<p>I am a studio art major from a university in Florida who wants to transfer to an art school in the northeast, preferably ny. If not ny a major city with good public transportation. I am most interested in conceptual rather than traditional art, and I like sculpture, photography, film and fashion. Im not sure which area is my favorite so I want to go to a school with a strong foundations program where I try everything out or an interdisciplinary approach where Im not limited in what I study the whole time. I am also interested in psychology and might want to pursue a masters afterwards in art therapy. I need to go to the least expensive school or the one that provides me with the most scholarship money, because I am going to a pretty inexpensive school and out of state tuition will be a fortune. I would also like the school to have a really good career center, or internship program ,im deathly afraid of not being able to support myself. I would also like a friendly campus atmosphere, Its going to be hard being away from home and I have a hard time making friends.</p>
<p>The schools im looking at and need help narrowing down to my top 5 are- pratt,parsons,sva,nyu,risd,mica,tyler,smfa,Carnegiemellon,bard,cuny hunter,massachusets college of art,Rutgers,university of Michigan,purchase,syracruse</p>
<p>Please, I really need help. I dont know what to do if I cant narrow the colleges down. My school has a terrible art program and I would have to drop out and start working and be miserable. the only other thing I can think of is hiring a college counselor but those are expensive. any tips? any help?</p>
<p>Perhaps you should look at your list to see which of those schools is more or less likely accept transfer credits. A school with a strong foundation requirement might really want you to do their whole foundation program there - and might not give credit for what you’re already done. That might really affect the price total tag. You don’t say how far along you are at your current school, but you might need to figure out how much you’re willing or able to redo, credit-wise.</p>
<p>From my experience trying to transfer to art schools for this fall, scholarships for transfers are not a big priority. I got into every school I applied to, but couldn’t pay for any of them. Obviously, your grades matter, but you need a strong portfolio. Your portfolio is what will get you merit aid. I would recommend attending the nearest National Portfolio Day to you and taking all of the work you think you might include in your application portfolio.
If you want conceptual and cross discipline, I would recommend School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Columbia College in Chicago may also be a possibility. They are not in the NE but are very good schools anyway. If you want a friendly campus atmosphere I would recommend staying away from Pratt. Have you looked at Ringling? It is in Florida and may be more affordable for you than any of the schools you have listed.
I suggest beginning to look for outside art scholarships and contests. Art schools are not going to want to give you the money they would give freshman admits, be prepared for that.</p>
<p>I heard Ringling was mostly an animation school. I think I have a strong portfolio I had a teacher on the review board for portfolios help me but thats not the problem, the problem is narrowing down all these schools to my top five choices.</p>
<p>Im prepared for most schools to not accept my credits ,and I really dont care Im desperate to leave my current school and location, I cant have a future career unless I transfer.</p>
<p>What is the future career you envision? Do you want to do academia, run a gallery, work as an artisan? What you want for a career will inform what you want out of a program to a great extent. Do you want a school with a strong alumni body? </p>
<p>Do you want to live on campus? Do you want to live in a college town or a bustling city? You have a few of both options on your list. Do you want a large school or a tiny one? You didn’t really talk much about what you value in a school. </p>
<p>If you need to go to the cheapest school, you need to be aware of how exorbitantly priced art schools are. And art schools rely heavily on loans in their fa packages, mostly PLUS & private loans which your parents would need to qualify for. If you want to get merit aid at the schools you listed, you NEED to go to National Portfolio Day. I was only approved for merit aid because I had visited with counselors at NPD and they marked my apps for merit aid consideration. I know of no other way other than visiting the campus/department to be marked for merit aid consideration. And your portfolio can always improve! My portfolio can always be improved! The more people you have critiquing your work the more it will help you realize your strengths so you can ace the portfolio part of your admissions review. </p>
<p>I would suggest looking at Mass Arts, it’s very affordable even for an oos. Monserrat College of Art, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Emily Carr University of College & Design (as a US student, I believe you can only get loans from the US dept of edu here, in addition to internal awards, but it’s still very affordable,) and SUNY Purchase all have tuition under $30,000. </p>
<p>I think this thread may be helpful to you: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/515535-traditional-vs-conceptual-art-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/515535-traditional-vs-conceptual-art-schools.html</a></p>
<p>this was very helpful. I want to try and be a professional studio artist and if that dosent work go back to grad school to be an art therapist . a strong alumni body would be nice.</p>
<p>I want to live on campus,in a city, a large school would be nice because there would be more facilities but i still like small student teacher ratio.</p>
<p>okay thanks ,I will go to portfolio date, i think by me its in January though,and I need to start applying to colleges now.</p>
<p>ill look at those schools . thanks :)</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that I would like a program where I can take classes in other disciplines. I want to try many things and not be limited by one medium. I want to go to an art school and be exposed to many things and have alot of freedom.</p>
<p>It’s a bummer that your NPD isn’t until January. If you could make the trip to Atlanta, their NPD is in November, or you can always visit schools (though that is obviously much more expensive an option.) It’s a trip, but it will probably be worth the time and effort. I had to travel 160 miles to get to the closest NPD last year, but Texas is a big state! </p>
<p>Make sure you start contacting people at the colleges you are interested in. Email all of the departments you are interested in, and all of the transfer admissions contacts for your geographical area, of course.</p>
<p>For comparing schools I really like: [College</a> Search and Reviews, Scholarships, College Admissions Chances - Cappex](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/]College”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/)
