Could someone please help with my college search? (Warning: wall of text)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So currently I'm just at the beginning of searching for which university I'd like to go to. (I'm a junior in high school in the U.S.) I've gone through several colleges already (it's a huge pain to find the classes I'd like and I'll admit I'm picky).
My academic stats:
GPA – 4.72
ACT + Writing Composite – 33
Taken one AP class, will take four more next year</p>

<p>Areas of Study (in order of importance, most important at the top):
- Creative Writing and Drawing / Illustration / Animation
I’ve been considering going into comics or animation as my career. I’m in love with creative writing, so that is an absolute must-have; my biggest choice at the moment is between drawing and writing. I feel like an animation class would also help with the speed of my drawing, but please correct me if I’m wrong.
- Journalism
This is slightly below creative writing because I’m not sure how I’d like non-fiction writing. However, I am interested in investigative reporting and travel writing, so this would be a helpful field to study.
- 3D Modelling / Video Game Animation – (I’m not exactly sure what this would be called, actually.)
What I mean by this is designing 3D character models for video games (or TV shows) and animating them. One of my other choices for a career would be doing that sort of thing.
- Physics / Optics (would that be the term for the study of light as a particle?) / Astronomy
These are all areas of science that fascinate me, and that I’d like to investigate, but that I’m not particularly interested in pursuing a career in as of right now. At some point I have considered a career in science, but I’m not sure if it would bore me or not. (Plus my writing takes precedence, so.)
- Chinese (I’m willing to reluctantly drop this if most of the other classes I want are at the school.) and/or Other Language and Culture Classes
I’d like to continue the Chinese I dropped after the second year (mostly because of some feeble interest in German that by now has died down almost entirely). I’d also be interested in the different forms of Sign Language in English, certain Middle-Eastern languages (Farsi, maybe Arabic), and Asian languages in general. I’d say African languages as well, but considering I doubt that I’ll spend any viable amount of time there I have to say that’s just a bonus.
I’d also be willing to take Italian and Spanish, but most schools seem to offer those anyway.
- The Option to Take Advanced Math Classes
I have a strange affliction with math. That’s all.
- Zoology, Animal Behavior (Ethology?), Herpetology, Ornithology, Entomology, Paleontology
I love animals, and I’d like to get to know more about them. My main focus in my designs is creating different creatures, and I think studying animals thoroughly would give me some good fodder for my designs, a better idea of how to animate different gaits based on the animals my creatures are similar to, and would be generally incredibly interesting. (Also, I’ve loved dinosaurs since I was a child. One of my friends decided I would be a Coelophysis.) I’ve only just started looking into these subjects as a viable option for my studies, so they remain at the end of the list until I’m sure my interest isn’t a phase like my interest in German turned out to be.
I’d also like it if someone could explain what Zoology classes actually teach. I know herpetology is about reptiles, ornithology is about birds, entomology is about bugs, and paleontology is about fossilized creatures; does zoology just touch on all of the major groups of animals?</p>

<p>Other Must-Haves
The school must have a decent Study Abroad program, or allow students to take outside study abroad programs.
I’d like to be able to take classes outside my major.
I’m looking for schools inside the U.S. and outside the U.S. (preferably in English-speaking countries). Outside the U.S. is slightly better for me.
I need to be able to live in the dorms.
Average Class Size: Less than or equal to 20 students, preferred ~15 students</p>

<p>Additional Notes / Preferences (Not deal-breakers by any means):
- Please tell me if you know of a school that has a course (module?) based on either Alphonse Mucha or Art Nouveau. It would be greatly appreciated. :3
- Studies in Ancient Art would also be appreciated.
- Are there any schools with field trips to space? (Like space camp?) It’s a silly question, I know, but still.
- Living near a railway, subway, or bus station would be preferred. (Especially near a railway, for comfort reasons. I’ve moved many times, but for most of my life I’ve been only a few streets away from the train tracks.)
- I’d prefer that the school doesn’t <em>require</em> classes outside my major. (Common core, etc.) Not a deal-breaker though.
- I’d like co-ed dorms.
- Wi-Fi in the dorms?
- Work-study programs
- Opportunities to help with research (of any type)
- Bioluminescence is cool.</p>

<p>I’ve looked mostly at these three colleges so far:</p>

<p>The Evergreen State College
My counselor recommended this school to me because of its unique class structure. Each semester you take one interdisciplinary course; there are no grades, only self-evaluations and teacher evaluations (feedback). I really liked the idea of feedback rather than grades, given that I’ve caught myself only studying for the A, not for the subject. The courses are interesting (particularly the “It’s About Time” course, which studies modernism and a few other subjects, and includes writing with a typewriter). My biggest problems with the school were that I’m not sure if I’d want more structure (some of the classes seemed a little silly, to the point that my dad asked if the school was even accredited) and that I’ve heard the environment there isn’t very healthy (political correctness and marijuana taken to a new high, from what I’ve read). Its study abroad program seemed a bit lacking to me when I first checked it out.</p>

<p>Swarthmore College
My AP Psychology teacher told us about this college on one of our College Thursdays. The more relaxed atmosphere and general small school feel of this college appealed to me. I believe they have all or most of the classes I have listed (with the exception of maybe zoology). It also seems to have a varied catalog of study abroad programs, including one with Bangor University, another school I was considering. I’m still looking into this school; no gripes so far.</p>

<p>Bangor University
This one’s by the water and the mountains from what I’ve read, and also by the railway. It has a strong zoology department and a Creative Writing and Journalism major, which sounds fantastic. Its study abroad program seems to be at least decent. I’m still looking into this college as well.</p>

