Corcoran vs. MICA

<p>I've been accepted to both as a transfer student to both schools and as you will read, I'm mostly decided on MICA, however I was hoping for some input perhaps from people familiar with these schools and whether one may be better for a photography track. The teachers, the classrooms, the environment....Does the type of photography I'm interested in apply to either school. As of right now I'm more into wildlife and lanscape photography? Would one of the schools be more suited to that kind of track? I was disappointed with the Corocoran in the applying process, but I still want the best school. Below is part of my take on the schools. </p>

<p>The Corcoran is small (about 400 students), but it's in DC so I won't be lacking in my need for the city. MICA is a little over 1000 so it's also small, but not overly so and it's in Baltimore. No lack of a city there either. </p>

<p>I'm hoping to double major in photography and communciations (or something that has to do with writing). I can't really do that at the Corcoran because they don't have those kind of programs, but MICA has what I think is called a mobility program where they are in partnership with University of Baltimore and John Hopkins so if there are classes I need that MICA doesn't have I'll most likely still be able to find them. </p>

<p>I want to play sports too and the Corcoran does not have an avenue there. I was told by the guy I had my interview with (and I'm paraphrasing here) that kids who come to the Corcoran are artsy type of people. They were the type that didn't really do sports in high school, more visual and performing type things. I can kind of understand that, but I'm also a little perturbed. Way to go on the diversity factor. I wasn't too artsy in high school, but now that I've decided that's what I want to do I see no reason to leave sports behind. And not having played in high school, I was sure hoping to get a chance in college. Now MICA doesn't have sports either except for a soccer club, but here is where the partnership comes in again. I can pay $75 and play with the University of Baltimore. So another check in MICA's box. </p>

<p>I'll be able to get the same kind of opportunities from both schools such as study abroad programs and internship opportunities. Both schools are good career developers. So no major favor for either contender there. </p>

<p>I've also been told that the Corcoran is not in its best game right now. They have the reputation because they have been great in the past and they are associated with some big names like the White House Press Photographers, but they've recently come under new leadership and perhaps that is changing the way they do things. I was told by an art teacher that they seem to be redefining themselves; whereas before they liked contemporary work they are now looking for more avant garde art and such.</p>

<p>You REALLY need to visit each school and ask some penetrating questions. My daughter went to the Corcoran's precollege program and liked it. However, as you note, it is a very small school. I guess the advantage is that there is strong student teacher interaction and small classes. </p>

<p>Frankly, if I were interested in some field in photography, I wouldn't attend either school. I would look at some places such as RIT, SAIC and RISD.
You would need to check out the offerings and quality of work and placement of each school.</p>

<p>the question is ...... which of THESE 2 schools do you think is better for photo. It is counter productive to list other schools, at this point, that you would have chosen to look at for photography.</p>

<p>Well I have visited both campuses and both of the photo programs seem good, but I don't have a 100% feel for it. </p>

<p>I wish I had applied to other art schools, but at the time I was thinking about staying in the area. Maybe grad there?</p>

<p>I was hoping that I might be able to get some personal experiences of people either in photo programs or who went to the Corcoran or MICA or preferably both.</p>

<p>Do they have blogs?</p>

<p>I'm PO'ed they let the director go at the Corc. Guess the gig is as much about fundraising as a university president job is. Will we ever see the Gehry wing now?</p>

<p>//they are now looking for more avant garde art//</p>

<p>so...avantgarde wildlife photography?</p>

<p>Look for a well-rounded program. Most will include facets of photojournalism, and commercial photography. By landscape photography do you mean large format? You may spend a good amount of time learning how to process and print utilizing the Zone system. How about digital? Many programs are implementing digital curiculum as well. Most wildlife photography is probably shot digital these days, I would guess, since it cuts down on having to carry and keep color film cool.</p>

<p>Not necessarily just wildlife photography. I all of the art submitted on a whole, whether it's drawing, painting, photography. He said he liked my photos, but after he looked at all of them he like some of them alot because they were "different." With the others, he said he didn't know if he liked them because of the subject matter. So it sounded like he thought that anyone could have taken them. I'm not really sure, but he wanted non conventional work.</p>

<p>Art school is sorta big in my school. I don't know much about the actual schools except that our art kids either go to MICA or some place called RISD. Ive never heard of Corcoran...but with the city thing...I think DC is a much better city than Baltimore. Then again...alot of people from up here take the 20min train to DC on weekends</p>