Comparison of MICA with RISD

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rhode Island School of Design
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<p>The following is a post that I made on the Art Major forum. I thought it would be useful here:</p>

<p>We looked at both MICA and RISD. I can give you an overview of the pros and cons of each:</p>

<p>a. you can take liberal arts courses at Brown. This certainly competes with anything that MICA offers. However, MICA's liberal arts are integrated with their art curriculum, which is not necessarily the case with RISD.</p>

<p>I should note at this juncture that MICA is known to have ( and they themselves will tell you this) a strong academic focus compared to other stand alone art programs. One of the vice presidents of MICA is on the board of advisors for the "National Assocation of Schools of Art and Design," which is the accediting agency for art schools. They also take their liberal arts courses very seriously,unlike other art schoos that simply give lip service to them for accreditation purposes. Thus, if you want strong liberal arts plus a strong art education, you probably won't go wrong at either school. However, if strong liberal arts courses is not a goal for you, you probably won't like MICA.
b. I found that Providence is MUCH more charming and liveable than the location of MICA in Baltimore.
c. RISD had 43 buildings compared to MICA's 7 or 8
d. RISD is pretty inflexible on taking courses outside of your department other than winter session.They do, however, have an unusual 6 week winter session that you are required to participate in and encourged to take courses outside your department. This gives all students some greater outside exposure. </p>

<p>Interdisciplary studies is not really available at RISD. You can, however, change your major and take longer to graduate as a result.
e. MICA prides itself on interdisciplinary studies. You can take courses in many departments and basically design your major and "sculpt "your own education. Flexibility is definitely encouraged at MICA.
f. RISD is in some ways the antithesis of MICA. You specialize after your foundation year in one department. Although you can theoretically take courses outside of your department, it is very tough to do for several reasons: lack of room and many courses have a form of "guild like" system of prerequisites; thus, stopping kids from taking a number of upper level courses because they won't have the prerequisites. However, when you graduate from RISD in an area, you will be very skilled in that area. I guess the question is, "whether you want to be a master of one area or have some good broad training in a number of areas but not necessarily mastery in any one area?" I should note that another poster, Mackanaw, noted that you can take basic courses in other departments at RISD,but you will have a problem taking advanced courses in other departments for the reasons given herein.</p>

<p>g. Although MICA has both a worldwide reputation and statewide reputation, RISD is probably more world reknown, if that means anything. </p>

<p>h. MICA does have a BFA/MFA combination in some areas such as education that you can acheive in 5 years instead of the usual 6 or 7 years at other art schools. This saves a lot of money if you are planning on achieving a MFA. However, it is not available in many areas of study. You, thus, need to inquire about it.I can say that if you are going into art education, I believe that MICA is the stronger of the two institutions. It has a strong placement area in education and strongly emphasizes it in many ways such as BFA/MFA etc.</p>

<p>i. In Maryland, MICA has a very strong reputation in fine arts, notably painting and in art education. They are not, however, as well known in the design arts. This may change, however, with a new facility solely for the design arts, which is primarily in communcation design, industrial design and animation and new media. MICA is definitely trying hard to beef up their design programs. I should also note that there is no new media or digital design program in RISD. RISD has it as a graduate school option but not in the undergraduate school. MICA does offer this major.</p>

<p>j. MICA is a stand alone art school that will iimit your interactions to other art students, period. At least at RISD, which admittedly is also a stand alone art school, there is a lot of interaction with Brown kids at restaurants, meeting places, dances, jobs, religious institutions etc. I guess you will have to decide whether this is an important factor. For my daughter, this was an important point.</p>

<p>k. MICA does NOT accept any advanced placement credit. Yes, you heard me correctly.Even if you get "5's" on your AP exams, it won't be accepted. The reason given is that MICA has an integrated liberal arts program where there is very little comparability with AP courses. RISD does accept AP credits.</p>

<p>l. MICA will tell you that you can also take courses at Hopkins. However, Hopkins is 3 miles away and is not, in my opinion, conducive for this. </p>

