Need help finalizing list of liberal arts colleges with solid studio art and language departments

College Search & Selection
1

Have been lurking around these parts since January of last year. Now I am officially the parent of a senior and would love some input on the list of colleges to which D17 wants to apply, as well as commentary about my own ideas for schools. I’ve run the net price calculators for all of them. Unless she goes to a state school which we can fully cover with our decent 529 savings, we will be seeking financial and merit aid if possible for her. Despite our relatively low income right now, because we saved and invested previously in our flush days our non-retirement investments make our EFC 25-27K depending on which methodology used. We’re keen on minimizing debt. (Isn’t everyone?)

Her AP Studio Art teacher gushes about her and says she is “seriously talented” (we knew that!) and should attend an art school, but she doesn’t want all her focus to be on art. (And neither do her parents, lol.)

Since she has obvious talent (drawing, painting - she doesn’t love computer art), she wants to continue practicing it but has other interests she’d like to pursue as well, French being one of them. She picks up other languages very easily and loves them. No idea of a major yet, but she loves science, though not a superstar at it. Wonder if she’d be able to get an art scholarship and/or some merit aid. She’s going to a National Portfolio day nearby next month.

We’ve been looking almost exclusively at liberal arts colleges. Daughter prefers a smaller school with a student-teacher ratio of around 10:1. She’s on the shy and retiring side until she gets to know people and would likely get lost in a large university setting. She loves interacting with teachers and has a true love of learning. What we’re looking for is advice/guidance on a good fit considering the art and languages component.

D17 is very strong in writing, english literature, french and art. She is above national average in science and her least strong suit is math.

GPA is 96.5 out of 100
Top 20% of class of 370
AP classes taken by graduation: 7 - 4s on the exams so far
Last ACT taken on 9/10 is 30 - breakdown Eng 35, Reading 32, Science 28, Math 26
We haven’t gotten her writing score yet.
SAT IIs:
English Lit 740
French 760

Decent but not spectacular or over the top extracurriculars: XC and Track for three years, symphonic orchestra, various clubs, one leadership role but frankly a lot of time has been spent on her art (which is evident, at least!)

We’re in Western New York and have visited the following:

Oberlin - top choice and on the list
College of Wooster - on the list
Denison - liked but felt might be too preppy for her
Kenyon - liked except it felt so isolated
Hamilton - liked, on the list
Skidmore - liked, on the list
University of Rochester - liked but felt too science-focused
SUNY Geneseo - did not like much, plus no studio art offered
Hobart and William Smith - liked and on the list (though I’m not in love with it)
Cornell - I liked it, she felt it is too big and competitive for her

These are the definite to apply to so far:

Oberlin
College of Wooster
Hamilton
Skidmore
Dickinson - have not visited she likes what she’s seen online
SUNY Purchase
SUNY New Paltz

I would like to encourage her to apply to:
Tufts
Carnegie Mellon
Bates

Thank you for reading through all this and ideas, comments and suggestions are very much welcomed!

2

Without having seen your list, I would have suggested she look into the following:

Vassar
Hamilton
Smith
Mt. Holyoke
Kenyon
Bard
Skidmore
Wheaton (MA)
SUNY-Purchase

So, as an opinion, she appears to be off to a great start.

3

Colgate has a good studio art program, but would be a reach. Perhaps check out. Muhlenberg for merit

4

Carnegie Mellon would appear to be an excellent school for studio art, as would Tufts. You may, though, want to consider the relevance, if any, of Tufts’ lack of a major in the discipline.

5

@merc81 That’s not correct.

You can get a BFA (as well as a BA or BS) in Fine Arts/Studio Art. Tufts has a very well regarded program through its (used to be an affiliation but it moved under the Tufts umbrella recently) with the SMFA. It’s one of the better art programs in the country and a major definitely exists.
http://admissions.tufts.edu/academics/school-of-the-museum-of-fine-arts-at-tufts/

6

@doschicos : That still seems to be an SMFA “at Tufts” program. Tufts SAS does not appear to offer a major in studio art, though they do offer a minor.

7

SMFA is part of Tufts. Read up on it or stop exposing “knowledge” you don’t really have. Did you see my statement that they used to be separate but SMFA is now part of Tufts? I know you are trying to be helpful but as a student gleaning info off the internet, to quote Biggie Smalls (and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s borrowing of said line in Hamilton) " if you don’t know, now you know".

http://ase.tufts.edu/art/undergraduate/combinedDegrees.htm

8

This link directly from a Tufts page indicates the availability of only a minor in studio art:

Tufts University | School of Arts and Sciences: Undergraduate Majors & Minors
http://as.tufts.edu/academics/majorsminors.htm

9

Please read the pages I’ve linked. It depends what school you are part of.

10

@doschicos : Tufts makes clear under “majors and minors” that they do not offer a major in studio art. Do you know for certain that the distinction between SAS and SMFA bears no relevance to the OP’s daughter, who would not appear to be a candidate for SMFA based on her interests. If not, you, in actuality, may be “exposing ‘knowledge’ you don’t really have.”

11

You can pick between two paths.

Facts:
SMFA is a top notch program
SMFA is part of Tufts
You can major in fine/studio arts at Tufts and can pick the path that suits the OP, if in fact one of the paths does. That’s for them to research and decide if it fits what they want and their financial needs.

From the tufts.edu website:

"Undergraduate Program

Combined B.A. or B.Sc. and B.F.A.

BFA Program at the School of Museum of Fine Arts

The SMFA/Tufts BFA program combines an in-depth, rigorous liberal arts education at Tufts University with intensive studio arts training at SMFA. Students are considered to be fully enrolled at both schools, and graduate with a BFA degree from Tufts University.