They have many art school listings and you can get matched to schools, that may help narrow it down for you. </p>
<p>If you want a big city, rule out Bard. It seems like Hunter is set up like NYU, as in it doesn’t have a central-like campus. It is my understanding that SVA, Pratt, and Parsons all have something more like a traditional campus, though integrated in the city. </p>
<p>U of Mich is very expensive for oos, but I think Rutgers- New Brunswick is pretty affordable. </p>
<p>SAIC offers undergraduate classes in Art Therapy, not a degree, but you can take classes and see if you like it.</p>
<p>If you want to move across departments, rule out SVA. The director of a program I volunteer with went to SVA and graduated not too long ago. She stressed that it was extremely difficult to take classes outside of your department, which is why I decided not to apply to their program. My other friend confirmed this when I spoke to him about SVA.</p>
<p>very very helpful 
. I also need to emphasis I want to go to a campus where people are friendly not pretentious stuck up art kids. I am going to be away from my family,my boyfriend and I already have trouble making friends,but then again boca is a very fake place. I would love if the school had clubs, or events or if the people are just welcoming and nice.</p>
<p>Also, consider other schools in Florida. Even as a transfer you have to have safety schools.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Miami University? It is private, but it’s in your state so you may be able to apply state grants and scholarships there. Their art program looks decent, and it is a medium sized university. My cousin goes to South Florida State and loves it! It looks like they have a foundation program, and again state aid will be available. Florida International is also public and it looks like their facilities are very new. And again, consider looking at Ringling. You never know, you may like a program or the facilities. Just because a school is known for one area does not mean that its other areas are not also good or will not fit your needs & wants.</p>
<p>I am really dead set on going to an art school or at least a school with a large well known art program after my terrible experience at fau. I looked at fiu no one knew where the art school was and its spread out on campus theres a few studios that are shacks behind the baseball field.ill check ringling as a last resort i guess.</p>
<p>I just emphasize in-state schools because it would be sad if you had the experience I had this past fall- applying, getting in and then not being able to afford any of those schools you liked. I applied to one in-state school, but my transcripts didn’t get there on time so I didn’t get any financial aid at all. Now I’m continuing to work full-time and figure out what to do next. I got into some of the schools on your list, but had fa gaps of $20k+ FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. And I don’t make a lot of money nor do I have any parental support. I’m an honors student with a strong portfolio in my area of study, with strong reccs, and many volunteer hours and publishing credits. Obviously, your situation is different than mine, but I was a strong applicant and was accepted to every school I applied to so it can happen.
What made your experience at FAU so terrible? It may help us figure out what you do and don’t want in a school.</p>
<p>the art program at my school sucks. The teachers are very nasty and not helpful.In color fundamentals I didnt learn anything we just made sock puppets. They havent taught perspective at all so I am behind in that area. The teachers say to buy textbooks and then we dont read the book. My peers work isnt good . theres 1 sculpture professor. The art club is disorganized and ends up not having meeting or following through with projects. The art program is small underfunded and ****tty.</p>
<p>I dont like having to take required general ed classes and most of them are way to easy and under stimulating.</p>
<p>I hated high school and I looked forward to college finally being challenging and freeing able to study what I want and learning new things. </p>
<p>I wanted to go to a liberal arts college which isnt grade based and is smaller more attention ,outside,experimental classes,very academic . but then i realized i may not be happy their since most will have a smallish art program. my love is art ,my secondary love is psychology i should just focus on art and read up on psych on my own.</p>
<p>i have my parents support, and I think it is worth it to acrue debt if i can pay it off.</p>
<p>i feel like my current univeristy is a huge waste of time and money, I definitely dont want to go to a traditional state college. I am sick of boca and the suberbs, I want to make friends and live an exciting life in the city, given direction my teachers at an art school that will help me develop my craft and be surrounded by quirky,kooky people like me.</p>
<p>im sorry about your situation.</p>
<p>Every school you mentioned has general education requirements, usually it is about 30 hours depending on the school’s curriculum. You can’t totally escape that, even most vocational or for-profit art schools have gen ed requirements. I think it’s a requirement for aaccreditation.
Maybe look at some small lacs. They may be more apt to provide financial aid, and would give you the small class sizes you like. Bard is a great one, but again it is not in a city- Oberlin College is similar. Mills College in Oakland or Washington University in St. Louis might be good options. I really liked Evergreen State University in Olympia, Washington- no grades, all classes are interdisciplinary, it’s not tiny, and only has BS or BA degrees in general studies though you can concentrate by course selection. </p>
<p>Obviously, if you are unhappy and feel it is a waste of your energies then you should not stay. However, you need to prepare back up plans. Everyone with experience in these forums will stress the need for safeties and finding a school that you like that is affordable. I work in the art field and there are not many jobs. Art therapy is the same way in many places. You can look at the occupation data for art therapists here: [29-1125.01</a> - Art Therapists](<a href=“http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1125.01]29-1125.01”>29-1129.01 - Art Therapists)
For me, as someone who wants to be a working artists, I know that I cannot take out PLUS or private loans of 20k+ a year. PLUS loans begin repayment the day you graduate and private loans usually need to be repaid while you are in school. It is not feasible for many and it will make living very difficult if you are working in the arts. This is a reality, unless you have parents who will allow you to move back home with them so you can make loan payments, it is something that is not advised by many people. I believe everyone should follow their heart, but you have to be realistic about the limits of your personal situations. Have a talk with your parents about what they are willing to help with, that will definitely help narrow down your choice of schools. Look for scholarships starting immediately if you need them, Cappex has some on the site and fastweb.com still works as well.</p>