<p>Hi, I am currently a senior in high school and am preparing to apply for colleges.
For the entire summer, I had my eyes set on applying to any university of some sort. I prefer a university over an art school because I've always been an academic person, and I'm not ready to let go of other studies quite yet. Another reason is for security, in the case that something goes awry and I decide that art isn't for me. </p>
<p>But I've realized a bit of a dilemma. For art majors, I'm leaning toward the illustration side... but I do however want to experiment with other majors like graphic/ industrial design, and what not (nothing like fashion/ sculpting/ film). However for universities, their art department generally focuses in on the fine arts.. and that's usually the extent of it.</p>
<p>Should I give up my pursuit of a university? </p>
<p>///My art teacher is preparing me to apply for Cornell... but looking at their art courses, I don't think I'll get much out of it... Maybe I should just focus on trying to get into RISD? Perhaps the dual degree with Brown?</p>
<p>Sorry if this sounds confusing, please ask for clarification wherever needed! I appreciate the time you took to read this and hopefully you would grant me a post of advice? :)</p>
<p>Your best bet may be to find a university that offers a BFA and see if they have the specific programs you’re interested in. I agree that Cornell doesn’t fit so well since you couldn’t major in graphic design, illustration or industrial design there (I just looked around at the web site…).</p>
<p>Syracuse has 2 of those majors, and RIT has all three if you like the frosty north. WUSTL may have 2 of those majors.</p>
<p>Look at BFA courses for other universities. I don’t remember specifically for illustration, but we visited many campuses this summer where we found well rounded art programs in liberal arts settings. You could start with CMU, VCU and Tyler.</p>
<p>After the foundation year at RISD (drawing, 2D and 3D plus art history and English) you choose your major and stick with it (usually). There is not a lot of opportunity to experiment outside of your major except during winter session. If you wanted to double major you would have to attend and extra year. Since Brown/RISD is already 5 years, that would be a long haul.</p>
<p>CMU separates Design (graphic and industrial) from Fine Art. You need to commit to one or the other from the beginning. Not that you can’t take classes outside your major but you end up on a pretty prescribed track. That happens in a lot of art programs because there is so much to fit in just to have a good foundation in your discipline. </p>
<p>SAIC and MICA seem to be more open to crossing disciplines.</p>
<p>Syracuse has a broad foundation year and I think there might be more opportunity to explore across disciplines. </p>
<p>I suggest talking to advisors from each school about your varied interests and see how they respond.</p>
<p>Many of the big state universities have large and diverse art departments. Many times, because they are so big and have been around so long, they don’t really shine in any one area on the rankings but they have lots of courses and lots of resources. Not a bad place to do some exploring while keeping your academic pursuits up. I was very impressed with Ohio State and UW-Madison, but NY and CA have great programs in state universities for particular areas (VCU was already mentioned, but the academics are weaker there). So…what state are you in? Did you look at your in-state options? That may be the best place to start so you can find a financial and academic safety that would satisfy your various interests. Then start looking at other art programs within universities or LAC and of course art schools. Be wary of schools that advertise that students can take courses at affiliated universities (mica/JHU, brown/risd, SMFA/Tufts) because it isn’t always that easy and no matter where you are if you do a foundation year in a BFA program you really will do only art for one year. If you are thinking of taking one or two courses in art your first year, you really don’t want to do that whole foundation thing unless you really want to try the art route to see if it is for you.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your input!
I’ve talked it over with my mom and art teacher and we’ve decided on my list of schools :
RISD/Brown
Carnegie Mellon
UCLA
UT
MICA
VCU
Parsons
CCA
Cooper Union</p>
<p>Soo… I have a variety! Universities and art schools.
But… we figured I should take the risk and put more focus on art… so RISD is probably my first choice prooooooobably. It DOES have what I want. Brown classes next door (dual degree or not), campus setting, and a variety of art majors. The only downside to RISD, is that I’ve heard quite a lot about how they’re very inflexible towards testing out other majors so… mm who knows. </p>
<p>So yeahh, thank you all once again! I think I’ll figure out an answer around the time the acceptance/ rejection letters come rolling in ;)</p>