<p>Hi,
I am a junior at the moment who is really interested in schools that have strong art programs as well as strong academics. I'm already considering some of the LAC's like Williams, Vassar, and Wesleyan, but also was looking at some of the Ivy Leagues with good visual arts. I've heard Yale and Brown have some really good undergraduate art programs, so I'm considering those schools, but I've also heard that Yale and Columbia have top notch graduate degrees for art.... which made me wonder: how is Columbia's undergraduate art program, if its graduate program is so well regarded??</p>
<p>Hi, glad to hear that you are on this path – S is also a junior with the same priorities (his other strong interest is math). The impression I have gotten – and I hope others will chime in – is that the art grad students get the attention at Columbia. This said, Columbia is still on S’s list. The dep’t is large and there might be something said for making friends with MFAs. He loves the school and the fact that your student id will get you into the Met aka Heaven-on-Earth. </p>
<p>Definitely try Williams, Yale and Brown. These are all difficult admits so be sure to vary your list! </p>
<p>Depending on your medium you might consider other schools. Photography, for example, would be strong at some schools (look at Haverford) but not at others. If you are interested in cinema studies, Wesleyan is amazing. If you are into conceptual art, Tufts has a dual degree program with an art school in Boston. </p>
<p>UVA has an Arts Scholars program which requires a portfolio at admission; it provides mentoring and allows you to skip introductory art classes depending on your skill level.</p>
<p>You probably already know that Cornell and Carnegie Mellon offer both BFAs and BAs, as does Wash U.</p>
<p>Brown has a joint program with RISD but it is a long shot for anyone (as is Yale, and for that matter, regular admission at Brown).</p>
<p>For liberal arts colleges I would add Conn College and Kenyon. If you are female definitely Scripps, Smith. I think Bowdoin, Hamilton and Colorado College but haven’t looked into those departments closely enough to swear to it. We are also hoping to look at Brandeis (they have a post-undergrad portfolio program for MFA hopefuls, so it must be strong dept).</p>
<p>There are other posters on CC who have more input, they are very experienced. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Thank you momcinco 
I kept your response in mind while visiting columbia last week and I must say I like it for the same reasons as your S. I’m really inclined to go there, but the only thing keeping me from fully committing to getting in is the riskiness of the value of the art program.<br>
Also, bump, for any other opinions.</p>