<p>MICA students have a bit of a different feel than that of RISD kids. Although I do know that this is subjective, RISD students were very artsy, maybe too much so. Many had colored hair and quirky jewelry. MICA students hit me as a bit more conservative ,but certainly you have the artsy crowd there too.</p>

<p>As for food, I liked the RISD cafeteria food better. In fact, RISD might have served the best food that I have ever had when compared to any other college cafeteria. However, I have to say that my family also liked the MICA food a lot. It was certainly one of the better cafeterias that we had experienced, just not better than that of RISD.</p>

<p>m. RISD has a higher endowment than that of MICA. In fact, RISD is the highest endowned art school in the nation. They had over 200 million as of last year. This means more money for scholarships, endowed chairs for education etc.</p>

<p>n. Although I feel that both institutions are excellent, RISD is probably harder to get into. They have about 50 points higher in SAT and about a .3 higher average in GPA. I can't speak for portfolio work since I haven't seen the portfolio submissions for each school.</p>

<p>Hopefully, this will give you a good grounding to ask questions and to further investigate each school.</p>

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<p>When my daughter was looking at art colleges 6-7 years ago, she applied to MICA as well as RISD. I liked MICA's webpage (how's that for a thin basis of evaluation? But RISD's really sucked at that time, and is only a little better now).</p>

<p>More seriously, I recall that MICA was third most selective art school after Cooper Union and RISD -- defined by percentage of applications accepted. At that time MICA accepted about 50%, RISD about 37% (Cooper was an estimated 6% but that may include all programs not just art -- and I have other reasons to doubt that the true percentage is that low). Last year those rates were reportedly 44% (MICA) and 34% (RISD). Both pretty tough. Of those admitted, MICA's "yield" was 37%, RISD's 47%. RISD students have higher test scores and GPA's. SAT I mean 1218 RISD, 1160 MICA.</p>

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<p>At risk of making too much of USNews as a judge of art programs, it may at least be worth noting that as of the last full ratings of MFA programs -- which are based on "peer" reputations, and not on any particular scoring system such as is used in undergrad rankings -- RISD was ranked overall tied for #1 with Yale and SAIC (with a mean rating of 4.4 on a 5.0 scale), while MICA was ranked tied for #13 (with 7 other schools, and a mean rating of 3.6).</p>

<p>In the enumeration of peer ratings in seven specific fields, RISD was among the top 10 in all seven fields, while MICA was in among the top 10 in two fields. In the two fields in which both RISD and MICA were ranked in the top 10, RISD ranked ahead of MICA (painting, sculpture).</p>

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<p>I visited MICA last month, am visiting RISD on April 2. I found MICA to be really great. I thought it was very friendly. I hope RISD is too.</p>

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<p>You will like MICA, although it does seem like a small school. People are generally helpful and friendly and generally like attending the school.</p>

<p>People at RISD were friendly too,but I personally found the kids at RISD to be a bit haughtier. The main difference is not the kids in my opinion. The main difference is in the programs offered. MICA is a LOT more flexible in its majors than that of RISD. MICA is much more interdisciplinary than RISD.</p>

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<p>My daughter and I visted MICA and RISD in the Fall of 2003. We felt the housing at MICA was very nice...more along the lines of the newer "suite-style" of dorms. We appreciated the opportunity to see the MICA dorms as RISD would not allow us to see the freshman dorms...something about "security issues". The food was also good at MICA, but it was also good at RISD. As part of the MICA open house, they scheduled portfolio reviews...this is not the case with RISD. The MICA representative who reviewed my daughter's portfolio was not very friendly or tactful. She would not let me be present during the evaluation...I think she could have done this without making me feel left out...afterall we did travel from Florida to Baltimore. The extent of my opportunity to talk to the rep. was standing in a full waiting room and having the rep. ask if I had any questions....not good. Daughter received positive feedback, but did not get a "warm fuzzy feeling" from the rep., which played heavily on her decision to not even apply to MICA. We received subsequent mail from MICA (2 or 3) encouraging daughter to apply, which RISD gives the impression that they do not need to "recruit". After these trips and trips to Pratt, SCAD, and Ringling, daughter chose RISD and she is very happy with her choice (as am I).</p>