Students wishing to pursue a studio art degree should only apply to the Museum School, indicating an interest in the Bachelor of Fine Arts. More information on this program may be obtained at the School of Museum of Fine Arts, 230 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, (800) 643-6078 or (617) 369-3626.

BA/BFA Combined Degree Program with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts

The Five-Year Combined Degree program between Tufts and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts is designed for students who wish to pursue their artistic and academic interests to the fullest extent. Students in this program share their time between the Tufts School of Arts and Sciences and the SMFA.

It is a demanding program created for students who wish to develop their abilities in the fine arts to a professional level and also refine and focus their studies in the academic field.

This five-year program may be entered in the freshman or sophomore year. Students have to meet the normal admission standards of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and Tufts University for both degrees.

Upon completion of this program, students will graduate with two degrees from Tufts: a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in a major of their choice and a Bachelor of Fine Arts."

12

To the OP, I see Kenyon is on your list. In case you don’t know already, they offer a Studio Arts scholarship in addition to other forms of merit aid:
http://www.kenyon.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants/academic-scholarships/studio-art-scholarship/

Williams is another program worth considering although it is highly competitive and only offers need based aid.

13

We visited Tufts this summer, and had a lomg meeting with the Director of Admissions at SMFA. I would recommend that you go to the Tufts page and read up on the Tufts art program through MFA! As yesterday’s info may be inaccurate today. WhatI can tell you is that the Tufts MFA program is very, very loosely structured. MY daughter loved the artistic freedom, but it wouldn’t be right for everyone. She sounds very similar to your daughter, and was quite impressed with Vassar as well. MY favorite for her was Williams, but she felt it was too rural.

14

Thanks so much for all your thoughtful replies - this has all been helpful. We hadn’t considered Williams, Bard and Vassar but will now take a serious look. On first glance, Vassar’s net price looks nice. :slight_smile:

Re: the confusion about Tufts’ programs - it’s a lot to sort out, especially when D17s not at all sure what she’d like to major in! I will take a more focused look at the school site. The BA/BFA program sounds about right for her - thanks for providing the info, @doschicos.

@wisteria100 - We looked at Colgate but the “vibe” there doesn’t work for her. And for some reason she doesn’t like Muhlenberg (and not sure about the strength of their studio arts program, anyway).

We thought we were on target as far as having an appropriate list of LACs in place by the end of summer but when D17’s art teacher pulled me aside after open house to expound on her talents, we knew we had to make sure that a reputable art department was part of the mix, even if she doesn’t major in studio arts. For other people with this same issue, I found this link which was helpful:
http://collegelists.pbworks.com/w/page/16119368/Art%20but%20not%20at%20an%20art%20school

@shoot4moon - thank you for your comments - since your daughter and mine may be kindred spirits. I don’t think a very loosely structured program would work for her, though I can imagine that’d be heaven for some students.

@doschicos - I WISH she loved Kenyon because of that scholarship! I watched Liberal Arts, the movie, and how could you not love it, lol. She had some concerns about tiny Gambier and didn’t want to feel trapped in another small town (we currently live in a small town she can’t wait to get out of).

We hadn’t considered Williams, Bard and Vassar but will now take a serious look.

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the Studio Arts program at Carnegie Mellon?

Thanks again!!!

15

Oh, I forgot to add - take a look at Colorado College for the fine arts. I’ve heard good things about it. Different school in that they use a block plan but a warm, welcoming place, access to nature but a nice campus in a city within walking/biking distance to amenities. Some merit aid but not tons.

16

Re earlier posts:

The Tufts/SMFA program looks great. I would note, however, that the OP’s daughter apparently is not ready to commit to a BFA track at this time, which would preclude applying to Tufts/SMFA.

Alternatively, if she were to attend Tufts LAS, she would be choosing a school with no possibility for studio art as a major, since Tufts LAS only lists this option as a minor. This limitation was pointed out earlier in this thread as a light caveat, one that would seem to have been both accurate and helpful.

17

@apple23 Please read the details I posted from the Tuft’s website in my post #10. It is possible to major in fine/studio arts through Tuft’s School of Arts and Sciences. It isn’t the easiest path (requires 5 years and results in a joint BA/BS and BFA) nor might it be the right fit for OP’s daughter but it IS an option.

18

All the back and forth on Tufts here is kinda wasted given that it would be a very high reach for OP’s daughter. Williams too. If she retakes ACT and does 34-36 then maybe they become more viable although the financial aid may not make either affordable.

I think Carnegie Mellon requires SAT II Math for all applicants?

Have you looked at any of the Sisters?

19

If Oberlin is your daughter’s top pick she might also look at Wesleyan which has a similar personality. Also Haverford and Vassar. All have excellent studio art and overall excellent academics. If she would consider a women’s college, she might add Smith, which in addition to having excellent arts and languages itself offers additional language options in its consortium. Smith also offers merit aid.

My son was interested in studio art and art history. In addition to Williams (where he ended up) he liked Kenyon, Hamilton, Wesleyan, Skidmore and Conn College.

Williams has terrific studio art facilities and its art history program is supported by three world class museums on or near campus. It is highly selective but I would think that the combination of art, track and orchestra would provide a boost.

Williamstown is not quite as isolated as Kenyon (or I think Hamilton) but it’s still decidedly rural – a mountain village really. For my son the insular outdoorsy environment was a plus, but it may not be your daughter’s preference.

20

I wouldn’t rule out Williams or Tufts. Everyone has reaches on their lists. The OP’s D’s test scores are lopsided, not unusual for many applicants nor for an artsier student. I had one of those myself who attended a collegel that was a reach.

The OP’s daughter should definitely submit an art portfolio and and art resume to all schools.