Hello! I’m looking for some assistance finding a school with a program that is a good fit for me.
Having only decided that I’d like to go to an art school recently, I’m a bit behind the crowd so to speak (high school senior), but I figured I’d put feelers to see what could still be out there for me.
I’d like to go into graphic design with an emphasis on branding, and a program that would develop skills in marketing as well. In the future, I would really like to end up working in connection to music / entertainment industries, so a school with those type of connections would also be something I’m looking for.
I also have interests in video editing (I’ve started dabbling in after effects) and would love if there was enough flexibility in course structure for me to pursue that as well. Maybe taking a couple editing classes that might be considered outside my major. I’m thinking more along the lines of possibility being able to create advertisements (sort of like apple’s don’t blink).
As far as size & location, I’m not hugely picky. I prefer schools that are a bit smaller, as long as I’m in a location that has a relatively good amount of things to do, shops, etc. so that I’m not “out in the middle of nowhere”.
But my main concern is finding a program that fits what I’m looking for. Please let me know if there’s anything I can clarify, new here
I don’t know about its specific strengths, but VCU in Richmond, VA (RVA) has a great art program. It’s generally regarded as the top one in the state. Richmond has become a very popular city for students and young professionals, with The Fan as a popular nightlife district and a developing James River park system. It’s an urban campus and often does not impress at first blush in that this-campus-is-so-beautiful way, but we know several students/recent alums and 100% love the school. I think of it as a place that’s much more impactful than general rankings would suggest.
In CA, you might look at Chapman University, particularly on the music, film, video side.
For art schools, some names that come to mind are RISD, Pratt, Parsons, SCAD, Columbus College of Art & Design, Minneapolis College of Art & Design, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Be careful about borrowing to pay for art school! Art schools are not known for good financial aid, and have the disadvantage of requiring a transfer if you want to switch to a non-art major. I recommend first looking at the art departments of your in-state universities for good programs.
Do you have an art portfolio you can submit? If not, as a senior look at art programs that don’t require a portfolio OR think about going to a community college or state school and then transferring into an art school. I’m sorry to be the pessimist here, but most of the colleges @BasicOhioParent mentioned above require a portfolio for admissions. Many of the students who are applying to those schools have been working on building their portfolios for 2+ years,
SCAD does not require a portfilio. Sage Colleges Art + Design Department let’s you enter as an ‘exploration major’ and you take foundation year and then submit your work. https://art.sage.edu/our-department/admission/
Also look into your community colleges and state schools. They may also have similar programs like Sage for their art departments. SUNY New Paltz has a well regarded art department which you can move into as a sophomore.
I have taken art classes, just never really considered pursuing it, so my portfolio may not be very competitive. SAIC offered me 63k in merit, and MIAD 60k, if that gives any indication of what I’m working with. Those are the only 2 art schools I have applied to so far…
I’ll definitely pop on over to the other section of the forum too.
Reading your interests…you have a bit of a challenge. SAIC is a very poor place for film/editing/after effects. (My son attended for a year and has similar interests. Was quite disappointed.) Its strengths seem to be conceptualized art and fashion.
I don’t know MIAD’s strengths.
Film is a tough fit at any art school. Film schools, though, are primarily for wanna be directors and actors. We looked at several art schools and none of them had really good film programs. I have several friends who went to Tisch at NYU. They liked the hollywood emphasis but don’t know if it remains. Also have a friend who went to Parsons in animation. Unfortunately, the training was about “how to make film that’s art” leaving out a great many skills for making film.
To pursue a love of AfterEffects, a graphic design program is probably a good fit. But they won’t have much moving image knowledge to help you with.
But graphic design is also far from video and film editing. (I own an ad agency that does national TV spots and have spend 25 years in the biz - so I know a LOT about how film and video skills get used in commercial production work.)
Feel free to ask questions if any of this is helpful…
atlascentaur - I certainly am having a bit of a challenge! I wouldn’t really say I want to go major in film, since like you said, it is so far from graphic design. It’s difficult because I don’t have a lot of exposure to what, exactly, the work entails, just an idea of what I’d like to end up doing…but not sure how I could incorporate that aspect of my interests into an overall path so to speak.
I suppose I would just like to gain a better understanding of the programs so that I would be capable of using them in the future. I quite like the idea of creating ads (probably more ‘design based’ ones, if that makes sense, as opposed to those that might be made by someone with more film experience). Just unsure how that would pan out…whether or not that’s where I end up, I would still enjoy it as a hobby, so having the option would really be nice.
I had a rep from SAIC visit and I really liked that they are interdisciplinary…given that I didn’t know what direction I wanted to take a few months ago I find it difficult to really narrow myself down to a more restrictive set of courses. I’d like to have the opportunity to explore. MIAD is local, so I just figured might as well give myself the option.
second VCUARTS is a top nationally recognized design school. in fact USNWR ranked it #2 nationally BEHIND ONLY yALE . nOT bad that the #1 public is also the #2 overall. However, very competitive.
I would strongly encourage RISD/FIT/Parsons/etc. Though if you do not have a portfolio it is going to be impossible to gain admission. The difference between going to an art school and a liberal arts college with an arts program is your fellow students. If you attend an arts school they will know you and your work and this could help your professional success. Like any field you should have a very clear idea about a few actual jobs you would do. So my advice is don’t go and take only courses you like: Have a plan! And make sure it is an art field where you can make money. There are some. You mentioned graphics. Additionally, know if you are good enough to compete against other artists. Go to some sites and see what people are doing and their level of skill. I have seen many “artists” who don’t have the talent to devote themselves to this full-time. You might also think of fields which are creative but don’t rely solely on art ( there are many). I would NOT go to a second rate art school (there are many) and I would strongly encourage if you go the liberal arts route to take art and something useful ( business, for example). You do not want to be middle aged with an art degree and have trouble finding a job. That will not happen if you double major. I am in the arts field and I would tell my kids the same thing. Good luck.
University of Delaware has a program that’s more specifically connected to what you’re interested in. https://www.art.udel.edu/
Also consider: FIT in NYC. It has many programs connected to your interests: film, marketing, design of course and it’s right in NYC with internship possibilities. Also–it’s cheaper than many. https://www.fitnyc.edu/
Before you graduate, be prepared to send out a LOT of resumes. Like hundreds. That’s the experience of many who end up with great careers in the long run. It’s tough to get started, though.
From what I’ve seen, my guess is you’d be wise to start at a smaller school at first - test the waters and see what you like.
My son didn’t find SAIC nearly as interdisciplinary as they talk. Many of the classes presumed a start from drawing, painting, or sculpture and they tried to move the students to performance art or concept installation-style art.
There was little understanding or appreciation of someone starting from digital arts (especially with his specific core program teachers) - they rejected that work out of hand unless it became the really dull and uninteresting video installments (dull in my point of view - I know there are high intellectuals who love that stuff).
Choosing an art school is very personal. It’s also quite hard - because many of the schools don’t really have ways that you learn much about them. They seem to want you to leap based on reputation.
Reminds me of a story I heard from a W+K ad agency exec… 20 years ago they felt they couldn’t predict who would be good employees. So they’d hire a bunch in the summer and anyone who was left in January was a good fit. What a brutal process… (Disclaimer: That’s an old story. I do not know anything about W+K’s approach today.)
i strongly recommend VCUARTS. It was ranked as the #2 (out of ALL private and publics) by USNWR only behind Yale for its grad program. They have a great GD program(our D is soph GD major), they have innovative programs like those at the DaVinci center and the Brandcenter is world renowned in branding. Also Richmond is a great arts town with lots to do. Good luck , just know GD is very competitive program at VCUARTS.
