<p>Scoop, I just thought I'd add my daughter's experience. After one year at an art school she felt that for her it wasn't as much what she had to learn about technique, but what she needed to learn about the world in order for art to have meaning. That was a big part of the reason for her transfer to an LAC. With regards to NPD I can see no reason for a sophomore to spend hours in line for a review, but it would be interesting to go and check it out. There maybe some schools without long lines of students that may welcome a review of your daughter's work and you can pick up information about summer programs.</p>
<p>I agree. I think I will give the school that is hosting it a call and ask.</p>
<p>un-soccer mom,</p>
<p>I forogt to add something to my prior post. I give your daughter a lot of credit for realizing what she needed out of her college experience and making that change. It's not always easy.</p>
<p>R</p>
<p>Scoop, let me weigh in a bit. Since your D is a sophomore, I would also encourage her to try out one of the intensive summer pre-college art programs. Especially for students who are not already in an art-intensive school (e.g., a magnet school), they offer a chance to add skills, meet other art-oriented kids, and learn something of the routines of being in an art school. Many such programs are offered around the country. </p>
<p>There was a thread here last year that gave links to many of them:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=138533%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=138533</a></p>
<p>My daughter attended the program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) after her sophomore year (drawing) and junior year (sculpture). This was very helpful to her both in learning and in gauging her talent. She ended up attending RISD and specialized in industrial design.</p>
<p>We, too, trod the path you are also on now, trying to figure out whether art school or a university was the better route. (No LAC for my daughter). She leaned toward art school, we (parents) leaned toward university. She won and never regretted it, though did investigate several universities including CMU and Boston University. She wanted the intensity of the 70% art courses, as compared with the 35-40% at the typical LAC and the 50-60% typical of university-based BFA programs.</p>
<p>Thanks Mackinaw,</p>
<p>With us being in Connecticut, RISD is a school that my daughter mentions often. I spoke to a woman who attended there quite some time ago. At the time she felt that RISD did not prepare students for the "real world" and was lacking in preparing the kids to go out into the workplace. She admitted that all may have changed since she was there. What was your impression?</p>
<p>One of the things that impressed me about Kansas City Art Institute was their foundation program and the care they took in making sure the students were well rounded in their education. It is very small though and in Missouri - so I'm not sure that is the right location for us. It was very impressive though.</p>
<p>I guess I totally disagree with that opinion about RISD not prepping students for the "real world." But I would add that this transition is not always smooth for students from any school. Much depends on areas of specialization, and much also on their willingness and ability to engage in shameless self-promotion. RISD is very "practically" oriented, training kids intensively with skills that are marketable, but a lot of the marketing is something you do over a period of time, including based on your portfolio, networking, alumni links, and the like.</p>
<p>My daughter also applied to (and was admitted to) KCAI, after meeting with a representative at national portfolio day. But she had a strong preference for the east coast, and focused mainly on RISD, MICA, CMU (not the coast!), and SCAD.</p>
<p>Good to know. She did say that RISD would have likely changed a lot. This was back when I was in college...many years ago. I can't see my daughter shamelessly self promoting! She is a very shy girl who needs to develop her self confidence.</p>
<p>I clicked on the thread you posted that started with pre-college programs. What a lot of info there was.</p>
<p>To unsoccer mom - Knowing that your daughter ultimately did transfer, I enjoyed reading all your descriptions of life at SVU. We are in NYC often and my D is interested in that school. Hearing about the 20 minute hike to classes and the lack of a support system I question it for her at this time. Who knows, she could change a lot in the next three years. Remind me where your daughter is now.</p>
<p>Scoop, her previous school was SVA though at times I am sure it felt like "SVU". She is currently attending Smith College in Northampton, MA. and is extremely happy there. She loves every aspect including dorm life, the food, course offerings, the campus, the student body, and the location. I would never say don't go to SVA. In the end it just wasn't the right place for my daughter. She was a fine arts major and the school's focus is more commercial. The work their students are producing in illustration, graphic design, and computer art is quite amazing.</p>
<p>I did mean SVA..sorry :) Glad to hear your daughter is happy at Smith. You should see the notes I have taken in the last few days.</p>
<p>In our college search, the location is important as my daughter has an eye condition that warrants proximity to specialized eye care. It also makes me even more leery of "letting her go". That's why I'm preparing myself early!!</p>
<p>Scoop, let me give you another reason to try out Portfolio day. My daughter Attended Portfolio Day when she was a junior in high school. One of the schools that she interviewed with was Carnegie Mellon. From the interview, I felt that her portfolio needed work especially in producing time-in-motion series,which shows a hand in different positions doing different things. This seemed to be a big deal for CMU. Syracuse, loved her color drawings and wanted more. Each schools seemed to have its own formula for what to look for. </p>
<p>Accordingly, we had a six stage time in motion drawing for CMU and more color pieces for Syracuse. When my daughter interviewed at CMU, they asked her to describe her favorite piece. She pulled out the six stage drawing. At the Syracuse interview, she pulled out the most colorful piece that she had. Needless to say, she got into both schools. For CMU, I am sure it was her portfolio and her interview that got her in because I don't think she had the grades for CMU, although they weren't bad.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that at some point, whether sophomore year or junior year, I would use Portolio Day as a barometer for what is required by different schools. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with attending as a sophomore because this will give her more time to work on needed pieces.</p>
<p>I should note that RISD didn't have any admission people at our Portfolio Day but sent in alumni instead. I didn't get any feeling as to what admissions really wanted. Thus, attending RISD's session was a waste.</p>
