<p>I would honestly focus less on "programs" and look for fit at the undergrad level. Any of the top LACs or Universities will put her in a position to do well in those two areas. The schools cited by alexandre are are all drastically different. Vassar and Wesleyan are two LACs with strong overall reputations and programs that are matches for her. They (to me) also offer great college atmospheres. Chicago is much more "nerdy" than these two, UM and UW are huge schools, etc.</p>
<p>Lafayette College has recently invested a great deal of $$$ towards their vis-arts program and her scores might earn some merit awards their as well. 2hrs away from NYC and museums.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses, we are meeting with her college counsellor tomorrow; first rough list:</p>
<p>Georgetown
Columbia
Swarthmore
Haverford
Tufts
U Penn
Vassar
Cooper Union</p>
<p>Bard
Barnard
Connecticut College
George Washington
NYU-Gallatin
Oberlin
Sarah Lawrence
Skidmore
Trinity
Colby</p>
<p>American
Dickinson
Franklin & Marshall
Goucher</p>
<p>Obviously the rural/suburban/city categories went by the wayside. Next step, for us is planning some (not all) visits in March, to get feel for large/small urban/rural fine arts balance with humanities.</p>
<p>I think the Ivies will be a reach, but if she can bump up the SAT they might be reasonable. If so, look at Brown. It has a great relationship with the Rhode Island School of Design and is an overall great place.</p>
<p>slipper1234, Brown/RISD would be a great combination, I agree that it would be a reach. We did think of sending her to RISD for a summer program, but are encouraging her to get a summer job instead. Great fodder for our meeting with her advisor tomorrow. Thanks again.</p>
<p>If a good art department's a requirement she might consider Weseyan and Williams instead of Swarthmore and Haverford.</p>
<p>Need more info. What size school? City, suburban, rural environment?</p>
<p>My advice would be to have some conversations with your daughter about how she views the art side versus the academic side.</p>
<p>Does she view art as a potential career choice? Or as something she enjoys doing for her own enrichment.</p>
<p>If, for example, she enjoys it for herself and wants to pursue it, but not on a professional level, then a school that is heavily oriented towards art may actually be less than ideal as she'll be competing for opportunities with a large group of "hard-core" art students. In that case, a more academic oriented school with a smaller art department (in terms of majors) may actually suit her better. Conversely, if she views art as a likely professional career direction, then a more heavily art oriented school might be the prefered choice.</p>
<p>In a way, it's a similar choice facing a high school football player. If a guy enjoys playing football, but is not potentially NFL caliber, then a major college football school like Univ. of Miami would be a terrible choice because he'd have no opportunity to play.</p>
<p>She may not have even thought about it in these terms. A general conversation might help focus the goals a little better and, in turn, focus the college selection.</p>
<p>Thanks, interesteddad; we are planning lots of school visits for the next couple of weeks, guess what? Only one fine arts school, Cooper Union, is included, even though their humanities/liberal arts program is weak. Our D really has come to art quite late but has lots of natural ability, and it has been a joy to see her discover this. It is such a relief to her and gives her an outlet from her super-high-pressured academic routine.
Thanks for your thoughtful response.</p>