hard before -- but he absolutely loved it. He said that all of the other freshmen were in the same boat and they were very supportive of each other. (In particular, his friends helped him out with a lot of advice and feedback for his required Drawing I class, as my son had only limited drawing experience before going to RISD.) He loves the "funky, creative" atmosphere and working with people who are so collaborative and non-competitive. </p>
<p>As a mother, I worry a lot that he doesn’t get much sleep and I’m not sure he’s eating properly with the long hours in the studio, but he seems to be thriving. And he certainly couldn’t be happier doing what he is doing. It’s been a very positive – although challenging -- experience for my son.</p>
<p>Gosh, I love to hear this love of RISD. My daughter will be attending the "boot" camp this Fall. I've only hear how much students love it. What major are both of your student working toward? What are the "friends" like at their schools?</p>
<p>My son is an Industrial Design major. (Off-Topic Warning about RISD: Be sure that your daughter puts a lot of thought into her choice of major before she has to declare it next March. That’s the biggest drawback to RISD’s curriculum – you get locked into a major fairly early on. If you later decide to change majors, you usually lose a full year due to the lockstep sequence of courses for each major. On the other hand, that kind of intense training is a great benefit if you already know what you want to do. My son got a paid internship at an ID firm this summer (after just his sophomore year), while the other interns there – from Purdue, RIT, and Syracuse – were all going into their senior year. His boss said that my son was actually the best prepared of the four, due to his practical, hands-on training from RISD.)</p>
<p>As for his RISD friends? Well, let me just say that my son is the most “normal” looking of his circle of friends – and even he has a goatee and a huge head of hair (at least it’s his natural color!) Be prepared for a lot of strange hair colors, piercings and tattoos, and unusual clothing choices. But beyond the “different drummer” appearances, we have found all of these kids to be highly intelligent, motivated, creative, and outgoing. We have hosted several for week-long stays at our home during the summer and have thoroughly enjoyed their company.</p>
<p>worried _mom. I printed out your comments about the early Major decision and let her read it. No spin zone here! They were very thoughtful. Thank You. I really like the stuff about the kids too. I can't wait to meet them. Sounds great. I think this is about to be a watershed year for my daughter. She is really anxious to get the show on the road. Too much time waiting around while all her friends have left or are leaving. Last one 2 days ago. Now she is sitting her with us! horrors!</p>
<p>My daughter will be a senior at RISD this year. She is an Illustration major. Freshman year was very intense, but she thrived on the challenge...as the others have said. Picking a major so soon is a huge draw back. I wish she could have experimented with a few other programs before choosing a major. They are only given Wintersession to experiment or explore, so choose Wintersession classes wisely. Pick two classes possibly in the area in which you are interested.</p>
<p>As for friends, I saw less piercings and strange hair colors than I expected. My daughter said most people lose the high school artsy look after a few months :-) My daughter and her friends look like any other college students. Two have come for extended stays at our home, and they are wonderful young ladies.</p>
<p>There are many opportunities for internships. My daughter spent a summer in Italy doing scientific illustration at an archaeological site in Tuscany. This summer, she had an internship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.</p>
<p>Overall, RISD has been a wonderful experience for my daughter. Her one area of concern is employment after graduation. She does not yet feel that she will be prepared, but hopefully that will come this year!</p>
<p>Another RISD parent chiming in to say it's been a great place for my daughter. She'll be a junior this fall, and her enthusiasm for the school has not wavered. Foundation year was hard, but she loved it, not the least for the community it created among her freshman friends. She, too, has already had a great internship. Of course, she has moments when it's not all perfect, but all in all, I can't imagine a better college experience for her. She is one of those, too, who has managed to take classes at Brown, and while she's enjoyed them, she's clear she's glad she's a RISD student.</p>
<p>I don't know what post-RISD will be like, but I'm optimistic. There was a wonderful article a few days ago in the NY Times about RISD architecture grads who designed a house for relatives and called in all many RISD friends (glass-blowers, furniture-makers, ID friends) to add to the house. The article typified the attitude I've seen at RISD -- creative, cooperative, full of humor and ambition. I don't know how to make links, but the article is under the Home & Garden section online. It's called "First Job, Share the Bounty."</p>
<p>I chose MICA over RISD and Pratt and I'm so immensely happy it's ridiculous.</p>
<p>I'll write a more in depth report along the lines of the kid who did one about scad, but basically:</p>
<p>The workload is intense, but refreshing. The dorms are beautiful and wonderfully planned out, everyone is helpful, all of my teachers are engaging and everyone, including the upperclassmen, are very kind and helpful.</p>
<p>Orientation rocked - I won't give away any of the awesome events, but I've got to say.. the craziest parties I've been to have been school sponsored.</p>
<p>I've pulled a couple of all nighters already, but I haven't noticed the work as "work" - because NONE of what they give us is busy work. </p>
<p>My liberal arts class (Critical Inquiry) is one of my favorite classes because of the way the teacher changes up sections, and once every four weeks you get a visual assignment where you're required to create a piece of art in the context of a certain kind of theory (Like feminist, marxist, psychoanalyst) and literary work...</p>
<p>Foundation year here was very well thought out.</p>
<p>But yeah.. MICA was definately the right choice for me.</p>