HELP! Chance me for film schools?- NYU Tisch, USC SCA, Emerson, Columbia, etc.

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
21

Oh, I understand. You are extrapolating from USNWR list of top GRADUATE Fine Arts programs to create a ranking of “Top Public Fine Arts Programs.” VCUArts and UCLA are ‘#1’ because Yale is a private institution. Of course, this still begs the question and remains as irrelevant as it always is when you post such statistics because the thread relates to UNDERGRADUATE school.

To be consistent in citing ratings from the source to which YOU refer, VCU is ranked outside of the top 100 public schools and outside of the top 170 national universities in the country. It is NOT a top undergraduate institution. While VCUArts may hold distinction as an undergraduate art program, it’s esteem does not simply attach itself to the entire spectrum of undergraduate programs at the larger university. They are separate. Qualifying “fine” pre-med or engineering programs at VCU does not make them so. The university’s rank is very low on the scale of top universities for a reason and shouting from the rooftops extolling the virtues of this program or that does not increase VCU’s academic standing one iota.

Again, although apparently falling on deaf ears, the OP is not looking at dedicated art schools. His instinct is to look at top undergraduate programs of which VCU is not one. He has received suggestions to look at dedicated art schools, however, he is leery lest focusing solely on art remove him from more mainstream, liberal arts academics. This is why several people suggested dedicated art schools with joint degree programs and/or with close ties to elite undergraduate schools. RISD/Brown is a prime example, but I would venture that the OP might find such a synergy between MICA & Johns Hopkins and certainly between Tufts and SMFA in Boston.

22

once again you seem to be on some quest to take this very personal. The OP is encouraged by me to do their own research. Now, having said that, it is indeed a FACT that VCUARTS is the #1 public art schools in the nation and #2 overall for its graduate fine arts program as per USNWR . You have a problem with that , take it up with them.
And for all posters, it is a FACT that many many institutions have specialized that programs that are unique and extremely highly regarded. One such program is VCU premed . Do not judge ANY school just on its surface find one that is right for you the individual. Last thing I will say on this subject before I block BrooklynRye again (like last time when he misquoted facts about job placement, etc), It should be celebrated that such a unique and highly successful program is thriving and garners such respect as VCUARTS , and doesn’t have the ridiculous price tag of some other institutions with similar programs. Seriously successful people have come from this program you don’t have to spend 65k per year. However, it is more competitive than most to get accepted but well worth it. With that I am done with this.

23

I do not in the least take any of what you say personally, @stones3. Parents and students do research on this site by availing themselves of the experiences and information provided by other parents, students and education professionals. While you pay lip service to encouraging such research, the information you provide is biased, often not germane to the topic of the particular thread or to the questions posed by the OP, and almost always inaccurate. While you are entitled to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts.

According to USNWR, VCUArts is tied for #2 among Graduate Fine Arts schools. There is no rating of which I am aware that ranks VCUArts as the “#1 public art schools (sic) in the nation.” I infer that you are arriving at this ‘statistic’ by extrapolating from the aforementioned Graduate Fine Arts rankings, filtering out the #1 ranked school, Yale, which is a private school. Is this not the case? Is there some ranking to which you are referring that shows this statistic independently?

It is indeed a factual circumstance that some lower-ranked schools have well-respected niche programs. Syracuse is outside the top 60 but has a top 10 communications school in Newhouse. Indiana is only in the top 75 but has a top business school in Kelly. Baylor also in the top 75 has a top music program. Hey, New Mexico State is #199 but if you want to attend the Chile Pepper Institute to study that particular vegetable, it’s #1.

However, I see no evidence whatsoever to support your contention that VCU or any of its undergraduate programs fall into this category. Outside of VCUArts, VCU falls outside of the top 180 national universities and outside of the top 80 national public universities. If there are statistically-documented powerhouse undergraduate programs other than the fine arts program, by all means share such information.

I understand that another of your themes is the purported class warfare between elite, expensive private schools and down to earth, reasonably priced, public schools. I’ve got news for you. The best public schools are expensive for out-of-state residents.Berkeley, UCLA, UVA, Michigan, UNC and William & Mary (just to name the top 6 public universities) all cost in excess of $40k all-in, and the case of some of these and others, a lot more. VCU’s 2016-2017 COA is more than $42,000! On what planet is that a “bargain?” Even if VCU gives major scholarships to bring in top OSS, I personally prefer to get my money’s worth at a truly top undergraduate program, public or otherwise.

24

once again it seems you are a well of misinformation.
You ask how is VCUARTS tuition a “bargain”? well first why not use accurate information as your so called tuition numbers are again inaccurate. It would seem that you like to add room and board to only VCUARTS total and then compare it vs only the tuition of other schools . Safe to say , add 12-15,000 to each of the numbers below to get the real "all in " picture . You can clearly see that the #2 ranked art and design school in the country is at a substantially
more reasonable price compared to lower ranked schools especially privates. Its a FACT. Again it should cause for celebration that such a fine program exists and competes at the very top echelon of all art and design schools in America. Great job VCUARTS.

