<p>I have a good friend whose family has gone though hard emotional and financial times the last few years. The Mom is struggling on her own and is not able to even think about college for her junior daughter let alone how to pay for it. There is income but no savings and won't qualify for needbased aid.
And income is all spent on living expenses.
The Daughter has severe processing learning disabilities but is of extremely high intelligence. She does great in humanities based courses though she can't spell and is in the highest level of those courses. She struggles with math and will have completed pre-cal by graduation. An A student in humanities and a C math student. She won't test well, though will have extra time.
Her choice right now is to go to art school. She is a gifted photographer and artist. Attended a summer program at Cal Arts that is selective and thrived. She also is a talented writer so essays should be amazing.
Her Mom is thinking they can only afford public schools in Ca. Since SAT scores will be weak Santa Cruz is probably her reach school. If she can get into some smaller schools that would look at her all around profile she would be happier but she would need merit aid. If she got some merit aid they might be able to get a relative to help. But the relative will not give money for art school.
Any school suggestions. Strong art, whole student oriented. I would describe her as artsy but also earthy. Definitely not preppy. Carolyn any ideas.
Also any ideas on how to help them. I don't want to be pushy but I would hate to see her end up somewhere she really doesn't want to be because her family can't deal with much right now.</p>
<p>What about Mills? Would seem to fit the bill in virtually every way.</p>
<p>She may get funding......small size and I think it can cross with CA Arts & Crafts. Nice student body and beautiful campus. A great place for a girl who has had some support issues.</p>
<p>Mom60,
I don't have much time online today (relatives visiting from out of town)but a few quick thoughts:</p>
<ul>
<li>First, would she consider a pure art school like Cal Arts? Most of those type of schools are going to focus more on her portfolio than on her academic grades and test scores. I'd suggest she try to attend one of the sessions of National Portfolio Day this fall --- it's basically a college fair for art schools. They look at portfolio's and often make admissions offers on the spot. The school reps will also discuss financial aid at that time. Here's the link: <a href="http://www.npda.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.npda.org/</a></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><p>I wouldn't rule out the California publics. Some have excellent art programs and LD programs. While her grades/test scores might not make her a good bet for the UC's overall, I've heard very good things about the art program at UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UCSC and UC Davis. The cal states to look into would include Humboldt (has one of the largest art programs in the cal state system), SDSU, and cal state Monterey Bay, Northridge, San Jose. </p></li>
<li><p>In-state privates: in addition to Mills, have her check out the U of the Pacific and Loyola Marymount. Both have excellent art programs and can be generous with financial aid. </p></li>
<li><p>Finally, her learning disability needs to be kept in mind if she is going to pursue a more traditional college instead of an art school. Some schools with excellent programs for LD students AND good art programs include: the U of Arizona, the University of Denver, Boston U (has very good photojournalism program), Rochester Institute of Technology but there are others as well. The problem with non-art schools is that not all of them will have a strong program specifically in photography, even if they are good for studio art overall.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry, I don't have time today to go into more detail, but the first thing would be for her to decide if she's more interested in the art school route or if she really wants to go to a more traditional college. That would give her some more direction from there.</p>
<p>Everyone thanks for the idea of Mills. It is one I wouldn't have thought of. I don't know how she feels about all girls but I think the bay area is a good option for her. At least worth a look.
Carolyn-she loved Cal Arts but didn't care for the area. But it is on her list, as is Humboldt. I think the college credits for her summer program came from Humboldt. At Cal Arts this summer she said she felt like she had found her "people". I think her first choice is a pure art school. But it will be a problem paying for it. And she will not get as much family support pursuing that route. Thus she needs to find academically traditional schools as well. She has learned over the years to advocate for herself learning disabilities wise and does not feel like she needs a special support program but she does need to have professors that will give her accommodations. Getting into a school will be an issue but not handling the workload once she is there. Her choice would be to go somewhere out of the ordinary and not in the Los Angeles area. Open to any part of the country.
She likes Lewis and Clark on paper but knows it is a reach. And would have to look at the art department.
I am going to push her Mom to get her to the portfolio day at Cal Arts that is coming up next month. Thanks for that link.
Any ideas of schools that don't require the SAT?</p>
<p>Humboldt would be a very good choice, I think. They have 500-plus art majors so you get some of the feel of an art school. My daughter is considering using Humboldt as her "drop dead" safety. No need to submit test scores if your GPA is over 3.0 at Humboldt.</p>
<p>If she didn't like the area around Cal Arts, Mills might not be for her. The campus is absolutely beautiful, but outside the gates is not the best of areas (although we were told it is getting better). We were impressed, however, when we dropped by unexpectedly on a Saturday and a member of the art faculty saw us just walking around peaking in the art building and invited us in for a quick tour. </p>
<p>Another possible school to look into up in the bay area is Dominican University. They supposedly have a strong art program (not sure about the photo aspect though). Admissions is not impossible and they are quite good with financial aid. Very supportive environment. It is Catholic though.</p>
<p>In Oregon, she might check into Pacific University and Linfield College, both of which have decent art programs and are not as concerned with test scores as other schools.</p>
<p>Mom60 - are you aware of <a href="http://www.fairtest.org?%5B/url%5D">www.fairtest.org?</a> It lists the schools which require neither SAT nor ACT.</p>
<p>Well, it's not small... but it has a terrific fine arts program...
