<p>m&sdad: I have gathered by some of your posts that your daughter is at MICA and is happy. My daughter has just been accepted there as well, and we'll be visiting this April. She really is excited about RISD however, and we haven't heard from them yet. Did your daughter compare the two? Does anyone know when RISD usually notifies? I'd welcome any feedback comparing the two!</p>
<p>I have heard from previous applicants that they usually send out their decisions by April. They say RISD is usually the last school they hear from.</p>
<p>I don't know much about MICA just that along with RISD, they have a fairly strong liberal arts program (correct me if I'm wrong). They both have good reputations, maybe RISD being a little bit more "famous" than MICA. I doubt though that you could go wrong with either schools.</p>
<p>Kakie, RISD usually notifies at the last moment, i.e., right around April 1. It was the last school my daughter heard from when she was admitted several years ago (she graduated in industrial design there in 2003).</p>
<p>Here are some comparisons from US News...there is a little difference, but not much:</p>
<p>Undergraduates:
RISD - 1877; MICA 1497</p>
<p>Student to faculty ratio:
RISD - 9/1; MICA 10/1</p>
<p>Full-time faculty:
RISD - 140; MICA 118</p>
<p>Classes with under 20 students:
RISD - 78%; MICA - 71%</p>
<p>Graduation rate (6 yr. for both):
RISD - 90%; MICA - 70%</p>
<p>Acceptance rate:
RISD - 33%; MICA - 45%</p>
<p>Freshman retention rate:
RISD - 93%; MICA - 85%</p>
<p>SAT 25-75 percentile:
RISD - 1100-1330; MICA - 1050-1270</p>
<p>The key differentiator for my daughter was the ability to be a generalist at MICA. At RISD, you need to declare a major by the end of freshman year. At MICA, my D can be a General Fine Arts (GFA) major and work across mediums. There was no such option at RISD.</p>
<p>I think when you have the opportunity to choose between such great schools, it really comes down to the specific things like what m&sdad mentioned. Look and see if there's a specific major, internship program, elective/liberal arts options (like the Brown connection at RISD) , or study abroad programs in one that interest the student that the other school may not have. Try to ascertain the attitude of the administration and faculty- are they helpful, snobby, or aloof? I doubt that many decisions really come down to the fact that one school has 400 more students than the other.</p>
<p>I agree. I think each school has it's own unique feel to it. It will come down to which she feels most comfortable at, and if she can bear to choose a major. She really only has experience with drawing and painting. Once she gets involved with a solid foundation year, her hopes are that a major will surface. Also, I think financial aid offered may play into this mix... I have read on this site that RISD is not as generous with scholarships/grants..any thoughts or suggestions on that?</p>
<p>I would get RISD the edge for location, MICA the edge for merit based scholarship dollars.</p>
<p>Don't count on merit aid from RISD.</p>
<p>RISD will require a selection of Major at the end of Freshman year. Students are expected to take a class or two during the Wintersession that might help them decide.</p>
<p>You really need to visit each school, because they both feel distinctly different. </p>
<p>I'd, honestly, say they were relatively equal - each has it's own problems - but it all comes down to where your daughter will feel more comfortable. If it's RISD, then go with your daughter's gut instinct! </p>
<p>For me, it was MICA, but had RISD felt right instead, I would have chosen to matriculate there...</p>