So a very good choice for out of state and an FANTASTIC choice for in state , especially considering
for privates in state gets no adjustment whatsoever. Of course, this doesn’t include any grants or scholarships.

VCUarts has the lowest annual tuition among the top 10 schools of art and design.

1 Yale University $47,600

2 VCU (out-of-state) $30,838

(in-state) $12,772
(tie) University of California: Los Angeles $35,631

4 Rhode Island School of Design $45,840

(tie) School of the Art Institute of Chicago $43,960

6 Carnegie Mellon University $50,665

(tie) Columbia University $53,000
(tie) Cranbrook Academy of Art (graduate only)

9 Alfred University $30,200

(tie) California Institute of the Arts $43,876
(tie) Maryland Institute College of Art $43,870

Rankings come from U.S. News & World Report‘s evaluation of graduate school programs. Annual undergraduate out-of-state tuition comes from College Board’s posted college prices as of August 2015. You can add up college costs at collegeboard.org.

25

also just feel like mentioning among all the incredible positives for #2 ranked VCUARTS they will be opening the Institute for contemporary art next year. It is a world class museum it was designed by the iconic architect Steven Holl
and will be an incredible venue and a tremendous resource to have a world class museum on the VCUARTS campus.
I was lucky enough to get a tour of the construction site and the plans previously. Very exciting stuff.

26

I’m sorry @stones3, thought you had departed this thread never to return. Once again, you just simply miss the point. This has nothing to do with VCUArts, tuition or otherwise. This has to do with combinations of great undergraduate art programs with great undergraduate liberal arts colleges. A prospective college freshman, such as the OP, who is looking for a combination of top undergraduate art with top liberal arts is not going to look at VCU. While the art school is superior, the rest of the undergraduate programs are distinctly inferior, especially when compared to the alternatives. How can you begin to compare a combination of VCUArts + VCU with RISD/Brown, MICA/Hopkins or with Yale, Columbia or Carnegie Mellon period? The rankings you consistently cite are simply irrelevant. They are for graduate school. In the case of every instance in which you have posted these statistics of which I am aware, they have been cited in the context of threads inquiring about undergraduate school. In some instances, you have even justified this on the basis that graduate rankings carryover to undergraduate rankings. VCUArts aside, a discounted cost for a subpar university is not a bargain. It is a fire sale. From firsthand experience, I can tell you that most of the schools to which you compare VCU, in addition to providing far superior liberal arts synergies, give substantial scholarship monies. Kudos to VCUArts for its accomplishments and continuing expansion. All good for those of us with undergraduate art students. Visited the school twice and was very impressed. Love Richmond and the surrounding area. Great restaurants! D2 was top of her high school graduating class, 2000+ on the SAT, president of the National Art Honor Society, officer for the National Honor Society, and a varsity VB and T&F athlete. VCU undergrad was not even close to making her list of prospective schools.

27

For some reason you seem to continue to post misinformation about this #2 ranked school (in all of the United States of America behind Yale) but do not fear I once again provided FACTUAL tuition numbers even though your s were false just like the completely false employment numbers you posted in that previous thread. Also very happy to hear your D has gotten good grades I wish the same for all as well… now for another fact, VCUARTS is ranked #2 in the country regardless of what you say it is #2 just behind Yale!! That’s freakin FANTASTIC!! and its a public school!!!

And if you consider the students of the arts school (as I have said many times now) their academic rankings are way way higher than that of the overall VCU. It’s a FACT. So once again, regardless of your misleading info and rhetoric its #2 for a reason oh and previously it was #4 not bad either. Consistently performing in the top top echelon of art and design schools. And just an aside that doesn’t need a response --why would anyone make TWO trips to a school that “was not even close to making her list of prospective schools” wish I had that kind of free time. Please don’t make me respond to more misinformation the op is just looking for true information and I am so done with your posts.

28

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results (Albert Einstein).

People really do get it, @stones3. They understand the difference between graduate and undergraduate schools. They understand that value attributed to one department at a university does not necessarily extend to all other departments. They understand that the cost of something is not just a matter of price but of value received.

I am sorry that you do not have the ‘free’ time to make multiple trips to research colleges. Choosing an undergraduate school for one’s child, with the importance of a college education and great expense in the balance, is one of the most important choices made by a family. This is true even more when choosing a designated art school which may well be the only college education that student receives toward their chosen career path. As it happens, my son is a competitive athlete who had tournaments in Richmond during my daughter’s college search. My daughter asked to accompany us on one of those trips, to re-visit VCUArts and to see the school with fresh perspective after having visited other top undergraduate art programs.

