<p>It's a good problem to have, but I'd love some feedback.</p>
<p>Are you kidding? MICA! It’s a great school.</p>
<p>So by your question, I read that you think RISD has $100,000 greater value than MICA. I am with OrygunMom. MICA is one of the best schools. Why would you even think twice? </p>
<p>This is such an easy problem to solve. Go to MICA and then get your MFA at RISD and the total is less than a RISD BFA. Easy peasy. </p>
<p>Wheaty hit a home run with his comment (go to both). FYI - I loved MICA when I toured it with my D. Also keep in mind if you get your BFA or BA from one school you almost never get your MFA from the same school (it’s frowned on at many levels both by admissions and the community).</p>
<p>I just toured MICA with my D as well, and we were VERY impressed. It’s all very subjective of course, but it seemed terrific to us. Everyone was very friendly and seemed happy to be there. RISD… not so much. I’m happy to hear that MICA is so generous with their merit aid… fingers crossed for my D! </p>
<p>If you can afford RISD with no aid, then go with the place that you feel is the best fit for you and your work. If you need aid to attend, then there’s no way RISD (or any school for that matter) is worth six-figures of debt. </p>
<p>My daughter just graduated from MICA’s illustration department in May. It was a great experience for her all around.
The student artists and faculty are down to earth, friendly, and encouraging of each other. She has some great friends from those four years.</p>
<p>The faculty in the illustration department prod the students into rising to their best abilities and stretching beyond what they thought they could accomplish, but in a supportive way. My daughter entered MICA full of talent, and graduated with far more focused skills and refined abilities. I’m amazed at the art work created by many of her friends there. I watched several of the illustration majors and a few of her other friends from freshman year though graduation. Amazing! </p>
<p>MICA did a good job of teaching about the business end of it, too. My daughter learned about promoting her work, negotiating pricing, interviewing for jobs, etc. Five months after graduation, she’s keeping fairly busy with freelance work and was just commissioned by a writer to illustrate a children’s book, which is her dream job.</p>
<p>A good artist doesn’t really need a college degree (Don’t tell my colleagues I said that…I’m a university professor!), but s/he needs tons of talent, a good sense for applying that talent to something marketable, and the ability to handle the business side of making a living creating art. It’s all about being able to create something that someone else is willing to pay for. Four years at a good art college can boost a person’s abilities, if s/he has the raw talent and seizes the opportunity to grow and develop. This kind of artistic and practical development makes a degree from MICA worthwhile. Especially if it’s paid for with a merit scholarship!!!</p>
<p>@mamasaur</p>
<p>I’d be very interested to know how your daughter is doing now with “project” gigs (vs. a “job”). Some people thrive on that every-month-is-a-different-project world, but others hate the instability. My son is one of the ones who love that job-life because it gives him ample opportunity for adventure trips. I would say it depends on demand. In the illustration world, I think that could be difficult until you make your reputation. What you want is that tipping point from looking for the next project to having to turn down the next project because you are too busy.</p>
<p>Quite a few of the students in our MFA program are MICA grads. I don’t know how you could go wrong with a $100k discount at MICA! :)</p>
<p>MICA. My S is pursuing illustration at another school but MICA was number 1 for its illustration program but we had other factors that came into play so he’s at his other number 1 school. Yes, we had a tie for number 1. We met the professors, spoke with students and spent time getting to know the place. We really liked it. That is my biased opinion. We didn’t visit RISD but are aware of its reputation but $100K tilts the scales heavily toward MICA.</p>
<p>@Mamasaur - I hear what you’re saying about not needing college but I think it’s not worded well. A “good artist” does need college. I would say a great one doesn’t need it. And it’s not truly college that is needed. It’s training, mentoring, self discipline, business savvy, a habit of practice, maturity, communication skills, connections, networks and historical knowledge.</p>
<p>Much, not all of that, is obtainable in college and very few 18 year olds, even the most extremely gifted, don’t have it.</p>
<p>I think we are saying the same thing here. I agree with you but this can can be said about almost anything.</p>
<p>I have a kid who always tested in the top 1%ile in mathematics - so why is she in college taking finance and accounting classes. She maxed out and excelled in the highest levels of math in HS. She finds finance routine and boring. But it’s honing her skills at using the math in a specific way for a specific purpose and the degree confirms that she has some basis for saying she can do it. I think she could do it if she spent 6 months with a finance professional vs sending me into debt for a piece of paper.</p>
<p>@Mamasaur - your comments really resonated. MICA has been a fabulous experience for us! D did not want to attend a school that was known for cut-throat competitiveness, so RISD was out. D does want to work for a company post graduation, so stay tuned. </p>
<p>And for you other parents out there (and my worrying mother) the digital age has made possible an exploding industry - both entertainment and business- that needs smart, creative people. Art grads today have infinitely more choices than 20 years ago. It IS possible to work in industry, love what you do and have a BFA. Stepping off the soapbox now…</p>
<p>don’t forget how close you live to either school is a great factor, but aside from that I would go to MICA because of the scholarship. RISD may have a good reputation, but MICA does as well</p>
So, Madaboutx, what was the other number 1 school?
We live in Maryland and are familiar with MICA. It has a fabulous reputation. It is considered a strong school for both art and for its liberal arts offering. MICA doesn’t water down its liberal arts,which you might find at a number of art schools. In fact, you can take courses at nearby John’s Hopkins. They have a joint deal with them. To save 100K+ absolutely take MICA and never look back. In fact, I might even recommend MICA over RISD at half that amount of difference.