<p>Also, as noted above, expect very long lines at the more well-known schools. It might be better off going to only two or three of her most desired schools and spending time at lesser known places in order to get some portfolio feedback and also to lesson the time of waiting on lines.</p>
<p>smart girl your daughter is! I think it would give my daughter a good chance to see some portfolios and gauge what she has been doing. At our HS she probably will not take portfolio class until Fall of her senior year which seems a little late for me.</p>
<p>I just finished reading the many posts on the Pratt site. Need to get off the computer for awhile! It did sound interesting, particularly the major in communication design.</p>
<p>Most of my daughter's portfolio was completed in her junior year. Some pieces from senior year were added, but you're right fall semester senior year is a bit late. Another reason to look at the summer program option. BTW, you may already know this, but portfolios should be mostly drawings from real life mixed with paintings using a variety of media. Most art schools don't want to see any anime.</p>
<p>will pass on your info. Thanks.</p>
<p>I suggest you don't do NPD as a sophmore. Her portfolio is not going to compare well at this early stage. You don't go to see others portfolios, but to have yours seen by the schools. Go as a junior, and consider that a 'dry run' where you learn the ropes and then go again as a senior when it matters.</p>
<p>Confirm on RISD - we informed their admissions dept that perhaps sending alumni to NPD was how it used to be done, but that they were extremely unprofessional in their approach to portfolio day.</p>
<p>Comment on NPD. We had a terrific experience with RISD at portfolio day in Chicago. I'm sure it was a positive factor in my daughter's admission because they wrote to her afterwards and encouraged her to apply. </p>
<p>They (and many schools) don't go to every NPD. You can check with each school in advance to see whether they are sending representatives to a particular session. That's what we did, so there were no surprises at the two NPD's that my daughter attended (in Grand Rapids and Chicago).</p>
<p>It's also important to realize, as some others have mentioned, that there are often long lines, and you may need to be strategic about which ones you get into. Arrive early, make a beeline for the one you want to see most; then back in line to see others. If you can get 3 or 4 such reviews, you've done well. Sometimes, in fact, getting in line with one of the "less popular" schools is a way to get more attention and advice about composing your portfolio, because the representatives will have more time. My daughter got wonderful advice, for example, from a representative from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and a lot of encouragement as well from a representive at KCIA. In contrast, her experience with the CMU rep in Chicago was dismal (he rushed through many reviews, then spent 30 minutes on another), but she appied anyway (and was admitted).</p>
<p>again, thanks for your suggestions. You are all very helpful.</p>
<p>My d never did a portfolio day and had no confidence in her portfolio. We happened to be visiting a local college and walked through the art building. We followed a sign that said portfolio reviews and glanced in the open door. Lots of kids were sitting around at random tables, waiting for their turn. My d recognized a classmate so we went in & hung around to wait for the friend. While waiting, we got to see lots of kids' portfolios and talked to some of the students (some were transfers from art schools). While some portfolios were "fancier," the artwork wasn't necessarily any better than my d's. Some of the work was not as well done as I would have expected & some blew me away. Suddenly, my d realized her own portfolio wasn't as bad as she thought. My d didn't take many art classes in HS so wasn't really able to compare her work to others. She had very unrealistic expectations so this put things into perspective for her. Her friend was in AP Art Studio and had her work assembled in a professional manner (as was required by her teacher). My d did follow the friend's example and bought a book to put her work in. She also found out that college reps expected students to speak about their work. A few months later, my d did her college portfolio reviews in person and got good reviews at each (and was accepted with merit $ at Syracuse and RIT). I think she felt somewhat comfortable with the review process because she had an idea of what to expect. So there are several ways to expose your d to the process, even this early... good luck.</p>
<p>Hi JG Mom,</p>
<p>That was a great result for your daughter. Good point to make sure they can talk about their work properly. As my daughter tells me she does her best drawing at 2am, I don't always hear about it!</p>
<p>We have two NPD's coming up. I just got a reply today from the school I emailed to find out who could attend. This is the reply:</p>
<p>hi,
the day is open to anyone, however most school representatives will tend to spend the most time with seniors and a little less with juniors and sophomores. it is a great way to get feedback and see what else is going on with other students form different schools. please join us.
for a poster with details about the event which will come out at the end of the month please send your name and address with a request for the npd poster to this email. we can be reached at 860-768-4393 for further details. thanks.
best of luck.</p>
<p>The other states it is for juniors and seniors but they have a portfolio planning class for teens. It sounds like each has their own objectives and rules.</p>
<p>My daughter did not attend any Portfolio days. She was admitted to all the art schools which she applied including RISD, and received merit money from Pratt where she ended up attending this fall. Her portfolio was ok. It was well organized and showed both breadth and depth. Her art work shows alot of promise and she loves it, but I think her greatest strength and why she was such an attractive cadidate to schools was her strong and rigoruous high school record and good SAT scores. She received alot of imput during school interviews which was helpful, but I say skip NPD, stay home and do your homework and make sure your portfolios and applications are well organized and presented. She attended an early college art program two summers ago and I think that is a great way to see if art school is a good match. It's not for everyone. Pratt has been a great experience so far ; She has some great teachers and loves being in the city. One great thing about Pratt compared to other schools is it's campus and residential life. There is alot of support available : at least 4 dorms, Health and counseling, International affairs, Student affairs, Disibility services. athletics (my daughter is playing soccer) etc. So far so good !</p>