Youngest daughter just got accepted to every art & design program she applied to, which makes me really proud of her. She loves graphic design, but also has interest in digital arts and illustration. She absolutely despises anything related to math (her grades reflect this, and her engineer father has tried to remedy in the past, but has given up because the emotional toll is just too great).
Now we’re in the tough part of acceptance. Outside of SCAD (which was impressively organized and generous with the scholarships), we have not yet heard from all the schools regarding merit aid. We’re in the fortunate position to not have to worry much about tuition (although we wouldn’t turn down any offered merit aid), so that dimension will not dramatically feature into the final decision.
Of the schools she applied to, it really has come down to two: NC State Design and VCUArts.
Of all of our visits, I personally was impressed with NC State the most. Wonderful, exciting, and fun vibe that was palpable during our visit. Discussion with staff was impressive and I have little doubt that the students in the design program will be immediately placed in well-paying opportunities upon graduation. NC State has an exemplary national reputation as a solid engineering school (which admittedly influences me more than my daughter). Daughter likes it too, as she attended a 2week design camp over the summer. She made great friends there that she still stays in touch with, even though we live across the border in Virginia. Raleigh also appears to be a city going places, particularly with the dynamism of Research Triangle Park nearby.
Conversely, I must admit that I was not as taken with VCU. Not as organized, non-cohesive urban campus, very young admissions counselors for the art program that were not good at communicating employment outcomes upon graduation. Overall, I came away with a very negative vibe. Daughter, of couse, LOVES IT. Loves Richmond, loves the diversity of the campus, loves the “urban grunge”, loves the vastly greater number of classes in the art school, particularly in sculpture, printmaking, and glass. NC State cannot compare as far as the reach of art education to VCU.
She can see herself at both schools. She’s also a daddy’s girl, so I’ve no doubt my influence will pay a large role in her ultimate decision.
So I’m struggling: I think NC State Design was a better program for getting her a good paying job at the end. I also think VCUArts was a better program for overall arts education - just unimpressed at the program’s ability to provide any kind of statistics or employer list for their graduates.
I would welcome anyone’s experience of either of these programs.