As is the OP, my daughter, a top high school student, was concerned about limiting her college experience to art, with no outside academic exploration. She, therefore, filtered her search down to dedicated art schools with natural synergies with top liberal arts colleges. While she seriously considered MICA (with its connections to Hopkins) and top liberal arts colleges with strong studio arts programs (Yale, UPenn, and Carnegie Mellon), she ultimately selected RISD because of its stellar reputation, incredible job placement, and because of its close affiliation with Brown. As much as she liked the VCUArts program and surrounding Richmond area, she was not impressed with the general undergraduate school, particularly with what she perceived as a less challenging academic environment.

29

I wish you well.

We are very comfortable with the accurate and extremely thorough and extensive research we did for our daughter.
Key word, accurate, and just for the record yours is not the only D to have top grads and be in the top 5%–

30

@kjk2017 hopefully you are still on this thread and not running away from the completely unnecessary VCU debate. While my D did tour VCU and thought it was a fine program, after she was admitted they gave her very little money as an OOS (which I’ve heard Virginia publics are known for.) Many other private and public schools gave her much more so there’s that.

But getting back to your options of finding a good fit for you…have you gone to a National Portfolio Day event in your area? When my D attended she found many schools that were not on her radar and it helped her tremendously. Their website is also very helpful since many regional schools don’t attend all the events across the country. Ultimately, she felt she wanted more than the art school atmosphere and opted for a public university OOS which gave her quite a bit of money for merit.

Good luck to you! It can be overwhelming at times, but good research will definitely make the process a bit smoother!

31

There is no comparison between Yale University for graduate and undergraduate degrees in art. Yale for undergraduates is NOT a number 1 program. It does not offer a BFA program. The number one Yale program is for its grad program (MFA) which is stellar.

The grad and undergraduate lists are NOT interchangeable. That’s for all schools. In some cases the BFA programs are stronger, for others the MFA. They can be run on completely separate tracks with completely separate faculty.

Going back to the OP, your grades will get you into all programs. You need to work on the talent portion of your application. Good luck!!

32

I hear that UNC Wilmington has a great film program. Also Syracuse

33

based on what I have seen and learned of the top 10 design schools I actually think VCUARTS undergrade is actually just as strong if not stronger than its stellar grade program. IMHO.

34

@stones3 I’m confused…do you work for VCU? You speak as if you have a plethora of first-hand knowledge of the inner workings of the program. While it’s certainly helpful to offer insight to the OP, reading through these posts, makes it seem like you have more at stake than just your opinion. I don’t mean to offend, but you’re coming off as very biased which kinda dilutes your message. You certainly have a right to share your thoughts and opinions, but you might consider dialing it down on the “VCU or Bust” rhetoric. I apologize in advance if I have spoken out of turn, I just think the OP needs some school choices to consider. :slight_smile:

35

When the conversation is around the best art and design schools in America , its simply that VCUARTS should be in the conversation and for very very good reasons. No need to dial down the truth backed up with facts.

36

@stones3 I think everyone agrees that VCUarts is a good school. But I think you are misleading people with your mis-use of the ranking system for art programs. When you say that Yale and VCU are at the top–it applies to their GRADUATE programs. And no, you cannot say that the undergrad programs are the same and therefore ranked at the top. It just doesn’t work like that.

So yes, go ahead and spread the word about VCU. But don’t talk about undergrad ranking since it is just not truthful.

37

pl3ease, ive posted the usnwr linked at least a half dozen times by now . I haven’t mislead anyone ( unlike another posted who continually misquotes facts about job placement and cost). It is the #2 ranked graduate fine arts program in the nation , tied with UCLA and just behind Yale. That is freakin a big deal and it shares much of the same faculty and facilities as the undergraduate program. I don’t see anyone discounting RISD for being 3rd on that list. why? because it is a big deal to be among the top. And it remains an absolute fact that VCUARTS is one of the top ranked and most highly respected design schools in the nation. That friends is not misleading at all . And considering for many tuituion cost matter it is a worthy consideration if a student has the commitment and ability to be accepted. Plus Richmond is so cool.

38

Do what you feel you need to to promote the school of your choice, but realize your posts are so biased that many will disregard the message because of the messenger. And that may not be in the best interests of VCU and its stellar art program.

39

I am not looking to “promote” as you say, rather I do feel compelled to inform. And in mho more should be considering VCUARTS as a top choice. I know we are very thankfull that we did. Is that bias? I mean we went through all the top schools with visits etc… Maybe you’re right, and they just don’t like my unwavering and enthusiastic support? I would think , that a positive recommendation from a parent would be a good thing. At the end of the day, that’s all it is.

40

In a somewhat cruel ironic twist, D2’s roommate at RISD decided on her choice of schools down to the wire, choosing between RISD and VCUArts. Both the student and her parents seemed very worldly and educated, the father in the Civil Corp of Engineers, the mother a landscape design artist. When I inquired about deciding factors, the parents told me that their #1 concern about VCUArts was that the school is constantly looking for new teachers. When they asked students and teachers at the school about this, the consensus seems to be between an inability to attract and/or to retain qualified teachers.This is the first time this issue has arisen in my experience in researching and visiting schools for my children. Has anyone else encountered this issue during their searches?