<p>Looking at the following degree programs for photography-</p>
<p>Mass College of Art(Boston)
Museum of Fine Art(Boston)
SVA(NY)
Uof ARTS (Phile)</p>
<p>and also the following schools/certificate programs</p>
<p>HAllmark(VT)
Center for Digital ARts @ BU
New England School of Photography(Boston)</p>
<p>I am looking for opinions, experiences or any other info that I may use to narrow down. Thanks</p>
<p>Just curious, why are you not looking at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology)? It is widely considered to be one of the best school in the US for photography.</p>
<p>I have dyslexia but stayed on college prep track as opposed to taking classes at lower levels. I probably an not academically competative enough for many schools unless they can see past the dyslexia. C average. So even the schools listed may be a stretch except for the art schools-no degree. But I would prefer a degree.</p>
<p>Solo, RIT is a VERY good, well-known school for photography. If you can't get into it as a freshmen, you might be better off going to a junior college to get decent grades and then transferring there.</p>
<p>Do you have an opinion on CDIA? I have considered and may go to a 2 year school and then seek to transfer to a 4 year program. I may seek to get all my liberal arts courses out of the way at a 2 year and concentrate on art/photo classes at the 4 year. Many of the arts schools appear to be at a 40%-60% acceptance rate, except for Cooper Union. From all I have read they appear to be the most difficult to get into to but does not appear to have the best program/facilities. But thats just from what I have read on these posts, do not know this first hand.</p>
<p>I'd also possibly recommend art institute of Boston at Lesly College, and MICA, since they're known to make exceptions to the academic requirements for strong artists.</p>
<p>If you have documented diagnoses of dyslexia (as opposed to self-diagnosis or assumption), then more colleges than you think may look past this. I'd really encourage you to apply to a couple of schools you don't necessarily think you have a great shot at, just in case.</p>
<p>BTW, the Americans With Disabilities Act does not permit discrimination against someone with a disabiity unless it would cause undue hardship to an employer or college - be aware that this does not mean that a college must accept you, they simply cannot reject you on the basis of a disability, but yes, they may be sympathetic.</p>
<p>At any college (and in the workplace) you may ask for an accommodation, and the school will work with you and provide your professors with partiular arrangements or accommodations like 15 minutes extra for tests, or that you may take the exam in a less stressful location. It is always a private matter. The prof. is not even told about the diagnosis, unless you wish to inform him/her. I know, because I have ADD and struggled considerably through school, but it wasn't diagnosed at that time.</p>
<p>Also, I think it is wise to make mention that previous struggles may be due to your condition, and that you are looking forward to overcoming it. Ask the school what guidance and facilities they offer. It may indicate that you are a mature and determined student, but this is my opinion. PLease don't sue me if I am wrong. </p>
<p>If you have dyslexia, you might want to check out this site.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kurzweiledu.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.kurzweiledu.com</a></p>
<p>Kurzweil 3000 is used by many institutions to help students with reading difficulties and disabilities. I am not certain how it works in regards to dyslexia, but I believe it provides assistance and training.</p>
<p>Also, Ray Kurzweil is a little "out there" but he is a brilliant man. Here is his Wiki biography:</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil</a></p>
<p>I am familiar with ADA and IDEA. I do have accomodations as well as Kurzweil on my laptop now. I know that colleges can not discriminate because of my disability, this is not my concern,but they can establish an admission criteria, this is my concern.</p>
<p>So the debate is should I go to a Community College for two years and transfer to a Bachelor Program or go straight to photography school, no degree. I am leaning towards a degree.</p>
<p>//I know that colleges can not discriminate because of my disability, this is not my concern,but they can establish an admission criteria, this is my concern.</p>
<p>So the debate is should I go to a Community College for two years and transfer to a Bachelor Program or go straight to photography school, no degree. I am leaning towards a degree.//</p>
<p>In your Statement of Purpose, acknowledge how the dyslexia effected your grades - but don't dwell on it, but be certain to highlight your accomplishments otherwise - but not to a level of grandiosity of course.</p>
<p>Generally an application is evaluated on the basis of all criteria, and a single weakness may not have any effect at all if you demonstrate strength in other components. This was my experience at the one school at which I was employed.</p>
<p>Solo127,
Look at site for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD). If you need textbooks read, they can do this.
I'd suggest trying at least a couple of schools that have strong programs for learning disabled students. RIT has a huge program for hearing impaired students, I'd give them a chance for photography with an honest essay on your situation.
S.Dad
PS Dragon Naturally Speaking is also very good.</p>