<p>Acknowledged that these are two art great schools and there are many other great schools. I am sure that both would offer a first-rate art education. What I am interested in hearing are the reasons, perceptions and intangibles that made people choose one of these versus the other for the purpose of informing my D with additional info she may not have considered.</p>
<p>I think that RISD has historically been considered top tier when it comes to “design”. Schools of art like illustration and design schools i.e., furniture design, packaging, ceramics, glass blowing. They are also making a big move towards updating their computer element, I believe the new head of school is a computer guy. MICA I’ve always thought of as geared more towards “fine” art although I’ve read some high praise here of their advertising/design program here.</p>
<p>Thanks artsmarts. I am also hoping to get feedback beyond the curriculum. I’m not trying to minimize the importance of a program, but rather am trying to get a sense for the culture and the feel of each place so D can assess her “happiness factor” before we make that commitment.</p>
<p>RISD’s foundation year has a reputation for being grueling. When we toured we were not shown the dorms and a parent whispered to me that it was because they were so bad that they didn’t include them on the tour. Now these are both hearsay comments so it would really be interesting if someone from RISD weighed in.</p>
<p>MICA has great dorms but a sketchy neighborhood from comments posted here previously.
Students there seem happy from the comments I’ve read.</p>
<p>Anyone from Mica or RISD?</p>
<p>My daughter is now a senior painting major at MICA and very happy with the education she’s gotten there. From what she says, RISD is much less flexible – you declare a specialty early on, and have minimal opportunity to venture outside of it after that. She went in thinking she would major in illustration, so this flexibility has been really important. RISD certainly has better name recognition, and that’s of some value too.</p>
<p>And yeah, Baltimore is sketchy. . . but it grows on you. I might not recommend it for a kid with no common sense.</p>
<p>My daughter is at RISD and I can attest to the rigor of the program. While the foundation year is a lot of work, it is also exhilarating for many students. The workload can be as tough sophomore year depending on major. </p>
<p>The kids seem happy there, despite the workload. There is always something going on both at RISD and at Brown. I can’t compare it to MICA in any way, since I don’t know anything about the school. My daughter chose RISD because she was looking for a specific major. If she had been an illustration or painting major she would no doubt have looked at MICA and other schools. </p>
<p>And yes, the freshman dorms aren’t much to look at, unless you’re in one of the newer wings. </p>
<p>If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me. I’d be happy to help if I can.</p>
<p>My D chose Mica because she was planning on majoring in painting in felt that Mica’s program in that major was better. She’s a freshman now and is considering changing her major but is happy at Mica. Foundation year is pretty grueling there too (probably at every BFA program).</p>
<p>She visited Mica more often and spoke to professors and sat in on classes and I think that helped with the decision. She loves Baltimore and would probably love Providence too but would give Baltimore an edge for having a longer season of bike-friendly weather. </p>
<p>From my p.o.v., Mica definitely showed us love in terms of scholarships while Risd showed something more like indifference.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! This is just the sort of intangible info D was looking for. Talked to RISD yesterday and they have admitted (accepted) student sessions in April where you actually get to see the dorms. We are waiting on scholarship info - first of April, but wanted to act fast after.</p>
<p>We visited both schools during S’s junior spring break…two years ago. We did not do the official tour at RISD but staff and students just offered to show us around every time we went to a building and we spent some time at the student center/big cafeteria. I thought it was really nice and wanted S to try for dual program (not so deep down I wanted him to do a second major to fall back on). S did not end up applying to RISD…he said it was because 1) diversity–he saw only white and asian kids in his 3 hours on campus…and they and the campus felt too upscale… 2) too rigid…he wanted to have more options for more time as he explored different areas of interest and also interested in a dual degree but not a 5 year degree. Frankly, I think a big reason he did not apply is that he just didn’t want to do the home test. He started the bike and other drawing and just didn’t feel motivated.</p>
<p>MICA…he spent more time at MICA and did the whole open house thing. He really liked it, he likes grit/urban atmosphere, much more diverse student body, it is closer to home, he knows people there…My H and I were very impressed with the information sent to parents and how they support the students 1) find their best area and 2) allow them to mix and double major and 3) the 5th year masters program. The downside is that the arrangement with JHU is pretty much on paper only…I asked and it turned out that only 4-5 students per semester actually took courses at JHU…too inconvenient.</p>
<p>MICA was very generous with merit aid and I am sure my son would have had zero aid from RISD if he had been admitted. </p>
<p>In the end, while I was very keen on MICA and all the aid, my son realized that he wanted to be at a university with an engineering and computer science department to pursue a minor or double major. MICA was turned down with real regret, however.</p>
<p>One note…the two boys from his HS who went to MICA on large scholarships both dropped out after freshman year. …don’t know the full story behind that but it makes me wonder what happened there…</p>
<p>can I ask you mom4
if you did EA, when did you hear from RISD?
