East coast LACs with strong studio art

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am trying to find the best LACs for studio art within a 4 hour drive of Philadelphia. Really liked the feel of Dickinson but was not impressed with the number and breadth of studio art offerings.
SATs 2010
GPA 3.5 uw
Strong photography portfolio
Strong community service </p>

<p>Considering Vassar and Wesleyan (but both a reach)
SLC - too writing heavy? - any comments on this welcome!
Goucher - not sure about level of academics
Lafayette
Muhlenberg</p>

<p>If anyone has any direct experience of the studio art at any of these please can I have your opinions. It is really hard to judge the level from the websites and facilities.</p>

2

<p>I don’t have experience with the studio art program at any of those schools but I do know Skidmore has a great program!</p>

3

<p>Alfred University has good studio art but is more like 5 hours from Phila.</p>

4

<p>Is cost a factor?</p>

5

<p>Look into Bard. It has some great professors in studio arts and photography. Very competitive programs.</p>

6

<p>I am lucky that cost is not a factor as my parents have tuition paid by their employer. I have heard Bard is cut throat and full of very intense people although I know the photography program is amazing.</p>

7

<p>Does anyone know about art at Muhlenberg or Lafayette? I know Muhlenberg has good theater/ dance but I haven’t met anyone who can tell me about the art</p>

8

<p>What exactly do you mean by cut throat? It’s true that one, in essence, auditions for the arts programs through moderation, and so there is an element of competition. And that not every student is accepted into the major of their choice, although the majority are. And that for certain programs it’s essential a student starts the pre-requisite sequence freshman year so that they’re on track to moderate.</p>

<p>But if you mean by cut throat that the students try to undermine each other so as to get ahead - then that’s not my impression of Bard at all. Intense, yes. But collaborative and supportive in the areas my son has been involved in - which, admittedly is not studio arts, but music and classics.</p>

9

<p>Agree you should look at Skidmore and Bard. I wouldn’t say either is cutthroat. </p>

<p>Look at the web sites for info about the programs, see how much is offered and what additional resources are on campus. </p>

<p>It’s been a few years, but our tour at Skid was the only one on any campus that started at the arts building- the only one where we even got to see that building.</p>

10

<p>Some of these may exceed the 4 hours driving requirement, but they have good studio art:</p>

<p>Hamilton, Conn College, Kenyon, Haverford
Also Skidmore, Bard as already mentioned
If you are female, Smith</p>

11

<p>I was kinda impressed with Hampshire while visiting, plus there’s the added benefit of the other consortium schools.</p>

12

<p>My S had a classmate who absolutely loved Bard but ended up at Sarah Lawrence (I think) because of the great FA she received. She is a very talented studio artist as well. I’d never heard of Bard being “cut-throat” either.</p>

13

<p>Thanks everyone - anyone have any comments on Lafayette or Muhlenberg?</p>

14

<p>Lafayette and Muhlenberg are both great schools, but Lafayette is more selective for admissions than Muhlenberg. They both award merit dollars to their tippiest-top applicants as well. </p>

<p>I’ve never heard of anyone choosing either for studio art per se, however. Muhlenberg is well known for its performing arts programs, specifically theater and dance. Lafayette is best known for offering engineering in a liberal arts environment; they have a beautiful new performing arts space as well. </p>

<p>Take a look at their respective departments and see how they compare to the other schools you’re considering:</p>

<p>[Muhlenberg</a> College Art - Faculty](<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/art/faculty/]Muhlenberg”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/art/faculty/)
[Art</a> · Lafayette College](<a href=“http://art.lafayette.edu/]Art”>http://art.lafayette.edu/)</p>

<p>Have you considered Ursinus College at all? The late Philip Berman was an alum who donated a ton of art to the school over the years.</p>

<p>[Curriculum</a> - Art - Academic - Ursinus](<a href=“http://www.ursinus.edu/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=661]Curriculum”>http://www.ursinus.edu/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=661)
[Art</a> - Academic - Ursinus](<a href=“http://www.ursinus.edu/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=528]Art”>http://www.ursinus.edu/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=528)
[Berman</a> Museum](<a href=“http://www.ursinus.edu/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1024]Berman”>http://www.ursinus.edu/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1024)</p>

<p>They offer merit dollars to top candidates too.</p>

15

<p>My D is at Lafayette and absolutely LOVES the school. Unfortunately I don’t know anything at all about the art program there as she is more of a science student. My D did make an extra visit to Lafayette to shadow a student for a day – she sat in on classes in her area of interest, ate in the cafeteria etc. and it was a deciding factor in her choosing to apply ED to Lafayette. If you have the time, ability, interest in doing this you can contact admissions. Not sure if Muhlenberg offers a similar program but they might. We visited Muhlenberg as well. It is another fine LAC but for some reason it just didn’t appeal to my D (she was prone to making snap decisions on schools).</p>

<p>Also the Lafayette and Muhlenberg boards on CC might be a good place to ask about the art departments. I also thought of Skidmore and Bard which were mentioned earlier.</p>

16

<p>I would suggest taking the time to visit both schools. Arrange it through admissions and ask to sit in on a photography class. Afterwards, go and get a cup of coffee, hang out in the student unions and just watch the student body and staff. Talk with the people who work there, talk with anyone who looks willing to talk with you. By the end of your visits you will know. One will feel right. You will be able to picture yourself there, see where you will fit in and feel the most comfortable. Take the time and get it right… Best of luck to you!</p>