<p>b and d - Thank you! I’ve got mixed feelings about SVA. My dad and I went to the open house, and the Illustration department impressed me. I am interested in comics, of the non Ameri-manga variety. Manga’s great but I’m american so… (maybe that’s hypocritical?). However I also have that lingering love for prestige ala RISD and other schools that are hard to get in to. But prestige is pointless if it won’t teach me the skills I want/need.
switters: thanks. Yeah…I thought maybe I was crazy and that was appropriate? But probably not.</p>
<p>My husband and I took our daughter to NPD on Sunday. She was not interested in meeting with any of the high-profile art schools. Her goals for the day were to get some feedback on her portfolio, as well as gain some experience discussing her work. Given the previous info about waiting in line to register only to wait in more lines once inside, we opted to arrive at registration around 11:30. At that time, the line was halfway around the block, at which point we almost tuned around and went home, as my daughter had other things on her plate that weekend and she wasn’t sure if the wait was worth it. The drive took us about and hour, so we decided to stay. Many other groups arrived after we did, so by the time they opened the doors (12:00ish), the line was 3/4 around the block. Within 10 minutes we were in the building.</p>
<p>As we entered, the staff collected the registration paper that was distributed and completed while waiting outside (basic name, address, interest info…) and announced that the tables were lined up in alphabetical order by institution. We spent a short time observing. We saw a little bit of everything … from students with 3D pieces, large canvases, multiple large portfolio cases to those with small red cardboard portfolios. Some items were matted or mounted, while otheres were not. Others had photos of their work displayed in the portfolio books with acetate pages. I agree with the earlier recommendation: unmatted/unmounted original works seem like the most practical approach and photos of larger pieces and 3D pieces for several reasons: easier to transport, less expensive, don’t have to worry about damaging expensive matting, easier for reviewer to page through.</p>
<p>The number of admissions reps varied considerably by school, ranging from 1 to maybe 10ish. Often a school had someone to direct you to the appropriate rep for your area of interest, although any of their reps would be happy to review your work. Each reviewer had his/her own style and opinion. My daughter was reviewed by someone who spent about 15 minutes discussing her work, while the reviewer beside her from the same school and department simply paged through a student’s art (which looked comparable to my daughter’s) without comment in about 3 minutes. While my husband waited in line for one school for her, she went to a table with no line. The rep told her that they don’t look at portfolios for admission to their program, you must complete a test. My daughter asked her if she would look at her portfolio anyway. She looked quickly with no critique, then said, “If you’re interested in our program, then you should apply.” Needless to say, that lack of effort/interest/sell didn’t leave a great imprression.</p>
<p>My daughter accomplished what she set out to do and we left by 2:00. She was reviewed by 4 schools, she got some constructive criticism on her artwork and she gathered info on schools of interest. It would have been nice to stay longer to get even more feedback, but she was a little pinched for time. It was definitely worth the trip.</p>
<p>gabbyness</p>
<p>My husband and friends attended SVA many moons ago. He and some of them have taught there by now. SVA does have it’s strengths. Illustration is strong, graphic design and even fine art too. There are some fantastic teachers and some awful ones…you’d definitely get a sense of the working world after college. BUT you have to want to be in NYC really badly. It is not a path for a student who needs a nurturing environment, a built in sense of community and a campus. I do think it gets a lot of students from the NYC area who can live elsewhere and pop in an out (that was my husband). Though I know they have more housing now than they had back in his time. He has said that you have to very driven and self directed to succeed there because no one is holding your hand.
You mentioned that prestige doesn’t mean anything if they can’t teach you what you need to know. You can also ad that prestige doesn’t mean anything if you are not really self motivated either. If you are clear this is your path and no one can knock you off it you can go almost anywhere (some people won’t like me saying this). My husband has made a real life for himself after SVA. So have some of his peers. Others have become carpenters (no dis…he makes beautiful kitchens) and bums. NYC is a wonderful/horrible place. So stimulating/inspiring but can make you feel small sometimes too. Do you have some friends here already? Are you good at connecting and networking? It is helpful to have a support system here or at least be open to growing one.</p>
<p>What kind of environment do you want to be in for the next few years. I’m sorry I haven’t read back, but where are you transferring from and why?</p>
<p>Please take those reviews with a grain of salt. Some of them are alumni doing their school a favor. It is easy to say put more of yourself into your work and it is never bad advice. Do you plan on doing a bunch of new work before it is time to submit your portfolios?</p>
<p>good mama bear
do you wanna open boarding house for these art girls with somewhat Japanese meal plan with open studio hours in your mansion?