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<p>Does that mean she got into risd? does she know that already?</p>

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<p>My daughter's experience was that MICA seemed to lose her transcript twice, that is we had to send it three times. Since this is the only school where this happened, we don't think this was due to her high school messing up. Otherwise, she had little contact with MICA though she was admitted there (this is several years ago) as well as RISD, CMU, and a couple of other places; and she chose to attend RISD (graduated in 2003). She didn't actually visit MICA, though knew it by reputation. If she hadn't been admitted to RISD she would have visited MICA and then decided whether she liked it compared to CMU and the other options.</p>

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<p>modiam:
Yes, my daughter got into RISD. She is in her first year. She's home for Spring Break...getting some much needed sunshine!</p>

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<p>ktwofish, what's your daughter's intended major? Is it different from what she expected it might be when she first enrolled? I recall a conversation with an administrator at RISD, describing the top priorities of first year students as soon as they arrived on campus: (1) making space in their rooms for all the stuff they brought with them; (2) choosing their major. My daughter was open-minded about a major when she arrived but chose industrial design.</p>

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<p>mackinaw:
My daughter has chosen Illustration. As you know, students must choose a major early in the 2nd semester. Illustration was always an interest. So was graphic design...even though she had no experience in the area. I think she thought GD would be a better choice for future employment. She also considered industrial design after she got to RISD...she has friends with that interest. She finally decided on illustration (painting was a close second) after a meeting with her advisor, which was also her drawing teacher. His advice was to do what you love doing, what you really want to do...not what you think will make a living for you. His question to her: "Why would you want to compete with graphic designers who love computers and are good at it? Compete with the people in the area you are good at." While I understand the teacher's advice, it still bothered my conservative sensabilities...afteralll, he's not supporting her and paying the bills. But, my husband and I have always been resolved to helping our daughter be what she wants to be--do what she wants to do. We support her talent and hope it will take her where she wants to go.</p>

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<p>My daughter also considered illustration but in her case was encouraged by her instructor in her Wintersession course to try ID. In some ways it's too bad because she is so strong in drawing; but she also has really strong "3-D" sense and will probably make more use of that in her field than she would in illustration. In any case now that she's in the working world, she's finding ways to use a variety of the skills she's learned at RISD including doing graphic design. I suspect that the use of computers and computer design programs is growing rapidly across all design programs including illustration.</p>

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<p>At RISD, what kind of couseling is offered? I'm interested to know who advises students. Scheduling classes, picking a major, etc.</p>

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<p>On course scheduling, there is no choice first year: all students have the same foundation program (each semester involves 3 studio courses, art and arch history, and English lit and comp; but the 6-week Wintersession has electives). The same is almost true second year: students are taking mainly foundation courses in their chosen major field (again, Wintersession is different) plus some humanities courses. After that there can be a bit more flexibility, but the main studio courses (2 or 3 per semester) are what students devote the majority of their time to.</p>

<p>In first year students are assigned an advisor from one of their Foundation Year faculty. So this advisor will become directly familiar with the student's work and interests. But students pick up a lot of advice from other teachers and from advanced students. Choice of major is pretty much a constant topic of discussion during first year. In addition, it's common for students to use the Wintersession to try out prospective fields in which they might not have experience. For example, my daughter took an Illustration course in that first Wintersession, decided that she liked it but also was advised by the Illustration prof that "she gets" this subject (narrative, conveying ideas is important as well as technical skill) but she might want to try something that would stretch her more. She had already decided, though, that she wanted to go into one of the applied/design fields rather than fine arts (though we were actively encouraging her to go either way, and to give serious consideration to sculpture). Also to help students to choose majors, all the departments do demos, slide shows, and "shows and tells" to inform and recruit students to their major. </p>

<p>RISD sends a pretty strong message that they want to counsel/advise students, not the parents. Of course, if issues come up related to health or wellbeing, finances, and so forth, inevitably parents will be involved to the extent needed or permissible.</p>

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<p>Bumped up for College-Ish</p>

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<p>Just got done reading. Thanks Ms. Mackinaw... will reply in my thread. ;)</p>

