<p>Any help will be most appreciated. My daughter is considering fashion design, fashion illustration, illustration or advertising and has been accepted at the following schools with these scholarships SCAD ($9,500/yr), SAIC ($7,800/yr), SVA ($0), Parsons (not receieved yet). Parsons is definitely out of the question without aid. Which schools would you recommend? Also, as they are all urban campuses how safe are they?</p>
<p>In my opinion, SAIC is a much better school compare SCAD.</p>
<p>I concur with loveblue. SAIC is in downtown Chicago, and I would consider it fairly safe, using common sense, of course. I have heard SCAD is in rather sketchy area, but I have never been there so I don’t know for sure. I would not be afraid to send my D to SAIC.</p>
<p>Something to consider, SAIC doesn’t have an actual illustration major, although they do have a fashion design major if that’s more what you’re interested in.</p>
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<p>My daughter attends SCAD Savannah, and I don’t find the area to be any more ‘sketchy’ than any other city in the US. There are ‘good’ parts and ‘bad’ parts of town just like anywhere else, and with a good dose of common sense and street smarts the kids are just fine there.</p>
<p>The school is spread out all over the historic city of Savannah; its a really beautiful place and many residents and businesses embrace the student population.</p>
<p>Thank you all! Msmayor can you tell me about your daughter’s experience at SCAD? is she happy with her choice? What is the social/cultural life like?</p>
<p>My daughter attended SAIC for the summer early college program. It’s in a fabulous area of the city, safe, vibrant, filled with art, theatre, symphony, etc. Dorms are amazing! You need street smarts wherever you go in a city, but I was very comfortable with her being there (and she was too!). True that there is no illustration major (actually, there are no majors, per se, at SAIC. They call them concentrations, and you can concentrate in more than one area and most students do – very flexible approach, compared to SVA or Parsons, where you get into your major from freshman year). I have heard the same things about SCAD, but a friend’s son is there and very comfortable and happy. It’s a hard (and good) decision!</p>
<p>cecivonh, my daughter is having a great experience at SCAD and both my husband and I can see that the school is a perfect fit for her. She’s had a great deal of personal and artistic growth in the two years she’s been there and we can see that she’s really learning a lot. </p>
<p>She’s developed a nice circle of friends there and enjoys being out and about in Savannah. She doesn’t seem to mind the fact that she can only get home during break periods, and between the workload and other activities her days and weekends are full.</p>
<p>She’s attended lectures that the school has sponsored by established artists and professionals. She’s volunteered to work at the Savannah Film Festival (she really enjoyed this!) as do so many of the students. This year she and a couple of her friends are going to enter the Tybee Sand Arts Competition which is also sponsored by SCAD.</p>
<p>While its not hard at all to really get around the city area by foot, the school does provide free weekend shuttle service to the Mall, Target, Home Depot and a few other spots so the students can get out for supplies and stuff.</p>
<p>My friend’s D just graduated from SAIC and concentrated in drawing. She has plans to illustrate children’s books. Friend’s D loved the vibrancy of downtown Chicago and wouldn’t even look at SCAD because it was in smaller Savannah. On the other hand, my D wanted nothing to do with the bustle around SAIC even though their facilities looked marvelous. (Much to my disappointment! I would have killed to live there.) It would be great if you and D can make some visits. But since 3 of the 4 schools you mention are in a big city urban setting, I’m guessing you already weighed that into your application process. </p>
<p>I didn’t get the impression that SAIC had a strong fashion design program, but that was just because the staff looked like they were scrambling to accommodate the one girl in our visit group that wanted to major in fashion.</p>
<p>I don’t have personal experience with this, but I have heard from a few friends about people not having there merit scholarships renewed or having them decreased after their first year at SCAD. Perhaps someone with experience with merit aid at SCAD could comment.</p>
<p>My daughter has a merit scholarship at SCAD, and it is renewable based on GPA. You must maintain a 3.0 cumulative to retain your merit money.</p>
<p>Perhaps grades were an issue which caused the reduction/elimination.</p>
<p>In addition, my understanding is that 25% of the merit scholarship is considered towards on-campus housing. It was made clear from the start that if our daughter moves off campus her scholarship would be reduced by 25%.</p>
<p>So yes, it is possible for the scholarship to be reduced (for moving off campus) or eliminated (for grades). I don’t know that this is any different at other schools with the exception of the on-campus stipulation. Most merit scholarships require a certain grade level to continue to receive the money.</p>
<p>Yes, maintaining a certain GPA sounds like most other schools. I don’t think the GPA was too low; maybe they moved off campus. What year is your daughter?</p>
<p>SFL, she’s a sophomore.</p>
<p>Is there a lot of competition amongst the students at these schools. I’ve been hearing that the competition in Parsons is horrible. Also how hard is it to get internships etc.?</p>
<p>cecivonh, I haven’t heard my daughter comment once on any competitiveness amongst the students. She claims that critiques are thoughtful and for the most part on target.</p>
<p>Others we’ve met during parents’ weekend have commented that there is more of a cooperative spirit between students, each helping the other to make their art better.</p>
<p>She’s learned a lot both from professors and peers that have made her a better artist.</p>