I’m in if papa bear given a go.</p>
<p>^ suddenly SVA looks very appealing!</p>
<p>Bears,
If this downsizing, house selling plan does not work out, I think you are onto something. What do people think?
Does an art student boarding house make sense…one hour outside NYC by bus…come home to warm meal and arty environment. Leave the craziness of the city behind and have some space to do your art.
Good for Cooper, SVA and Parsons students, huh?
Don’t know if that is attractive to college age, fun seeking students.</p>
<p>no no, mama bear, you got them backward, it is for US empty nesters assuming nest’d be empty in few years.
say if I still had bear factory day job, I might try to remember which is gas or brake pedal and how to cross GWB, take kids in the morning, come home together. they can “intern” at the bear making while all girls want to hitch rides are done classes.
all girls, no sexy business ( on the surface of course, cute boy/girl friends are always welcome) but art art art, like Shaker house I wanted to go live anyways.
… this is the best I can think up after awe-inspiring Vik Munitz work? (check out the Cooper thread!! go see the film near you when you can, spread the word!!)</p>
<p>I get…I think?
An art colony…I like it. Projects and classes. I would love to be making things in the company of others. Life is too lonely sometimes.
Students…enjoy your days of togetherness. It is very precious.</p>
<p>^ Just about now I figured kids’d learned to drive way better than I could in elsewhere in US of A already.
All we need is minivan of sort to carry us to and from Manhattan. drop us on 23rd, then Astor place or 8th. let’s extend our invitation to NYU.</p>
<p>what?
OK it’s portfolio thread… I am outa here,</p>
<p>jumps up and down and waves wildly…</p>
<p>Can I sign up too?</p>
<p>Drae - thank you so much for all the information. Honestly I’m not completely sure what I’m looking for (a campus or not). I’d like living in a city, but maybe not one quite as big as NYC. Motivation wise, I think I’ll be fine anywhere. I work maybe too hard, (at the detriment to my health) sometimes.</p>
<p>I’m transferring from a community college in PA. Originally I attended a small LAC out of high school, but came back home after my mom died. </p>
<p>b and d - pleaaaaase make this boarding home! I would love you forever!</p>
<p>gabby chan, mama bear drae is the one with the mansion you have to convince, or maybe Gmom,too now that she is on board.
suppose you are not scared of driving in the city?