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<p>Yay!</p>

<p>I am going to RISD. I got a half tuition scholarship. MICA matched the award, and since MICA is cheaper it would have been a better deal.</p>

<p>But I think I might only be going to art school for a year, then transferring to a LAC and I have heard that RISD's foundation program is better.</p>

<p>I still like MICA a lot though. It was a hard decision!</p>

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<p>Dear students/parents: I was accepted into both MICA and RISD. While I liked both schools, MICA seemed like a better atmosphere to me, and after two years, I still love it there. Like any city, Baltimore has its ups and downs, but it's definitely doable and a great experience. </p>

<p>To anyone worried about Advanced Placement credits, I don't know how old the above information is but mica <em>DOES</em> accept AP credits. I know this because I took AP European History and AP English and did receive credits for both (5 on both tests) so I was excempt from Intellectual History 1 and a literature elective. So if you have scored a 5, I know they WILL accept it. At least, they did for me and everyone else I know in my class who took AP classes.</p>

<p>MICA is very flexible. The majority of the people that go here are very artsy, open minded, and diverse. There's an expected number of quirky students, but for the most part we're more reserved than the art school cliche probably. There is amazing faculty, including some very famous artists in the graphic design and photography departments. I know the painting department is excellent as well.</p>

<p>This is not to say that I didn't like RISD when I visited. Everyone there seemed very enthusiastic about their school as well. But I have to say I am very thankful I chose to go to MICA. It's a wonderful experience and I have learned a lot so far.</p>

<p>Also, I got a decent scholarship to MICA and no financial aid whatsoever from RISD (although that had nothing to do with my decision, my parents said they would have helped pay for either).</p>

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<p>I am more able to talk about MICA than RISD as my daughter is an upcoming junior at MICA. MICA students have a huge choice of liberal arts classes. My daughter is taking many History and Literature classes. However, they can also take courses at Johns Hopkins which has a terrific liberal arts curriculum. MICA is part of an inter-collegiate program in Baltimore. Many of my daughter’s friends take math and language classes at JH as they are not offered at MICA. Also, my daughter chose MICA over RISD based on one very important factor: student work. Go to both college websites and look at the student artwork.</p>

<p>Artists have told me that RISD’s education is more about training designers. The people I know who went there do things like, repair hot air balloons, design furniture made from found wood, etc. A recent MICA Student worked on Tim Burton’s movie, Coralie drawing storyboards, another won the Society of Illustrators award. MICA’s painting department is exceptional, they have a studio in Florence where the students can study. According to U.S. and World Report, their M.A. program in painting is ranked with Yale. Also, look at the on campus crime statistics for both schools. </p>

<p>My daughter loves her classes, professors, friends, and she has a brand-new spacious apartment that includes a kitchen, living area, bathroom and 3 single bedrooms with ceiling to floor windows. The dorm also includes all-glass studios, as well as a snack bar. The Walters Art Museum is within walking distance, and Baltimore has many other museums, like the Baltimore Museum of Art, and a fabulous aquarium. </p>

<p>The course work is very demanding at MICA and is not for the faint of heart. My daughter took 6 courses last semester. Her digital media class was from 4PM to 10PM.</p>

<p>When we visited RISD, the admissions office was surrounded by students waving us away from the building. We were not permitted to visit any dorms, and the RISD students on the green heckled the H.S. students visiting the campus. We had the impression that so many students apply there, that they were sick of all the applicants. MICA is very transparent about what they offer students. They are second and so they try harder. The President is a former RISD president, and the vice-president is the president of the association that accredits art schools. We were frustrated trying to get a feel for RISD, its professors and classes. I think RISD doesn’t try anymore because it is resting on the laurels of its reputation and is overwhelmed with applicants.</p>

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<p>I also forgot to add that MICA students interact with students from other schools all the time. They share the collegetown shuttle and go to parties at MICA, Goucher, Loyola, Johns Hopkins and Annapolis, (unbelievably, a lot of MICA artists date Naval officers), that is when they have rare free time given the courseload. However, the intense foundation year, is definately not for parties. There is also a MICA student run cabaret in Baltimore where the artists get crazy.</p>