@JazzButcher - congrats to your art student on making a decision. RISD is actually a fantastic environment. While the studios are “older” they are not “worn down”. And you should know that you will be paying for the best dorm food in the country. Be sure to grab a meal at the main caf. (on the freshman quad) if you get a chance. And, if nothing else, you will get a ton of exercise climbing that hill! While dropping off my D15 for precollege I noticed quite a few parents and g’parents pulled over to the side of the road to catch their breath. A nice stroll from the RISD Store can turn into a tortuous hike LOL. Kudos to Brown for taking the gentle slope!
@WhoDeyKC my daughter and I toured all three freshman dorms - Pantas, Stabile and Cannoneer. That last one is supposed to be the “jock” dorm due to the proximity to the gym LOL. Pantas is great and the one my daughter chose. It’s set up suite-style so two doubles with a Jack-n-jill in between. It’s also a favorite of the arch. foundies since it’s so close to the back gate and the school of arch. a couple blocks to the south. My D roomed with an arch. 1st year and that kid was NEVER in her room just because the arch program is so grueling. So my daughter really felt like she had a single which she liked very much
Stabile is also suite-style. I think Cannoneer is corridor-style with two single-sex community bathrooms on each floor.
All dorms come with a micro-fridge which is great (you don’t have to rent one). The meal plan is a debit system which is nice because, while required, you can purchase the minimum then load points as needed on the card. That way you don’t overpay for the meal plan.
Edit/Update: Laundry is free as well.
They are in the process of building a new freshman dorm, I think. Can’t remember when it’s open but I don’t think it’s this upcoming academic year. You might know more about that one.
My daughter moved into Willoughby for sophomore year because she wanted more of an apt.-style with kitchen. I think she is planning to stay there for junior year as well as she really likes it there.
PM me if you need any more info. about residential life.
Jazzbutcher–Guess I got on here a tad too late to say “Go to Ringling” for animation. Not sure why I’m here to say go to the top-rated school against Cal Arts. Everyone has their reasons. I don’t usually actively push Ringling because not that many get in. It’s like saying “Harvard is nice–go there.”
Ringling is THE spot for animation. I know many kids from Ringling–they aren’t “introverted”. They are focused. There is a difference. It isn’t easy.
If you don’t want to work and work VERY hard. Skip it. Go elsewhere. Save yourself. If you don’t want to live under your computer desk in a dark lab your senior year for your project…forget it. It’s a small group.
Or, if you feel up to the challenge…go for it. It’ll be the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done.
Academics…several years ago Ringling changed from Ringling School of Arts to Ringling College of Arts. The purpose was to make all their classes transferable within the college system so if someone withdrew from the school their credits would transfer to another college. Because of that they needed a whole slew of academic classes that weren’t needed previously as a strict art school like science, math etc. Those classes meet many requirements but won’t be on the par of any engineering degree. You don’t go to Ringling to be an engineer. Maybe an imagineer?
The facilities and equipment are the finest at Ringling for CA. Can’t say more. (D would say some padding underneath the desk would be nice but “what the hey?”.)
Yes, Ringling is very 3D focused. Because that is the present industry. You’ll learn it all.
What’s great about RISD is the deep field of top-rated majors. Not every high school senior sticks with their plan to do a particular field of study once they start college.
@mommadrama she’s doing BFA in animation, honors program. She has AP credits which will get her out of several classes, and allow her to branch out into other things (or even graduate early) but wont know for sure until she gets scores on last 2 AP tests, which she takes next week.
PNCA does NOT have a combined program with Reed. It exists only on paper and can not be practiced in reality. Reed does not support it and it is almost impossible to align the schedules. PNCA has long studio classes that don’t fit the model. Finally, PNCA has really gone downhill - especially in Design and Illustration. The Design program used to be strong under the old chair and faculty. That is yesterdays’ news.
nycmomof3- while D excelled at cooper summer and outreach we had a similar experience further compounded by isuues with a faculty that incessantly recruited her to ED. Wouldn’t recommend it to any art student. Conversely, she attends VCUARTS and has excelled. She knew right away that VCUARTS was the right fit. While far away you might want to consider Cal Arts , as its really the most successful in terms of animation. good luck
Hi, My daughter just started at SAIC a week ago and already loves it. What has been your daughters experience so far? I am so impressed with everything there and how they include parents.
My d at SAIC and loves the academics as much as art. English is moistly writing and art history is already intense but she is pretty intellectual and a good writer so it won’t be too hard, but a nice balance to Art classes. Sorry for run on sentence ha ha.
Just a note from a parent with a D’18 kid applying soon to art schools, please keep posting here with your kids’ experiences as freshmen! This is SUCH good information for those of us going through the app process now! Very grateful to be able to read about your experiences, especially as they are now current students! Particularly interested to hear about your D at SAIC, @Carlisle55-- my D did a pre-college term there this summer (4 weeks, so 2 courses) and really enjoyed it. Loves Chicago, loved the dorm (she was in Jones). In theory she loves the open curriculum, but worries about keeping focused without the “direction” of an actual major/concentration, so anything you can speak to on that end would be much appreciated! Also, she’s coming from an intensely academic high school, so I’m glad to hear that your d is finding the academic classes intellectually stimulating, as that’s another concern about SAIC (as opposed to, say, somewhere like RISD where she could take liberal arts credits at Brown).
@KCHWriter - D2 is a sophomore at RISD. Through the Foundation Year. Committed to ID. LIberal Arts classes comprise 1/3 of the curriculum at RISD. Most of the LA classes are engaging and very challenging. D2’s roommate is taking classes at Brown this semester. Be aware that RISD - Brown schedules don’t exactly mesh. Often takes away from 2nd half of RISD’s Winter Break. Feel free to reach out on this thread or PM.
Also, @JBStillFlying above can provide some great insights into SAIC (as well as re Pratt and SCAD).
@KCHWriter , my daughter started her freshmen year SAIC. She loves every minute of it. She went to SAIC for a pre-college class as well, and fell in love with the school and the city. Every day she tells me how great all her instructors are. However, the experience is not the same for everybody. Your D needs to be sure SAIC is the right choice for her.
The first year is the Foundation year and four of the classes are the same for everybody and mandatory. The fifth course is her choice. So I think that the first year there is plenty of “direction” and hopefully this year would help your daughter decide for herself what direction she wants to go in.
Let me know if you have questions.
I’m just curious for those who are from OOS and go to VCU Arts. We are from OOS and my daughter got accepted into VCU Arts. Is it true that the max scholarship for VCU is limited to what the in-state tuition is, they never give above that? We are hoping for a nice scholarship but not sure if we cold afford paying the OOS difference. My daughter has a 34 ACT, 4.5/4.0 GPA and 5 AP classes. Wondering if anyone knows what the max scholarship they’ve ever seen for OOS students that go to VCU arts.
According to the VCU website, merit-based scholarships cover in-state costs only. The university’s highest financial award, its presidential scholarship awards up to $13,000 maximum per year. Tuition, fees, room & board for 2017, were projected at nearly $44,000. So assuming the award of a presidential scholarship, COA would still be at $30k+. Is this what you are seeing @DBY2017 ?
Why would VCUArts be less expensive (for non-VA’s) than other comparable quality art colleges, when all is netted out? If they were, someone in the FA office otter be fired for leaving moola on the table. FWIW.
That’s exactly what I saw. Was wondering if they ever gave additional money. It would be about $20,000 a year to go there if she got their highest merit award. Thanks.