San Jos</p>
<p>Some great ideas. I am starting a list for them. With Humboldt and San Jose she would have some sure fire safeties that they could afford.
Carolyn-I don't think Catholic schools will make her list. She is definitely on the liberal. As you have described the wants of your D this young woman sounds similar. Except I think she would be happy in a large urban city.
Now just need to get her mom to get her to the portfolio day.</p>
<p>If she is open to going far from home, Goucher might be worth a look. Their average GPA is 3.2. They can be generous with financial aid and even offer several special talent awards for art each year. Her best shot would be to apply there EA, deadline is Nov. 15, as the acceptance rate for EA is much higher than RD. They have a solid art program, and it is right out side of Baltimore. Students can cross register for one class a semester at any other Baltimore area college, including the Maryland Institute and College of Art (MICA), and Towson State, both of which are also great for art. Definitely has more of a liberal/artsy feel.</p>
<p>Some other possible choices for her to look into: Lake Forest College outside of Chicago, Manhattanville outside of NYC, U of Redlands near LA. Whittier near LA would also be a good possiblity for her. I think I already mentioned the University of Denver which has a very solid art program with lots of interesting options. </p>
<p>She might also take a look at some of the state schools in Washington & Oregon. Evergreen might work for her if she would be open to a more interdisciplinary/experimental program. Also have her check out Southern Oregon U, Western Wshington U, U of Oregon. They all appear to have nice solid art programs. By the way, I already mentioned Pacific U and Linfield College, both in Oregon. While they are in small towns, both are quite close to Portland. Both are good with financial aid (and lower cost to begin with) so don't rule them out immediately. Linfield has art talent merit awards similar to Goucher's and I think Pacific may as well. One cool thing about Linfield: they are so committed to study abroad, that they pay airfare for every student to do so (students can also apply their financial aid to studying abroad). She might also check out Seattle U, it is catholic, but has a very liberal student body and is located right in Seattle.</p>
<p>Another school just occurred to me: The College of Sante Fe in New Mexico. Small school, focused on a small number of majors, including art and film. Not too hard to get into, nice community feel, very artsy and liberal, beautiful setting.</p>
<p>Some other art schools she might check out: California College of Arts & Crafts, San Francisco Art Institute, Memphis College of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ARts, Pratt (NYC), Savannah College of Art and Design. Don't know much about financial aid at these schools but applying to them and seeing what she's offered might be an option.</p>
<p>California College of Arts and Crafts and the San Francisco Art Institute merged a few years ago. Good school, but very expensive. Some of their departments are in Oakland and some (architecture, I believe) are located in San Francisco.</p>
<p>It's now called California College of the Arts.</p>
<p>A point about UCLA. Unlike the other UCs, the art department is in the college of Arts and Architecture and you apply directly to the department. Therefore, talented students who would be weak applicants to the College of Letters and Science may still get in. They still have access to courses on the whole campus.A lot of the faculty came from CalArts. However, photography is not particularly strong and you said she does not like LA...</p>
<p>CCA and SFAI are still separate schools, although CCA does have facilities in both Oakland and San Francisco.</p>
<p>Warn her that if she is not identified as special needs her instructors are not required to giver her special accomodations and may not be willing to. It is a different situation in college.</p>
<p>I would second Carolyn's suggestion that you take a look at the College of Santa Fe. It's very small (under 1000 students) with a very low student:teacher ratio for individualized learning. It offers both a BA and a BFA in studio arts (including photography) and has a well-known film/video department. According to the CSF website, 80% of the students receive some form of financial aid.</p>
<p>SV2 is correct, and I apologize for prematurely burying the San Francisco Art Institute! It does still exist, I'm glad to say.</p>
<p>California College of Arts and Crafts, which is located in Oakland, changed its name to the California College of the Arts and also opened some programs in San Francisco.</p>
<p>Thank you all. Lots of good ideas. I am making a list and have already given some to the Mom but I think I will give the list to the D since then I know it got there. I am trying to think of a way to get her to see a few schools. Unfortunately I don't see much overlap with my son. She is just a junior so she has some time.
Sac- you never know she might change her mind about LA so UCLA is always a possibility.
Carolyn- I don't know if the Mom will get her to the Portfolio day at Cal Arts. Have you been to one? Would it be worth pushing it or would she be fine to wait till next fall. It appears that they are only done in the LA area once a year.</p>
<p>I have a friend that's going to be attending Otis</a> College of Art and Design in January...it's in LA and it costs $26k/year though.</p>
<p>She did ok in humanities, but struggled in math, too, and I don't think her SAT was wonderful...but her art is amazing. I think she's getting pretty good FA. The website says 80% of undergrads get help through scholarships/FA.</p>
<p>Next fall would be fine. The only reason to go this year would be to get some feedback on what she should include in her portfolio. But, if she waits until next year, she could talk to one of her art/photography teachers in the meantime to discuss the types of things that should go into a portfolio for art school - most art teachers should be happy to at least give some advice in that regard.</p>