I got charity NY license in upstate under condition of never attempt driving around Manhattan.</p>
<p>@gabbyness: In answer to your question, no, in general SVA does not make decisions on the spot, but there may be exceptions. It’s at the discretion of the Admission Officer.</p>
<p>Also, Is anyone planning to go to the NPD at SUNY Purchase on Nov. 21? It’s an extremely busy one.</p>
<p>hah…it’s no mansion, just a 1970 hi-ranch, though compared to NYC apartments, we are living large. </p>
<p>gabbyness…since you are not sure, keep visiting as many places as possible. Let all the impressions sink in. I know for me and my son, heck most people, place is important. </p>
<p>Have you visited RISD? Providence is a nice balance of stimulation and cloistering. It’s a small, manageable city. You can get to Boston and NYC but get to sink deeply into your work without distraction when you need that.</p>
<p>Gabbyness, I just went back and reread that you are interested in comic arts/illustration as is my D. Have you gone to the NPD website and clicked on the Majors/Concentrations section? Here is what is under the Comic Illustration section for this school year. Parsons and Long Island Univ must have just started this concentration as they did not have it posted last school year:</p>
<p>COMIC ILLUSTRATION / CARTOONING
Academy of Art University: Undergraduate Concentration / Graduate Concentration
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus: Undergraduate Concentration (NEW to this Major on NPD Site)
Minneapolis College of Art and Design: (Comic Art) Undergraduate Major / Graduate Major
Parsons The New School for Design: Undergraduate Concentration (NEW to this Major on NPD Site)
Rowan University: Undergraduate Concentration
School of Visual Arts: Undergraduate Major / Graduate Major
University of Michigan, School of Art & Design: Undergraduate Major
VCUarts: (Communication Arts) Undergraduate Major</p>
<p>drae: I’m going to visit RISD with my friend next week. I do have a feeling that Providence is more my pace, etc. The only problem being whether I actually get into RISD or not, heh.</p>
<p>mom4art - thanks for the list! I hadn’t heard about a Parsons program either before. At schools that only have illustration majors, I’ve been making sure that they have clubs and some classes related to cartooning (most do). I’m still not sure whether I should apply to SVA as an illustration or cartooning major. The impression that I got was that the majors were so connected that it barely mattered. Has your D decided which schools she’s going to apply to?</p>
<p>gabbyness- Yes, but take this with a grain of salt because she has specific requirements like it has to have a campus or at least buildings right next to each other, housing and if in the city, safety is key factor and then of course quality of program. So for her, SVA is off the list, but it would probably be 1 or 2 for quality of illustration program if it had a campus. She is pretty practical realizes that she may just have to do her comics on the side while she takes a job teaching or working in an art-related position for a company. So, schools that meet the above criteria and have an active placement program are important. (Too bad Art center has no dorms! )
We have been researching for a year, but it has come down to the following.
MICA - Great illustration program. Every time we have talked to them in person or by phone they were friendly and accommodating. For ex., she thought of going to summer session there but would be 2 days late due to a family trip. Not only did the NPD reviewer say “oh i know we can accommodate her we do that for people all the time” but also the random person answering the phone in the office said that yes, it was not a problem and proceeded to give options. In the end D decided she did not want to rush around and we chose MCAD’s.
MCAD - Great illustration and comic. At NPD, the reviewer looked at her work and immediately asked questions about character development, stories, etc…all things that are important to the comic illustrator. She went there for Summer Session and loved the small, friendly campus and the people.
Wash U - Great school beautiful campus. We talked to Illus prof at NPD and he was very encouraging.
RISD (will probably apply, but it is so far away).
Ringling - Maybe. Every time we talk to administration they are rude. btw they had same dates for summer program as MICA and you’d have thought we were asking them to rearrange graduation dates by asking if she could come 2 days late to a 5 week program. We did however get a great campus tour by an Illus major who transferred from community college like you are planning.
VCU - Maybe. still doing research on campus
So as you can see, lots of excellent schools just didn’t make it to our list, but that is OK because D knows what she does and does not want out of her college experience and I am just helping facilitate it.</p>
<p>Went to a regional event for SVA last night - portfolio accepted! I like their illustration program, NYC and their general philosophy but am worried about the lack of campus. How easy is it to meet fellow students outside of the classroom - any feedback on student life at SVA would be appreciated. Does anybody know if MICA or Ringling accepts portfolios at NPD? Am readying myself for the long lines of Sunday NPD.</p>
<p>mom4art - You’re such a great mom doing all this research! I’m applying to MCAD as well. Everyone there seems really nice like you said. I’m not sure I could survive the cold though.</p>
<p>Lol I guess SVA does accept portfolios after all. When I visited it seems like the illustration and cartooning majors were very a very close knit group. It seems like they mostly don’t have time to make friends outside of their major. If you’re applying as a freshman though, illustration majors do the foundation program with fine arts and graphic design majors.
MICA doesn’t accept portfolios at NPD. I’m pretty sure Ringling doesn’t either, but not 100% sure.</p>
<p>Gabby - D is at MCAD, as illustration major, and also interested in comics. Read her blurb about her experience there so far.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/1005291-mcad-experience-long.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/1005291-mcad-experience-long.html</a></p>