<p>My younger daughter, a HS Junior, is beginning to explore colleges. She is very involved in photography - film photography rather than digital photography; fine art rather than commercial - and is clear that she wants to attend a college which has a good department in this field. But, she also wants a school with a strong liberal arts program. She is a very good student, academically and artistically, and will probably get strong recommendations from her teachers. She attends a school which doesn't assign grades until they're needed for college applications, but i'm pretty sure that the grades will be high. She did OK on her practice SAT, but not great; something like: in the middle/low-middle percentile in Math, and in 87th (?) percentile in the Lit/reading comprehension section.</p>
<p>Bard College would seem at the top of the list, in terms of meeting this criteria. My daughter knows this, but would really like to find other options, for a myriad of reasons: too close to home; many kids from her school attend; she doesn't like what she perceives as the predominance of "hipsters" (although she is the opposite of conservative).</p>
<p>I have searched CC, and still haven't gotten a clear sense of schools, other than Bard, which closely fit the criteria. I'd greatly appreciate suggestions.</p>
<p>I will also post this question in the "Visual Arts and Film" section.</p>
<p>Merremame, not sure what state you live in, but my friend’s daughter is a photography major at SUNY Purchase. I don’t know if it’s digital or film, but I believe she’s taken classes in both, along with sculpture, painting and other art-related classes. I know they looked at other schools in NY, such as Adelphi, School of Visual Arts and Pratt Institute. Adelphi was amazing with their scholarships, but in the end, my friend and her daughter felt Purchase was the best fit. Its highly selective, though, since I know several of her friends applied as art majors, but weren’t admitted.</p>
<p>I would suggest looking very carefully at Bard before you even apply! At their admitted student day they made it very clear that photography was one of the most popular “majors” (they don’t call it that, I forget what they call it - concentrations maybe?). You are undecided until the end of your sophomore year and then must present to a board as to why you want a certain “major.” You can be accepted or rejected at that point and many interested in photography are rejected at the end of their sophomore year. Their only choice then is to switch their desired “major” or transfer schools. Not a comfortable place for most kids at the age of 18 or 19. This school went from my daughter’s top choice to right off her list after this day (and she wasn’t even interested in photography)! YMMV</p>
<p>Would she consider a Southwestern state school?</p>
<p>University of New Mexico has a consistently top 25 ranked art and art history dept. (Art & Art history includes photography). The MFA in photography is consistently a Top 10 program and its undergrad program is very well regarded with an emphasis on art photography. (Students mount shows in both ABQ and Santa Fe galleries every semester.)</p>
<p>I had two friends whose children both went to Ithaca College and studied photography. Those “children” have both since graduated and are gainfully employed in the profession. One doing some sort of business photography and the other who has already put together a gallery show. I know Ithaca has a good reputation, but don’t know much else about it other than from the two anecdotal experiences. Good luck to your D.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for all the suggestions. We’ll look at the ones that are new to our list.</p>
<p>In answer to some of the questions posted:</p>
<p>I think that my daughter would consider any geographical region;</p>
<p>We’re familiar with the potential difficulties regarding continuing in the Bard photography program, due to its excellence and resulting competitiveness. However, in my experience (I attended Bard, many years ago, as an Art major), the “Moderation” program can be a very good thing; it still doesn’t seem to be evaluative in any negative way; instead, it helps to focus the student. My experience was that it was very supportive. I have heard, however, that the process is hit-and-miss now, due to the larger number of students.</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience with the RISD/Brown situation? Mainly: Is it as difficult to be accepted into this dual program as it would be to apply primarily to Brown?</p>
<p>D2 recently graduated from Bard’s photo program and it’s as good (and as competitive) as described. There are fewer hipsters there than you think, although investing in a pair of skinny jeans wouldn’t be a bad idea.</p>
<p>She knows people who have enjoyed photography studies at Ithaca and NYU. Yale apparently has a good graduate program, but I’m not sure about undergrad photo there.</p>
<p>Merremame - I was just with a friend yesterday whose son is at RISD and has taken classes at Brown; not sure if that’s exactly what you’re speaking of but as a sophomore he has already taken three classes there and loves the mixing of the two.</p>
<p>D is in the art school at WUSTL. Not sure about the photography program there (it’s not her interest) but you might want to check it out, as well those as at UMich and Cornell. The RISD/Brown program is harder to get into than either school alone–I believe they accept something like 30 students.</p>