deciding the right student life for me

<p>I'm a junior in high school so I've already been looking at colleges. I have a few in mind, including several art & design schools; because I plan on studying architecture, and I've been super into art my entire life. One school I'm seriously considering is the Savannah College of Art & Design although I haven't had the chance to visit yet. The Savannah campus has approx. 9,000 students which isn't large nor super small. I think maybe an art school might be the best atmosphere for me because most everyone there will be interested in the arts just like me. The problem is, I want that "college experience" that you get at most large public universities like UF or UK and I don't think ill get that experience at an art school like scad or risd or cal arts. I want to involved in campus life and participating and events with people who have plenty of school spirit and want to have fun. Scad doesn't have a campus, and neither does risd so they don't have that "quad" experience. Also, I'm used to standing out in my school as the "artist," so at an art school I'm afraid I might not be able to stand out (which sounds shallow, I know). But as an extrovert who likes to be around all kinds of people, will I regret going to a smaller school with people who are all relatively doing the same thing?</p>

<p>Also, my test scores and grades aren't super spectacular (act of 24 and 1680 on sat; 3.6 gpa). So I don't have a lot of options of schools I can go to. I'd like to go to Rice U in Texas but based on my academics I know I won't get in.</p>

<p>Hmm - The short answer is that probably only you know. That said - I have a few thoughts.
First, yes, you probably won’t get into Rice, but I’d not avoid applying based on that - Contact their art department in advance - They may have the ability to help you - It is still a very long shot, but it is still worth trying. Much like athletes, Fine Arts majors sometimes can squeak into a place based on their talent rather than their grades.</p>

<p>Secondly, I’d tell you this - College will be what you make of it. There are kids who are go to small schools and have every bit the ‘college experience’ by making friends and making it happen. My wife happens to be a professor at a Community College where you typically wouldn’t think you would get the traditional ‘college experience’ and she sees two types of students - some who show up and leave and never participate. Others who make a community that is always doing something together. Wherever you go, you make of it what you make of it.</p>

<p>I have heard awful things about SCAD. My cousin went there for a while and disliked it, and I’ve heard they give pretty bad financial aid anyway.</p>

<p>RISD has a joint program with Brown where you can get a BA and a BFA in five years. That might give you the experience you want. Otherwise, though, there are many more traditional universities and colleges that offer architecture as a major. You can get a good arts vibe/community on campus without going to an arts school. Lots of large universities have arts majors and sometimes entire arts schools, and often there’s a significant population on campus in addition who didn’t major in the arts but do it as a serious passion or hobby and also participate in the scene. Personally, I was an avid writer when I was 18 but I wouldn’t want to go to a college where everyone was a passionate fiction writer, because diversity inspires and I love hearing about different people’s interests, and meeting people totally different from me.</p>

<p>College is definitely what you make of it; I agree. But at the same time, if you want to go somewhere people tailgate every weekend and where there are fraternity/sorority houses and a huge quad where people sunbathe on warm spring days and play Frisbee outside - and where you want to be able to interact with people with all kinds of interests, not just art - you might not be happy at a small arts-focused school. That’s not the kind of experience most of them have.</p>

<p>Thanks so much. It’s still one of my top choices right now (assuming I’ll get in). RISD might be a stretch for me but I’m still interested. So is Cal Arts but the location isn’t very ideal for me. I guess I’ll just use my college visit opportunities to find the right atmosphere for me. Your answers really helped.</p>

<p>do consider costs before you go too far. to do that, run the “net price calculator” at each school and get a sense of what your parents might have to pay at each school. They’ll appreciate your consideration, and you’ll appreciate having a school you can afford come April 1, 2015.</p>