'cus they are the LAST one to notify RD and it was painful following “Squee” thread last year.
what is the “catch” doing EA if any? when is assignment given and due?
if you win any merit, would they tell you then or everything is until end end April period?
nothing to do with us but for lurkers sake (and me nosy)
thanx</p>
<p>Bears and Dogs - No EA. I am a planner and want to have a plan for assessing RISD since we have not visited yet. If she does not get in - moot point. If she does, we have just a couple weeks to complete the eval on the 2 schools and I didn’t want to use up that time just beginning a post here.</p>
<p>According to the school, RISD merit is sent to all when they send regular decisions around the first wk of April. MICA merit also the first week of April. Does that help?</p>
<p>I guess it does. then I’d wonder what is the point doing EA? kids won’t sign up unless know how much it will cost.
The way other artschools do is give merit number with acceptance as soon as possible and sort of threat you with
“now pay deposit so you can sign up for class/ doom of your choice, no no we will give you back 'til May 1st. or used toward tuition.”
might explain there really no “pure merit” in RISD pots.</p>
<p>We visited, I made thread I think it’s still here somewhere. what fammom said is true. zero minorities (not counting Asian) in view.
thou I know at least one that went from my kid’s old HS, typical inner-city kid with pile of grants money, thou don’t know how well could navigate following years to come.
maybe it is a good idea haven’t seen it. you’d start to compare everything to RISD and feel underwhelmed at other art schools, even at MICA, for my kid.
he didn’t have stats anyway in the end, so no brainer for us.
good luck to you!!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/455247-risd-read-riz-dee-visit-08-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/455247-risd-read-riz-dee-visit-08-a.html</a>
yep still here. how embarrassing…</p>
<p>Actually, the schools are more alike than dissimilar. I should note that generally MICA has a more flexibile program than that of RISD. Also, MICA has one thing that RISD doens’t have: art education, if that is of interest.</p>
<p>RISD has a masters in education in art and design.</p>
<p>Bears - I just reread your post and just finally got what you were asking - sorry a little slow. The students who apply with the binding Early Decision also hear earlier on estimated financial aid, but not earlier for scholarships (at the places we looked at). The “out” is that if they are accepted and can’t make ends meet with the financial and other awards, they may withdraw from the contract. I am sure it is more complicated than that in real life. </p>
<p>We did Early Notification for MICA which is non-binding, so we wait til April for all the money info. Because D’s portfolio was accepted at MICA before she applied, it was much less pressure to get the “right” portfolio submitted by the Jan 7th deadline. </p>
<p>Taxguy - I agree with you that the 2 schools have many similarities. D is interested in (obsessed with) Illustration, and in her opinion they both have a top notch program. That is why I am interested in the other factors that you and the other parents are sharing. </p>
<p>This really is a helpful forum. Thanks, folks, for your input.</p>
<p>BTW…Mica was very late in getting their info to us on scholarships. We had final numbers the third week of April…it may have been S submitting, literally, last minute —I almost had to drive the packet to Baltimore. It made it more stressful.</p>
<p>D1 was accepted at RISD and MICA and in the end it came down to MICA showing her the “love” in terms of both money and personal attention. She really felt like MICA wanted her and she wanted them; whereas RISD was much more impersonal. With her celiac issues, MICA also made much more sense since there was only one semester of required meal plan purchase and then there were kitchen facilities available.
She would have been better off taking a gap year, she wasn’t really ready to be off on her own. But we will see if she’s in shape to try again in September.
We’re in Prague now, got to pry her out of bed if she wants to see anything today. We saw Rigoletto at the State Operal last night.
Home to NY on Saturday…</p>
<p>“I am sure it is more complicated than that in real life.”</p>
<p>It’s generally not; you just tell them thanks but no thanks and apply RD elsewhere.</p>
<p>^^^ hey, arn’t you the Reed volunteer? what’s brought you here? what’s the keyword?</p>
<p>mom4. I get it but what RISD do is EA, means not binding, which makes me wonder.
if there is no catch doing EA like
(since we are your first choice, won’t give you FA are gonna give because you’d come anyway) or
(you better have stellar track record without counting senior year’s first semester, literally, you are already met graduation requirement, yes?) or
(I will not going to let you use any of the drawing you did for us for anyone else, wait, they’d know anyway if it is a bike, that’s tellin’)
anyone who could then should do EA so don’t have to wait for slow April second week notification. even get to do homework during thanksgiving holiday break or some instead of rush delivery of other RD due timeline.
just a thought.</p>
<p>Bears - I may be wrong, but I thought RISD didn’t “accept” portfolios at NPDs or on-campus visit days. D had some work to complete in Jan and that was a major reason we waited for reg decision. That plus we are (I am) still having angst over how far it is away from home along with the connection flight to get to/fro. </p>
<p>But if a school accepts your portfolio, allows extra time to get scholarship pics in and all you have to do is the app/essay and regular stuff to apply, then heck yeah it is good to do a non-binding early notification.</p>
<p>I hear other kids complaining about the college apps and thought that is NOTHING compared to the visual and performance art apps! They have to do the same as regular applicants plus create the art - sometimes different for different schools - plus image, download, etc. OK I am done venting…for now.</p>