<p>I'm a junior in high school, now starting my college search. However, I'm faced with a dilemma. I'm very interested in fine arts, specifically ceramics, but I'm not sure if I want to go to art school, or a liberal arts college with a strong art program. While I'm pretty strong academically (excellent in English and humanities, mediocre in Math), and could probably get into a good LAC, making art and being around artistic people is what really makes me happy. My mom fully supports me pursuing art, but my dad is against it, and warns me that going to an art school will "limit" myself to only having art in my future. I'm visiting both LACs and art schools, and probably will apply to both.
Does anyone have any suggestions of more left-leaning and creative LACs that place an emphasis on art? I'm drawn to small, liberal schools, with an artsy, non-conformist student body. I don't care about a traditional unified campus feel--I actually prefer schools without sports or a Greek system. I live in New York, but am seriously considering migrating to the west coast, specifically southern California (I don't do very well with harsh winters...S.A.D. anyone?). Art schools I'm considering include SVA, RISD, Parsons, Pratt, CalArts, CCA, and Art Center College of Design. So far, the liberal arts schools that sound good to me are Pitzer, Skidmore, Bard, Oberlin, and Reed.
Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks.</p>
<p>The Claremont Colleges are looking good for ceramics:
[Scripps</a> College : Scripps College Awarded $3.5 Million for the Ceramic Arts](<a href=“http://www.scrippscollege.edu/news/press-releases/scripps-college-awarded-35-million-for-the-ceramic-arts]Scripps”>Scripps College Awarded $3.5 Million for the Ceramic Arts | Scripps College in Claremont, California)</p>
<p>In a liberal arts college you could develop not only your studio art skills, but also some understanding of the science behind ceramics, its place in the history of art, its social history, and more. You could put together an interdisciplinary program that would prepare you for architecture school or museum work, if you decide you don’t want to run your own studio.</p>
<p>If your stats are high enough, consider the joint program between Brown and RISD.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the article. I feel like I would be happier as a Pitzer student vs Scripps, but with the Claremont consortium system I could probably take advantage of the ceramics studio and classes at Scripps, without actually attending Scripps.
You bring up a really good point, one that I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about. Although art is truly my passion, going to art school feels somewhat limiting. I also feel like a liberal arts education could help me with the business aspects of being an artist.
And the RISD/Brown program… yeah, not happening. As great as it sounds, I’m definitely not Ivy material haha. I think that program has some ridiculous acceptance rate like 3%.
Thanks for your help, and the speedy response.</p>
<p>My D has an artsy non-conformist friend at RIT; nice ceramics there, too.
[RIT</a> - Programs of Study](<a href=“http://www.rit.edu/programs/program_detail.php?id=528]RIT”>http://www.rit.edu/programs/program_detail.php?id=528)
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics and Ceramic Sculpture</p>
<p>Liberal arts majors are offered, but it’s not an LAC - and, too close to home? sounds like you really want to try living in another part of the country.</p>
<p>As someone who once went to an art school in So Cal, I can tell you that the environment is completely different from what I presume an LAC to be(i’m at UCLA now). By this I mean that art schools, are like “mechanic schools” “nursing schools” etc. You’re taught skills. That’s the bottom line. And because art schools tend to produce, in my opinion, designers(even at the fine art level), you have to ask yourself what you’re expecting out of that type of education. I feel LACs or a strong research university with a great art department would be the best option. I say this because at 18 or 17 or how ever old you are, you may think you know what you want to major in, and you might end up graduating with that major, but odds are you won’t be doing ceramics. Even if it’s another art field you switch into, you are going to be extremely limited by your options if you choose an Art School. Most art schools don’t offer liberal art majors, or non-art majors, and like me, I realized I ended up loving my liberal art classes much more than the “training” I was getting. To have that option, of switching out of art related fields, is to your benefit because you’d save time money, and avoid having to transfer(if you realize art school isn’t for you-my situation).</p>
<p>Bennington (VT), Alfred (NY) and Ohio Wesleyan.</p>
<p>I know you said you might be interested in leaving the East Coast, but in case you change your mind I’d recommend Williams and Smith if you’re female.</p>
<p>COST</p>
