How to pick the best school for an art degree (BFA, Georgia based)

College Search & Selection
1

While I’ve applied to and gotten into SCAD, SAIC, and MICA, I did not receive the hefty, full-tuition type scholarships I was convinced by my teachers I would. Getting 10-15k per year is really not enough and I simply can’t afford these lovely schools.

So now, I have to look at public schools for my choices. Considering I live in Georgia, I’ve applied to and was deffered from University of GA, so, now I’m picking my safety schools. I was thinking Georgia State Uni, Georgia College and State University (liberal arts college, so it makes me feel like non-stem is more their focus), and Uni of North Georgia, but how do I tell if these schools have good art programs or not? They all have okay reputations in general, and decent academic requirements for incoming freshman to get accepted, but it all depends on the art program, right? Obviously just visit them, but is there any other way (they’re all quite far from my home so it’d be very inconvenient to go to all 3).

Also, I heard from my art teacher that Valdosta has a good art program, but I’ve also heard they’re a party school (not interested) and their freshman index, as far as academics goes, is quite a far bit below my standards of a 3.86GPA (out of 4.0. My school doesn’t go above.), top 15% of my class, and a full resume worth of awards, extracurriculars, and internship, and a job.

I’ve tried emailing reps at each school asking questions, but none got back to me. One school I did hear from, GA Southern, sent me some student work from their animation program, and I thought it was terrible. I couldn’t even figure out what program they used, so it’s not like I’ll have Maya or After Effects or something useful under my belt if I go there, and it all honestly looked like the MS Paint project of a middle schooler on youtube. So, I don’t want to go to one of these 3 other schools and end up in a crappy program.

How can I check how good they are?

2

Is it really too hard to visit these schools which are in your state? Ask your parents to take you and visit the art depts.


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While I've applied to and gotten into SCAD, SAIC, and MICA, I did not receive the hefty, full-tuition type scholarships I was convinced by my teachers I would

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Please let these teachers know that you did NOT get the awards that they said you would. They need to know this so they will stop giving false hope to students. Those schools aren’t really known for being generous with full tuition awards.

3

I’m not sure if you have chosen a school yet, but you should visit Georgia College and State University if you can. I really can’t comment on their art department, but my daughter was very impressed on her visit. It is a beautiful campus, Milledgeville is a delightful little town, and the school feels like a private liberal arts school (but with the bonus of public school tuition). I’m not sure of your stats, but with the Hope or the Zell, it would be a great option. I have one kid at UGA (she doesn’t like it, but hoping that changes next year) and one that has chosen University of North Georgia for next year. Georgia College and UNG are really not similar at all. Good luck on your search!

4

Piggybacking on @FamilyofFive’s comment, I have a kid at GCSU and she loves it. I’d especially encourage you to check out the Honors program to enhance both your academic opportunities and keep you with the other highly-motivated students. GC is not going to have an art program like SCAD, but they have a decent program, and Honors and other opportunities there allow you to go above and beyond if you like (independent study, grants, community outreach, all sorts of ways to build your own path). It’s definitely not the school for someone who wants a giant university, but for my kid it was the perfect balance of opportunity and community.