ok so i’ve gotten accepted into both risd (rhode island school of design) and saic (school of the art institute of chicago) (both with scholarships and decent financial aid so money isn’t my deciding factor right now) and i’m absolutely stuck between the two.
risd has always been my dream school, i visited campus in november and immediately found a dollar coin face up on the ground. but, saic offered me a presidential scholarship as well as a place in their first year scholars program (a program that takes freshman to italy during the spring and only 40 people are a part of the program).
first of all, i didn’t think i’d get into either school so having to make a decision between the two is overwhelming, and i certainly didn’t think that i’d get offered such amazing experiences.
i guess what i need help with is weighing the pros and cons of both, as well as the capabilities of the faculty and what the future would hold for me if i were to attend either one. i’d be grateful for literally any help, thank you all so much
First of all, congrats! That is amazing. Second, I’m in almost the exact same situation, although I didn’t get as an amazing package as you ?. What I would think about is do you want to go to Italy? Is there a study abroad option at RISD? If no, and you want to go to Italy, that could tip the scale. Also think about the atmosphere. Which campus did you like better? What did you like about one more than the other and vice verse? Did one of the schools just feel…right?
I don’t know anything about the faculty/design major, or the schools (I’m deciding between a university in Scotland and one in the us where the money situation is kind of confusing), but I hope that helps in someway.
Good luck and seriously, congrats!
Congrats. On both. But Wow. RISD.
So bias alert. Rhode Islander.
So I do not know anything about SAIC. But I do know a lot about the general lifestyle and opportunities at RISD
Locally. Students are considered as elite as its next door neighbor Brown. The location on college hill and campus is extraordinary. Historic buildings. Cobblestone type streets. Old ship Captains homes. And between Brown and RISD the students own the city. Everything is built around the schools in that part of town. Big groups of students walking to class dominating the foot traffic. It’s great to see them carrying their projects to and fro. The rent a bikes and scooters are everywhere. Beautiful new museum and student center. Buying every building in sight. Just first rate.
And all intertwined with Brown, so close it’s literally almost like one big campus area.
Super liberal city and very supportive of the arts.
The reputation and renown of its grads is second to none. The ability to cross register st Brown for a class or two is cool too.
So I don’t know anything about art. But I can tell you it’s hard to find an area more supportive to a school and it’s students.
The city itself is on a roll. Building a walkway over the bay connecting the risd and Brown side to the new life sciences area. It’s filled with student housing and young people moving to providence for the big life sciences start ups and development on the water. And the restaurants in Providence rival any city. They’re better than Boston by far. You have the world renowned Waterfire on the river right in the risd hub. Look it up. It’s an artist and arts extravaganza 12 nights a year. Attracting thousands of visitors.
So that’s my Providence overview and the supportive culture surrounding your school.