CMU vs. USC vs. RISD

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

hey everyone! I’ve recently been accepted to USC, CMU, and RISD as an arts major, and I honestly don’t know where to go… I’ve been to all three of these schools, and they have such pretty campuses and great people there. RISD, I love the city itself, CMU, i love the people and atmosphere, and USC, the financial support. I really need your opinions on these schools because honestly, I do not know where to go.

Right now, I am really interested in Carnegie Mellon, but the only downside is that I am an art major, and I understand that university students aren’t as good at drawing than art school students. I kind of want to switch my major to something design, but I’m not sure if Carnegie Mellon will let me switch my major from art to design… I tried to look up information about CFA students majoring in art, but almost everyone that posted was in Design. The most important thing that bothers me about CMU is that I don’t know if I am able to get a job after I graduate as a BFA major. Which is why I want to take some design minors or IDeAte minors when I get there, but those obviously won’t guarantee a job. If there are any BFA majors at Carnegie Mellon, I really would appreciate your opinions and encouragement! I thought my life would be better after being accepted to all these schools, but that really isn’t the case. Sometimes, I often wish these schools should’ve rejected me so that I wouldn’t have to worry about them.

2

Hi, I’m literally in the same position as you, trying to decide between CMU (for design) and USC (liberal arts).

I ruled out art school, my sister went to a really competitive one and she didn’t have the best time, art school is generally going to have only art-obsessed slightly odd kids who are SERIOUSLY competitive, especially at a place like RISD. Your work isn’t what you absorb from a lecture or textbook, its a part of your own soul and creative expression, so the work atmosphere can be seriously personal, too personal, therefore competition is harsher. It is pretty cutthroat and being in a campus purely full of more or less one type of student can be daunting. Imagine being in a school full of engineers, sure, with different specialties, but all trying for internships and jobs in the same companies, talking and thinking the same way…for four years. If, however, you’re someone who thrives on that, and you are a very art-centric person, RISD is an amazing place, probably the best in the world to do fine art.

Other universities that excel in art and design are personally a better fit for me, I’m interested in a bunch of things and I want to expand creatively and intellectually. I think I’m going to go to Carnegie, just because it seems like the right place for me (except for the weather).

Look at what you’re comfortable with, imagine yourself in each place, then figure it out.

Also a job will be harder to get for a fine art student. Most “artists” don’t work on a salary, just on commissions and grants, it’s not a very secure field, no matter where you do it. If I were you, I’d be picking between RISD and CMU, you just have to decide which space and environment you’re going to be more at ease in. USC is fantastic for cinematic arts, but I personally haven’t heard a lot about its fine art/design program.