<p>Hey everyone,
I was wondering if I could get some art-school advice from people who have experienced it. I am a grauating senior in high school (so I really only need info about undergraduate experience) and have been accepted to several schools for the visual arts. I have already ruled out RISD, Cooper Union, SMFA, PAFA and WashU for a variety of reasons that are, at this point, unimportant. </p>
<p>Anyways, the schools that are really at the top of my list now are MICA, Tyler, Pratt, and SAIC. They are all on urban campuses which is a major plus and are well-thought of. I have gotten considerable scholarships from all of them, so money isn't really an issue and certainly won't be the deciding factor, but all four of them have different aspects that I really like and some that I don't.</p>
<p>Also, I will probably be going into a drawing/painting or illustration major, although I am very intrigued by glass blowing as well. I am planning on earning a BFA and possible a dual degree in the humanities (if the school offers it).</p>
<p>I am really in need off some help, so if anyone could tell me what they think I would be VERY appreciative.
Thank you for your time.</p>
<p>Hello- if you are interested in dual degree why did you rule out Wash U? Did you get into Cooper? Sorry to pry but we’ve been wondering who got in.</p>
<p>I think the painting and illustration majors at MICA are pretty happy. We visited and my S would have gone there if Cooper didnt happen. </p>
<p>But where did you visit?</p>
<p>I actually really liked WashU and, having lived in MO, for many years, I knew it and the area like the back of my hand. That being said, I ruled out WashU for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the fact that portfolios are not are requirement turned me off a bit. I feel that, while it is great that they place such a high standard on their academics, they should consider art in their application process just as highly. Secondly, I wanted a bit more of a big-city feel. I also thought that the art curriculum in some of the other schools is more what i was looking for (vague, I know). </p>
<p>I’ve also heard the same about MICA and the people I spoke to were very learned about the subject.</p>
<p>I did get into Cooper, but I’ve decided not to attend. But I wish your S the best of luck there! :)</p>
<p>The only one I have yet to visit is SAIC.</p>
<p>Mica has a combined BFA/BA degree with the BA part being in “humanistic studies” (with JHU). My D was interested in that but has since decided to minor instead in gender studies. She’s still a freshman so that may change. She loves biking around the city and general campus/off campus life. </p>
<p>I don’t know much about the other schools or if any of them offer glassblowing. We also visited Pratt and of course, Brooklyn is quite the place to be today. Enjoy your choices!</p>
<p>@Luciela - Here is what I read:</p>
<p>MICA, Tyler, Pratt, SAIC:
- Scholarships…$is =
- Urban campus
Want drawing/painting/illustration…glass blowing
You need help…on what factors?
Not sure what you need. Do you want people to comment on the majors? You mention school-specific +/-, but don’t say what they are… Maybe a hint…</p>
<p>Sorry about not being clear.
What Would really be helpful if people could tell me their perceptions of the schools and their experiences in and out of the classroom. Essentially what they do or don’t like about these institutions. Because they do have many similarities, I was hoping people would be willing to share specifics about what they like. My background was really to detail what programs I would most like to hear about (although and info is helpful) and what aspects are not issues, urban life, money, etc.
Thank you.</p>
<p>You do have great choices. My understanding is that Pratt does not have an illustration major – more specifically, it’s part of their associate’s degree and although there are courses in illustration, not an emphasis. You’ll have to confirm this. Same with SAIC and illustration – although SAIC is open to your creating courses with enough student interest and faculty support. I don’t have personal experience at the schools, but know a freshman at MICA who is painting/drawing, etc. and loves it there. She plans to double major in that and writing (she was a top student in her high school – very top!). Is Tyler part of Temple U.? You might run into a similar problem with Tyler that you found with Wash U. Did they ask for a portfolio? Many art departments within larger universities don’t – if you can look at the senior portfolios at the schools (many post them on their websites or have actual books – I know the time is limited here!) – it will give you a very good idea of the quality of the student work and what the school is ultimately producing. Although MICA and Pratt are both urban, they are in very different types of urban than SAIC, for example. Close but not in the heart of the city. Just saying. Look, again, at the actual courses in each department that you will be taking. Read the descriptions. Compare the first-year curriculum at each school.</p>
<p>About MICA…call them about the reality of taking classes at JHU. My son was determined to do a joint degree but when I asked “how many students are CURRENTLY taking classes over at JHU” they told me between 4-6 students?! This may have changed…perhaps they have facilitated cross registering and transportation but just because you are allowed to do courses over htere doesn’t necessarily mean it is really feasible. </p>
<p>We toured Tyler and MICA and I initially liked both with a slight preference for Tyler. Why? Well the dual degree looked very possible at Tyler. Also, their facilities were larger than at MICA. The biggest drawback as a parent was the area around Temple. MICA neighborhood is not as grim. The area around Temple is shockinly run down and poor. My son thought that Tyler was very nice…liked the urban feel (really gritty if you ask me).</p>
<p>My son did not apply to Tyler…not conceptual enough. There was a bigger emphasis on skills/artisanry, he thought, than art/concept. I understood their strengths were in jewelry and design. Our tour guide was a jewlery design major and had had impressive internships …big name firms…but she showed us her senior show stuff that consisted of odd bits of plastic and vaccuum fluff (I am NOT kidding)…her mother must have been devastated if she was given any of that at graduation…if that wasn’t conceptual I don’t know what is…anyway, S did not apply.</p>
<p>MICA was nice, generous and did a great job explaining how they prepare the students for their careers. In the end, S chose to go where he knew he could do an engineering minor/major so he is at CMU. </p>
<p>Think about why you turned down SAIC and COopers…is it the conceptual empaphasis…well then Tyler may be a good fit. I would visit if possible. They are a train ride away from one another also.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Pratt doesn’t have an illustration major? I thought they were known for a program where students both wrote and illustrated books???</p>
<p>can I ask something stupid?
