<p>I want to apply for the Dual Degree Program with brown and RISD, for possibly Painting and Psychology or Painting and Education, I’m not quite sure yet. This would be my dream college but I don’t know if I can get in to Brown, but I think I can get in to RISD.
I have a 4.2 weighted GPA and a 3.77 unweighted GPA. I haven’t taken SATs yet but I didn’t do very well on PSATs. I took 4 honors classes last year including an interesting Art History class, Algebra II (which not many students stayed in this year), Bio, and English. Next year I plan on taking 2 AP classes of psychology and English and an honors portfolio art class. I may also take up Chem honors depending on availability. I also volunteer as a sunday school teacher and will hopefully have 2 jobs, one assistant teaching Art (which I also had my sophomore year). I’ve won 4 art awards in my 2 high school years… My art teacher thinks I can get in to RISD, so Brown is the real question because although I’m a hard-working student, there are no promises for whether my GPA and SATs will be enough. I’m wondering if i have a chance, and if my chance for Brown increases if I’m applying to Dual Degree Program. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>ooooooooooooops double post!!</p>
<p>In order to get into the dual degree program, you have to get into one of the most selective art schools in the country, and one of the most selective universities in the country, and from within that pool, be selected for the program. I don’t think anyone knows what criteria gets you selected from within that pool, but I’m guessing it’s cohort-cohesion related, at least in part, which means it differs every year. </p>
<p>In other words, this is quite possibly the most selective undergraduate program in the country, no matter how talented, brilliant, and accomplished you are. </p>
<p>Apply, apply your heart out, but know that it is remarkably selective and in a way that’s not always reflective of your qualifications. If you get in, be pleasantly surprised. If you don’t, there’s a lot of other great places to study art and academics 
(in searching, look at art programs at schools first, and then see if their academics are on par – a lot of places have great academics but few have great art) (message me if you want advice on other places that may fit your needs, and good luck with Brown/RISD!)</p>
<p>Just to put things into perspective, I would argue that RISD is a more selective and prestigious arts school than Brown is undergraduate college.</p>
<p>Not saying anything about you and your chances - just be wary with how confident one is about getting into RISD - or that Brown is truly your limiting factor.</p>
<p>I would agree with that, I don’t know what the admissions selectivity is percentage wise. I think Brown is “more selective” in that it has a lower admissions rate but RISD has a far more self-selecting applicant pool. RISD is, well, RISD. There are a lot of schools on par with Brown (not to diminish the quality of Brown). </p>
<p>My point though is that you’ve got three big selection hurdles in front of you – RISD, Brown, and the program itself. Try. Obviously some people get in! Just don’t put your life in soul in to it. Instead find several programs that would be great for you.</p>
<p>Some schools that come to mind with great academics and great art are WUSTL, Tulane, and Yale.</p>
<p>Also, 5 years at a large state school may be an excellent choice as many of them have dedicated art colleges.</p>
<p>Look also at VCU in Richmond Virginia, for great art program and good all around undergrad.</p>
<p>I lost track of your message, but here’s the answer: </p>
<p>Art therapy is usually not an undergraduate major. It’s more of a graduate school thing. If it is, you’ll only find it at a school where you can make your own major or a very large school with a wide variety of majors. Also, keep in mind that the RISD/Brown program is for TWO DIFFERENT majors, not one major that blends art with something else. </p>
<p>In searching for schools with strong academics and strong arts, the answer is simple: research. Look at the US News top 75 universities and top 75 LAC’s (as a starting point) and visit each one of their websites and investigate their art programs, as well as whatever academic programs are relevant for you. It’s safe to say that the schools on those lists will have sound academics, but you’ll have to do research (visit websites, look at course catalogs, visit campus studios, talk to students and professors) to find out about their art. Make sure that you investigate your own current artistic interest but keep in mind that many, if not most, art students change their focus. It’s part of the evolution of studying art. And also, it depends on how rigorous you want your academics to be – sound vs. exceptional (i.e. temple (which has a great art school, Tyler, and okay academics) vs. Yale, which has a great art program, and exceptional academics). Also keep in mind your chances of getting in. </p>
<p>Some schools to start researching are Yale, WUSTL, Tulane, University of Oregon, and University of Madison Wisconsin. I also knew a very smart art major from James Madison so that may be another to look at. </p>
<p>Don’t sacrifice things that are important for you in a school – say, a small student body – for just the two elements of good art and good academics. There are certainly enough schools that fit that have those aspects that will fit your other search criteria.</p>
<p>Also, just to add to what others have said, if you’ve got good enough credentials for Brown you could still double-concentrate (Psych/Vis Art for example). My daughter went to Brown and took several courses at RISD, and she double concentrated in Visual Arts and also a liberal arts discipline. She really liked the art department at Brown. She enrolled before the double program was an option.</p>
<p>Just to add to the pool of options, I know someone who was an education-human development/VA concentrator (who took several RISD classes because you can do that as just a regular brown student). Also interested in art therapy.</p>
<p>if you are looking at one school over another, if art is your main focus and want to be vocationally trained in art, go to risd and take classes in brown. if traditional academics is your main focus or art is your main focus but you want a broader level of intellectual exposure, go to brown and take classes at risd.</p>