NYSID is ranked #6 for undergrad programs in Interior, and #5 for grad, per latest Design Intelligence.
Was very much between Ringling + SVA for illustration, went to SVA’s accepted student’s day and loved it but they seem more “find what you want to do with this talent” - based than Ringling’s more focused program. Talked to a few students / looked at the curriculum and they have you taking a bunch of different classes, from sculpture to oil painting to Western Civilization (???), all of which just seem more random. As much as I’d love to be in the city, Ringling does appear to have a better concise program + better recruitment with the “big name” companies, and I’m excited to say I’m Ringling 2022 
^^ Just to clarify the importance of “random” classes such as sculpture and Western Civ - this is a BFA program, not a trade school. 1/3 of your courses should be liberal arts so that you can write well and understand your art-making within the context of history/cuture/civilization. As for sculpture - that’s a 3D course, isn’t it? And a BFA is a Bachelors, not a Masters degree. You need to have some broad exposure to different media and tools - those are typically your studio electives but they may instead be required in the particular program because someone decided they were important to skill set and artistic development. And anyone who goes through an art program and doesn’t touch oil painting is getting ripped off. At the very least, you need the exposure to color theory.
Final Decision for DS is VCU Arts. After he attended the Accepted Students Day, he was so excited about going there. We made the deposit, selected housing and scheduled the date for Orientation. All in!
I just want to add that this has been quite a journey. When the process began, he was 100% sure that he wanted SCAD. He loved the school, loved Savannah, loved the close proximity to the beach - it was his ideal school. I made him apply to several traditional four-year colleges though, knowing SCAD was expensive and also more “artsy” then he had considered (DS is a sports junkie). He was thrilled to be accepted to SCAD but the money just wasn’t there. Once we took him to other traditional campuses, he quickly realized that would be a better fit.
We forced him to apply to VCU Arts because of its reputation and in-state tuition. He reluctantly did so. He didn’t like Richmond and thought the surrounding area of VCU wasn’t very nice. Nonetheless, once he got accepted, we did the tour again, talked to some friends who currently attend VCU, and he started to fall in love with it.
I’m thrilled to see how far he has come. He is so excited about going to college in the fall. On one hand he feels fortunate to have the opportunities that VCU Arts provides, and on the other hand, he can’t wait to be a season ticket holder for the basketball games. This is definitely the right fit for DS, and it’s funny to think how it wasn’t even on his radar last fall.
We had to “force” one of our kids to apply to schools she was dismissing (good schools too!). For some reason the idea that you don’t have to go there if admitted didn’t quite sink in. She ended up at her #1 but still … good for you @sbgal2011 for being the wise parent in that situation.
@sbgal2011 Congratulations to your son’s acceptances and for his final decision of VCU! I think the kids think they know what they want but have not always considered other possibilities. It’s wonderful that he applied to other schools even though you had to force him. It just means he realized that parents are forcing bc they have his best interest at heart.
@coyoteuglee – Congrats!
You are correct–Ringling’s program is much more commercially and industry focused than SVA.
Their mission is 'Shattering the myth of the starving artist". So they are more “job-focused” in many ways rather than “art for art’s sake”. (and they have a great career services center!).
(SVA has a great program too–just a different focus).
You will still be taking what you might consider “random classes”. You’ll be doing many different mediums. You won’t get out of painting! You might not love every medium but they’ll make you grow as an artist. Embrace it.
As to the other traditional liberal arts classes like that “Western Civilizations” , those are required curriculum to be a “college” and not a “school”. You won’t get out of those at Ringling either. Being a “college” allows transfer of your credits in the university system in case you decided art school is really not your “thing”. If you have any credits like AP or dual enrollment classes you could apply those and open up your schedule a bit.
For everyone–Remember that critiques are for YOU to get BETTER. It is not a race nor a competition. It’s all for you. Yeah, it hurts when your “baby” is criticized. You put in all that work that you thought was perfect and then “POW!” It hurts. But it is not a personal attack.
My D (CA but it applies to all majors) used to say after critiques, “We all go home and sulk, lick our wounds, then get back to work.”
Take the chance that you aren’t the expert in the room. Relent. It’s not a personal assault.