what does it mean you majored something at UG art if not fashion or ID: something square and obvious?
how deferent is it if you concentrated or emphasized, as some school like to call it?
every school has their own language in every caliber if you look at big whole picture of
“I went to college and studied art, learned illustration and this is what I do”
It is mind bogging, just thinking about how vague and wide what “illustration” is when I look at annual issue of Communication Arts. And it is still only narrow semi-self selective entrees that shown there.
Where was I? </p>
<p>OP
from what you have accomplished already, I don’t sweat where you go, pick the city you like the most and get to blow glass, if school doesn’t have it then nearby studios you can go to, I doubt big city would let people do that because of fire safety reasons. I read that WA state where Dale Chihuly came form and went back after mayhem at RISD, there was summer residency of sort. You could also do as study abroad. get good insurance that travel, thou. You might get hurt.</p>
<p>It’s OK you ditched Cooper, you made one waitlistee very very happy.
Wait, did you send in NO already?
please do it now if you haven’t. That one kid^ is biting nails crying for heavens as you keep musing.</p>
<p>Alfred U and Wustl have glass blowing, I can’t think of any others. The most fun at Alfred’s tour was watching the glass blowers - like something out of a Dickens factory. It’s good advice that she can find it elsewhere in the city she’s in or do it over the summer. </p>
<p>I heard NYC put a moratorium on super-hot, coal fired pizza ovens but there are still 3 places or so where they exist. Pizza from a 800 degree oven? I hear it’s great. That may be one reason to choose Brooklyn. Another, for me, would be home delivered seltzer in old Czech bottles…</p>
<p>I didn’t think MICA’s Humanistic Studies was specifically with JHU. I thought that you could choose to fulfill those courses at MICA or at any of the participating Baltimore Collegetown schools (one of these is JHU). </p>
<p>OP - You might decide if glassblowing is critical to your decision. Have you checked with your 4 finalists to see how/if they could accommodate your interest?</p>
<p>Just a note: MassArt (not one on your list) has a glass blowing program – large and impressive. I think many of the art colleges highlight an ability to take courses at other nearby schools, most notably RISD. But students giving tours have said that it is difficult to fit it in your schedule and then hard to get in the class (you don’t have priority at the liberal arts school). I’m pretty sure I’m right about illustration at Pratt (it being a major), but by all means verify that!!! You can always take liberal arts courses locally over the summer at home as a non-matriculating student – just a thought.</p>
<p>Illustration is part of the communication design major at Pratt. [Pratt</a> Institute | Academics | School of Art & Design | Undergraduate | Undergraduate Communications Design](<a href=“http://www.pratt.edu/academics/art_design/art_ug/ug_communications_design/]Pratt”>http://www.pratt.edu/academics/art_design/art_ug/ug_communications_design/)</p>
<p>I’m in a similar situation (want to do illustration, but also want a good liberal arts education)and right now I’m leaning pretty heavily towards MICA. You can’t do a dual degree at MICA, but their Humanistic studies looks really cool. And if you don’t want to do that whole thing, you can always minor in a humanities subject.
<a href=“http://www.mica.edu/Programs_of_Study/Undergraduate_Programs/Humanistic_Studies.html[/url]”>Studio and Humanistic Studies (Major) | MICA;
<p>Pratt definitely has an Illustration degree. It’s just under the Communications Design B.F.A. program. If you compare their Illustration Curriculum to any other programs its very similar. My daughter is considering going to DCAD/Pratt, so we’ve researched their programs. :)</p>
<p>oops, Gabbyness beat me to it. And even added the link. :)</p>
<p>I stand corrected :)</p>
<p>OCD in me made search.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.pilchuck.com/summer_program/educational_program.aspx[/url]”>http://www.pilchuck.com/summer_program/educational_program.aspx</a></p>
<p>and in case I gave wrong impression in my earlier post
no, Chihuly did not loose the eye nor a shoulder by glassblowing accident.
eye was from car crash (while abroad, thou, careful!) shoulder was from surfing.
but what you know, after he could not be a gaffer anymore because he can not hold his own pipe, his stuff become way more famous and successful. what people know as "Chihuly"s are the ones he directed to make others do the physical work, and only after he left RISD.
such is the irony. art making is this obstacle life long marathon endurance game, no?</p>
<p>Saw my first Chihuly (that I know of anyway!) in the Minneapolis Institure of Art, beautiful yellow chandelier type thing. D know he had lost an eye and about the people who needed to help him now. Was gorgoeous!</p>