<p>Thanks, Kelsmom</p>
<p>@Kelsmom,
That link for portfolio review is fantastic. DS is already getting some input on his portfolio. And he got to learn how to work with slideroom.</p>
<p>I am so glad to hear that! I work at a graduate art school, so we don’t participate in the portfolio review - but I think it is an excellent resource for high school students considering applying to an art program.</p>
<p>Has anyone gotten a letter from MICA asking them to apply for scholarships based on their portfolio review at NPD?</p>
<p>@lbmatson - I have. Although I didn’t go to NPD I had a portfolio review on 9/25 during a campus visit and just this past week I got a letter saying I should apply because my portfolio was at their caliber. </p>
<p>Are you awaiting one or checking to see who else did? </p>
<p>I received one but just wanted to check and see if others did as well. Trying to see how ‘special’ the letter is. Is MICA high on your list?</p>
<p>@lbmatson Yeah it’s my top choice if I can get enough scholarship money/financial aid. SAIC is second. </p>
<p>What about you?</p>
<p>@fishermansrib It is probably in my top 3-4. I am planning on seeing which schools I get accepted to and then make a campus visit so I can determine which school has the right feel. I am in TN so none of the top art schools are close. SCAD is probably closest and that is a 10 hour drive. I did visit SAIC already and loved the facilities and urban feel of that campus. It will probably come down to who wants me the most and gives me the best deal - tuition prices are outrageous.</p>
<p>@lbmatson Haha we’re in the same boat! If someone offers me more money then that’s where I’m going. I have told myself since I decided on art school that I will not go into serious debt for it. It’s not worth it. </p>
<p>I’m applying to MICA, SAIC, UArts, KCAI, and maybe CMU or Pratt. You?</p>
<p>@fishermansrib I am applying to MICA, RISD, SCAD, SAIC, Pratt, Paris College of Art, University of Cincinnati (great industrial design program) and University of Michigan (the rep and I hit it off at NPD and she convinced me to apply).</p>
<p>Obviously, I am shopping around. All of the choices are good. I am already tired of completing applications though.</p>
<p>@fishermansrib what are of the country are you from? what are you wanting to major in?</p>
<p>@lbmatson I’m from the US- Pennsylvania. I’d like to go to the west coast with CalArts or something but transportation to and from would kill my nonexistent college fund. </p>
<p>I plan on majoring in fiber/textiles, which makes my options somewhat limited. I was thinking Parsons but after really looking into it, it wasn’t what I was feeling. What about you?</p>
<p>I really like SAIC but I will need to see if they like me! My portfolio was accepted by SAIC when I went to National Portfolio Day in Dallas. California is too far for me. If I am going far away I want to go to Europe!</p>
<p>Jumping in on the conversation here. I think that debt is perhaps an unavoidable part of the journey to becoming a professional in an artistic realm.</p>
<p>You need to learn from the best to be the best. At least an artist is investing in his/her talent and passion. It’s what entrepreneurs do when starting a business. So, while money ranks very high in the consideration process, balance it against where do you think you need to be to become the best at what you do.</p>
<p>@madaboutx You have a really strong point. Student debt is most of the time unavoidable. When I said that I wouldn’t go into debt for it I meant the crippling debt that comes from the high price of private schools. I am willing to take out <em>some</em> loans but nothing that is going to hinder my creative process for the rest of my life, especially when I have no guarantee with a job. I don’t expect to just get one and know I’m going to have to haul serious tail to make it work, but I’m completely willing to do that. I think money should rank high in the decision process but not be the final factor. If there is somewhere you want to go that you know will get you where you want to be, you’ll find ways to make it work.</p>
<p>I read a post on here (I think? or an article somewhere) where someone did the math and figured a degree from RISD costs more than one from Harvard Medical School. This is the crippling debt I refer to; doctors know where they can work and when they can pay off their debt, whereas artists have to make it up as they go along and hope for the best. It’s all part of the creative process and intensity of the job. </p>
Resurrecting the original topic here for anyone in the future–
My portfolio, in this order, contained:
Fiber, fiber, fiber, sound sculpture, ceramic wheel thrown set, ink drawing, colored pencil drawing, graphite drawing, graphite drawing, graphite figure drawing, relief print, ink drawing, sketchbooks.
It was well received at all of my schools and earned me full tuition at MICA, which was my top choice. They were especially enthusiastic about the range of disciplines in my portfolio. I have to say if you can pull it off, go for it and deviate from the suggestions…this is art school and you shouldn’t be afraid of pushing the limits. All of the pieces have to be well executed to work, but if you think you can do it, I say it’s worth it.