The artists who get better take criticism and teaching to heart. They grow and adapt. They try new things even if they don’t think it might work initially.
@sbgal2011 …congratulations on ur son’s admission! Glad it worked out for both you and ur son!
Congrats to all! Seems like there are quite a number of Ringling 2022 here!
I’m still stuck between Ringling illustration, SVA illustration, and Pratt Digital Arts/Illustration(undecided). I have toured both Pratt and SVA, and I will be touring Ringling next weekend, so I’m really hoping I will know by then!
I’m kind of unsettled by the “job preparation” that Ringling preaches and tht so many have emphasized on here…I don’t want to constrict my art to make it look and feel like everything in the current media… does that mean ringling is not the school for me?
Maybe this site will help him warm up to Richmond. Congrats on VCUArts!
@Brine In illustration, I’ve heard that you do have more freedom to experiment with your style. If you were an animation major, I would say yes, they will restrict you to a certain way/style that fits what the industry is looking for, but the reason I was drawn to Ringling is that it seems that they will work with you and help you get a job in a place that really suits your style and work ethic and what not…at least that’s what some alumni I’ve met have told me.
@pastelrain oh sweet, that’s really assuring! Ringling is def looking like #1 choice rn
Hi guys! need ur help deciding school here. I’m choosing between SVA (cartooning) and MICA (illustration).
MICA offered my 11500$/yr. Pro for this school is that it’s small and have a strong sense of community, and staffs I have talked to so far are nice and welcoming (SVA seems have issues with their administration, they never reply to email). Most reviews about the school are positive: professors are supportive, talented peers who are motivated. But there are also people saying the school is a bubble, people are cliquey, students are surrounded by same people everyday, and they couldn’t get out of school since the city is unsafe and there are basically nothing to do in Baltimore.
SVA offered me 15000$/yr. I know SVA is really stingy with their scholarship so I was flattered by the amount that they offered me. But I got some really mixed review for the school. They claim that they have the best cartoon and illustration program in the country, but majority of their students work are underwhelming. I have being reading reviews and there are recurring issues saying that their students are unmotivated and often show up in class with poor work, I’m not sure if I can keep motivated under that kind of environment . But NYC is definitely a pro for the school, it’s much safer than Baltimore, and it’s NYC.
I’m more sold on the idea of going to SVA only because a lot of my friends are going there. I know this doesn’t matters cuz I’m gonna make new friends in either school, but those are just my thoughts. I would appreciate a lot if u guys have any ideas, comments, or advice!
@Brine- Sorry if I gave the wrong impression about the “job focus” at Ringling. They aren’t going to make you do art their way–it will always be yours. My D’s roommates were illustration majors. They definitely have their own styles and preference of subjects etc. ! It was very fun to see their individual styles emerge and their art grow.
What I meant is that Ringling (from what I’ve observed) gives students assignments that stretch their skills and teach new techniques rather than just telling them to “do their own thing”.
I stress critiques because I also observed that students who tried new things (whether they agreed with the critique or not) are the ones who grew the most as artists.
Good luck!
Pratt it is! My D is extraordinarily relieved to be able to finalize what she’s always known in her heart she wanted. She humored us for awhile as I made her consider all her options but I think she’s chosen wisely. Pratt checked all her boxes: curriculum, faculty, reputation, near NYC, close to home, campus feel, etc.
The advice and support we obtained from CC has been invaluable. Best of luck to you all!!
I’m moving over to the Musical Theatre threads for my younger D who starts the application/audition process in the fall. But I’m sure I’ll continue to lurk on the art threads to follow everyone’s journey.
@NYart15 congrats to your D on her decision! Is she planning to live on campus?
@JBStillFlying oh yes!!!
You & I DM’d briefly in January and I’d appreciate any & all insider info!!
not that I thought D wasn’t talented/had the grades etc., however she got to High School and decided that she was going to be anti-standardized testing (signed up for AP classes but refused to study for the exams etc.) and procrastinated until the very last second. Did the Honor roll for 2 semesters and then decided she couldn’t be bothered with volunteer work (requirement for being on the Honor Roll). I found an organization where she could do the service hours from her bedroom.
Admissions can often times be like a box of chocolates, and I had seen samples online of admitted portfolios etc, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.