<p>I'd appreciate any college suggestions and any suggestions on where to look to find places like I'd want. I've gone through Naviance and a few other websites so far.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance if you can help, and if you can’t then thank you for reading anyway. I know it’s a ridiculous wall of text. ^w^</p>

2

<p>Have you looked at University of Rochester? You sound like the kind of person who would enjoy their “cluster” approach. </p>

3

<p>University of Rochester looks like a fantastic option; I’ll add it to my list. ^w^ Thank you very much!</p>

4

<p>How about the joint RISD/Brown Program.</p>

5

<p>“Field trips to space” tend not to get past budget committees, but check out Reed College if you’re interested in a cheaper version.</p>

6

<p>New College of FL: it might not be as urban as you’d like, but you can design your own curriculum, and it’s one of the most affordable colleges around. Also, the College of Creative Studies, at UC Santa Barbara, and Emerson College.</p>

7

<p>Distractor, you are certainly living up to your name.:slight_smile: </p>

<p>First question, as always, how’s the money? Do you need financial aid? If yes, do you qualify for need based aid? These questions will shape your list.</p>

<p>Your enthusiasm and curiosity in a wide range of disciplines is commendable. You have your whole life to study and experience and you will never stop learning, so don’t worry if you don’t get to your entire academic wishlist while at college. A liberal arts curriculum will serve you well right now. I agree a core curriculum would be restricting, but with your range of interests, you’ll have no problem fulfilling distribution requirements. Basically, any academically rigorous school will offer more courses and more disciplines than you’ll ever be able to take advantage of in four years</p>

<p>What you should do now is focus less on the course catalog – – and more on the pervasive culture of the school. </p>

<p>It sounds like you’d like small liberal arts college that has rigorous academics, a strong emphasis on creativity and the arts plus a close knit nurturing community. I may be misinterpreting, but I gather that you’d lean toward a nature oriented outdoorsy environment. </p>

<p>The downsides of an LAC may be a limited choice of languages (thought Chinese is also commonly available) and more emphasis on traditional art – drawing, painting, sculpture, photography – than on digital media. </p>

<p>Study abroad is fairly standard now, so I wouldn’t worry about its availability. Most colleges offer one or two programs that they administer, plus dozens (hundreds, even) of approved programs that you can tap into. </p>

<p>I’m familiar with The Evergreen College and Swarthmore (though not Bangor) and I can tell you that they are very different places, so it’s hard to even know where to start with those two as benchmarks. Swarthmore is a terrific school, but “relaxed atmosphere”? No.</p>

<p>Some ideas for you to pursue
Williams – same academic level as Swarthmore, but a wider and deeper focus on studio art and art history. Excellent English department with several serious fiction writers on faculty. No journalism per se, but overall emphasis on writing, both fiction and expository. Excellent math and sciences. Flexible distribution requirements so that you can explore other disciplines. Double, even triple, majoring in disparate subjects is common. Profoundly beautiful mountain environment. </p>

<p>Also, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Grinnell. If you are female, Smith.</p>

<p>Another option is to look at some interdisciplinary programs like Carnegie Mellon’s BXA.
<a href=“BSA Program - BXA Intercollege Degree Programs - Carnegie Mellon University”>BSA Program - BXA Intercollege Degree Programs - Carnegie Mellon University;

8

<p>Didn’t read it all, sorry, sounds like you should be reading some books like Fiske Guide etc. You might browse through more of the colleges with open or flexible curriculums. But just want to say, that Swarthmore is known as a very intense somewhat high pressure college, I have never heard someone call it relaxed. Evergreen is legit. You might also look at Hampshire and Colorado College.</p>

9

<p>Top Rated Animation Colleges and Universities: Lots of options!</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon University
American University
University of Idaho
Southern Methodist University
Loyola Marymount University
Lesley University
Bradley University
Emerson College
Elmhurst College
The University of the Arts
Rhode Island School of Design
California Institute of the Arts
Ringling College of Art and Design
University of Central Florida
Brigham Young University
University of Southern California
University of Utah
Drexel University
Rochester Institute of Technology
East Tennessee State University</p>

10

<p>Maybe Scripps if you are female. </p>

11

<p>You are going to have to focus…
And since you are a bit distracted, :slight_smile: I’ll just tell you my D’s route. And it’s expensive–you need to do the math.</p>

<p>My D is very artistic, wanted computer animation, loves writing (novels, graphic novels, blogs).
She went to Ringling College of Art and Design for 3D computer animation. It’s one of the top in the nation for that program. It is very selective and is hard work to say the very least. Not everyone makes it through. Your final “thesis” is a two minute film which will act as your resume for the industry. If you want to work on feature films, you want CA. They also have a newer major for game design. As well as Illustration, fine arts, etc.</p>

<p>It is a 4 year program. It is accredited and the hours you earn are transferable to other universities if you change your mind. You still need English, science etc credits–but it’s science for artists–not budding engineers. My D had dual credit courses from HS that she applied to some core requirements</p>

<p>It is an art college–don’t go there to major in anything un-art related. She took courses in art, modeling, graphic novels, film, character design, story (for animation–not novel writing and not creative writing).</p>

<p>Your portfolio is your ticket in–go to a National Portfolio Day and build it up. CA portfolios are a bit different in what they look for–drawings that show action, those “quick draws” are important. Things from life but not still life…</p>

<p>Make sure you love computers and that’s where your head is at–“I love art and animation” doesn’t always translate into “I love sitting at a computer for hours in the dark to produce this masterpiece that may or may not be great…”</p>

<p>Study abroad…uh, no. Not offered. There is not an ounce of time to do it at Ringling. </p>