<p>This cost of your schooling must be carefully considered too. Will your family be able to pay the cost in full? If no, then I strongly sugest a LAC or Uni with an Art School.</p>
<p>Even for those who are determined to receive financial aid (via the FAFSA), schools like RISD and MICA cannot usually offer enough aid for the student to attend. In general, the Art Schools just don’t have the endowment resources.</p>
<p>Just something to be aware of and ask about as you review individual schools.</p>
<p>midwestmom2kids_- Thanks, but location (and climate) is a pretty major deciding factor to me, and Rochester isn’t really ideal. And, yes, very close to where I live now. I’m ready to go far away, and I feel like I’m more west coast than east coast.</p>
<p>liek0806- Thanks for sharing your experience. That’s what I’m worried might happen with me, and why I’m so hesitant to make up my mind about attending art school. I applied for the RISD pre college summer program, which is basically living at an art school for the summer, so hopefully this will help me see if it’s for me.</p>
<p>poi- Bennington has actually really interested me. The only problem is location…I love Vermont in the summer, but winters there are pretty brutal. I’m trying to get over it because a lot of schools I’m interested in are in cold places, but weather really affects me.</p>
<p>teenagecliche- I don’t think I could handle a women’s college, haha. Co-ed all the way.</p>
<p>longhaul- Fortunately, money isn’t really a problem in my family. So financial aid isn’t a big part of my decision.</p>
<p>So I am in the same boat as you only a year later. I am currently deciding between RISD and Liberal Arts School with strong art programs (NYU, Bard, and UChicago). I think a lot depends on if you know what you ultimately want to do. If you know you definitely want a career in the arts then an art school will probably make it easier to get hired after college (not to say that you won’t get hired out of a LBC). On the other hand, an art school definitely limits you career options. And I think it also depends on how committed you are to your other classes - will you miss taking a history or an english class? As of now I am leaning towards a LBC with perhaps a minor in photography or graphic arts and if I can’t get hired out of college I will most likely end up at an art school for grad. But thats just me.</p>
<p>If you aren’t completely sure, definitely go with an LAC.</p>
<p>In my opinion, I would say go to LAC with good art program coz, as others say, you may change you mind even though you think you are sure at the moment. Nonetheless, I know a person who goes to School of Visual Art (I saw it’s on your list but you said you dun wanna stay in NY so…) and she’s very happy there.</p>
<p>One of my dearest friends went to RISD. He is extremely talented, but his job is drawing caricatures in Central Park, and sometimes he doesn’t have enough money for food and he’s in his 40s. Art schools are fabulous–but then what?</p>
<p>How about SUNY New Paltz…has a really amazing ceramics program and the LAC feel with an artsy and creative student body. My son transferred here and he says some of the things the ceramics majors are doing are incredible. Definitely look into it.</p>
<p>My daughter had the same dilemma in High School. She was (still is 
) very smart and a very good artist. She discounted art school right away. She felt that it would be too one-sided and she was (still is ) interested in many different things. She is at a university and is majoring in visual arts and she also has a second major. I strongly feel that artists need to be able to think about everything in the world in order to inform their art. Art school (I went to art school in the dark ages) students can be self-involved and sometimes think of nothing but their own work. There are plenty of excellent art departments in liberal arts colleges and universities. I agree with someone above who said that if you are not sure, do a liberal arts path. Art school is fabulous for people who are so driven that they can really do nothing else except their art, and who have absolutely no interest in other academics. Sorry to be sounding judgmental; it’s my opinion based on my experiences.</p>
<p>Alfred U has a really good ceramics program. It is in the southern partof central NY though. Winters could be tough. just an idea…</p>
<p>All the elite LAC’s I visited had studio space for artists.</p>
<p>New Paltz is a great idea.</p>
<p>In the AU thread are many posts by a parent whose daughter had the same dilemma as you. The daugther chose AU to get a well rounded education over an art school. However, she is running into problems getting into the entry level courses she needs for her major because the entry level courses also serve as General Education courses and freshman have lower priority in registering for courses. (Of course, I don’t know if the daughter has talked to the right people about getting around that.)</p>
<p>That might be something you want to talk to people about as you explore schools.</p>