<p>Okay I am a huge art history freak and I really want to study it in college, but most of the programs that I have heard are distinguished are all at very highly priced schools. I definately have the grades to go to one of these schools but my family does not have the money to send me and I know for a fact that we will not be able to get enough financial aid (I am still plannign on applying though, this is just backup). My question is: I have done research ont he program at University of Illinois, which would be much cheaper since it is public and I could get instate tuition. The program looks very good and their professors are distinguished scholars who have taught at places like Yale and have published works and research grants. What I want to know is: even if I know all of this, if I go to U of I, when I go out to find a job, will the employers care that I went to a state school instead of one of the more distinguished programs?</p>
<p>Contact the dept. They would know--you would get small classes and lots of attention.</p>
<p>It also depends on the sort of employers you're talking about. The University of Illinois has a lot of on-campus recruiting, but I"m not really sure whether there's any recruiting that's related to art history.</p>
<p>kiwee, I don't know anything about the art history department at the University of Illinois, so please take my comments in a general sense only. Most big universities have good art history programs, taught, as you say, by PhD's from good universities. </p>
<p>If you are interested in museum work, curating, education or restoration, then you will need an advanced degree, an MA at the minimum, a PhD for a top position. It should be easy enough to find out where grads from U of I go on to get these degrees. </p>
<p>You should also find out how successful they are in helping undergrads get summer internships at museums. This work experience is key to both getting into top graduate schools and museum jobs.</p>
<p>Another point is to investigate their junior year abroad programs. Many, many art history students study art in Europe (or Asia) to supplement their US experience. NYU also has a semester in New York program for students from all over the country.</p>
<p>Are you sure that you won't qualify for need-based, financial aid? If it's not likely, then you should concentrate on colleges that give merit aid. I can give you a list of some schools that are good for art history, but I can't tell you which ones offer merit aid (only that Williams and the Ivy League do not.)
LACs: Williams, Byr Mawr, Smith, Skidmore, Hamilton, Vassar, Kenyon, Wesleyan
Universities: Yale, Brown, Penn, NYU, Michigan, Stanford</p>
<p>thanks for all the help guys</p>