<p>Another consideration is the cost of living. My D is at CMU and rent is a bargain compared to California ($1000/mo for a 3 bedroom townhouse). Pittsburgh is a very cultural city, although the weather is an adjustment from Calif. The design program at CMU is as well regarded as any and they have a great alumni and professional development program for graduates. Go to CMU.</p>
<p>RiSD has a great ID department. They get students from all over the world.</p>
<p>My son was accepted by both CMU and RISD a few years ago and it was a really tough decision for him too. He loved the fact that he could take classes in other subjects (especially music, which is one of his passions) at CMU and that he would have an opportunity to live with a more diverse group there (since there were so many different majors).</p>
<p>In the end, though, he chose RISD and he couldn't be happier. He's now a third-year ID major. He decided that he would always be a minority among the "techies" at CMU, whereas RISD was full of "my kind of people" who were creative and funky and even a little bit "odd" (at least in the eyes of the non-art world). He and his friends live and breathe art/design, and the work they produce is absolutely amazing. Also, Providence is a great little city that really supports the arts.</p>
<p>But what was right for my son may not be right for you. You need to decide which school is the better fit for YOU. You will get a great education at either school, but you really need to ask yourself if the extra money you would pay to RISD is worth it to you. That extra $20K per year would buy an awful lot of art supplies! And it is your portfolio -- not the school's reputation -- that will get you a job when you graduate.</p>
<p>I got accepted to CMU and RISD, but I chose CMU since I'll be going into Communication Design and I wanted to minor in Marketing...& I wanted to be involved in different clubs and events and have that more "university" experience...I visited both schools but I liked the atmosphere at CMU better (but that's just a personal preference)</p>
<p>Make the decision based on the program you want to go into. Be aware, however, of pretty drastic social differences.</p>
<p>I would go to RISD for the sole reason that, given you want to go into the arts in general, you'll have access to 16 really great programs. I don't think CMU can match the kind of artistic exploration you'll experience freshman year at RISD. I know plenty of kids who went into RISD so, so, dead-set on a specific major and now come major-declaring-season have found what they really love about art.</p>
<p>Plus you'll get to deal with me and kalonity next year.</p>
<p>i know this is a reply to an old post...but in case anyone reads this...</p>
<p>UCLA looks just as much at the portfolio as grades (i don't think they expect grades to be as high as others), both are important...but i don't think they really care so much about technique as they do about the thought behind the process i think. it's very crucial which 5 pieces you decide to show them since they won't be seeing your entire portfolio. or at least for the art major...i don't know about design though....i was accepted to UC Berkeley, CMU, and RISD, but rejected from UCLA...</p>
<p>Go to CMU, I just internally transfered from the school of art into the school of design there. CMU's college of design is amazinngggggg. You will love it, it will be amazing.</p>