3.87 unweighted GPA, 4.25 weighted GPA. SAT 1550. Mostly a straight-A student, had a sort of crisis stage in sophomore year that resulted in several B+'s. I am very passionate about art: I do 10-12 hours of art classes per week, I’m a Scholastic National Champion in visual art, I founded my own teen art group dedicated to giving exposure to underprivileged artists (we’ve raised over $2,000!), and I am also a co-lead of a prominent art museum’s teen art group (name redacted because it would give away where I live). I’ve won several other more minor art contests which I will not go in detail with here, and my work has been showcased in local galleries. Additionally, I run art commissions online which I have amassed over $1,000 with (not sure if this is applicable in any way). I plan on minoring in business - I have been to the national level of DECA, and I intern at a local business firm.
I have attended RISD’s summer pre-college program (if that makes any difference), but not anything at Brown. All in all, what are my chances? Any advice or honest criticism is helpful.
disclaimer: I am NOT shooting for the Brown and RISD dual program, I am shooting for the two colleges INDIVIDUALLY. I actually want to have a social life in college.
Forgot to add, 10 AP classes and got a summer internship at Microsoft one time. And sorry if this is in the wrong place, I’m new to this site.
If you aren’t interested in the dual program, what is it about each of these places that is attractive to you?
Mainly location. I like the atmosphere of the East Coast and Rhode Island in general. RISD has also just been my dream school since fifth grade, and I’ve greatly enjoyed visiting the campuses (I’ve visited both).
Brown (like other Ivies) is pretty much a crap-shoot even for applicants with nearly perfect stats.
Consider it a mid-high reach. The only way to quantify your chances more precisely is to look at the published admission data. Better yet, if your school has Naviance, try to find outcomes for recent applicants with similar qualifications (for Brown or peer schools). Or just go ahead and apply.
A big question mark, especially for RISD, is your demonstrated artistic talent. I don’t think we can judge that here. Have you put together a portfolio?
I don’t know if Brown or RISD would offer anything like a business minor. Many Ivy/peer colleges don’t have undergraduate business degree programs.
While you were at RISD pre-college summer program, did you get to know any RISD professor? If you did, that may help as a reference. Brown also has lots of summer pre-college programs, why not go there as well? They are all pretty short, 1 to 3 weeks only…but you get to make connection there.
PM me a google drive file of your art portfolio, it’s hard to chance without knowing your skill level
Any Ivy is a crap-shoot. Even with amazing grades, SAT’s and extra curricular activities.
RISD will look at your portfolio. From what you write, seems like you’re a solid match for them, but, as mentioned, we can’t see it.
Apply to both. That’s the best advice anyone can give you.
Also build a list of other schools you might want to attend. I’m sure people here can help you with that.
SCAD, SVA, Pratt, Philadelphia School of the Arts, for example.
Providence is a great college town.
If you like the East Coast have you thought about other schools with excellent studio art departments?
Your stats, might land you in an excellent liberal arts college on the east coast (the top tier ones are called hidden ivies). Even with those, no one with good stats is a shoe in. Many of them may not be in a city. Some would be close, though.
Are finances an issue? If they are, there are some solid liberal arts schools that would offer excellent merit scholarships on the East Coast, but that’s another conversation.