<p>If you are a visual arts student and you decide not to go to a 4-year school right after high school graduation, can anyone recommend some good local Boston-area places (community colleges?) to develop a portfolio? </p>
<p>Would it be better to go to a community college (like Middlesex), or to go to Mass College of Art in their night program? Or some other community college?</p>
<p>Hi - I live in NH and my daughter attends Massart. I know that NH Technical College in Concord has partnered with some of the Massachusetts State Schools ( including Massart). My understanding is there was effort made at NHTC to design a two year program where kids could prepare for admission specifically to Massart , NHTC worked with Massart so that these students would take the right classes to position themselves to apply to Massart.
Perhaps Massart Admissions can assist you with this question - they could probably comment on Boston area community college programs.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts? They offer a wide range of studio courses, day and night classes.</p>
<p>Artmom08,</p>
<p>I checked the web site and I didn’t see anything about an agreement with Mass Art, but I sent them an email so we’ll see what they say. Thanks for the pointer.</p>
<p>I agree - most community colleges are kind of hit or miss re: their art classes. I’ve seen some great work done at some cc, while at others, their graphic design students are in no way ready to apply to an art school - their work is far, far, far from strong enough. So I share your concern. </p>
<p>I like the NHTC idea. If they really have worked with Mass Art and etc. to develop their program, that would be an excellent option. I’m not sure if it’s too far away for you, though. </p>
<p>In NY, there’s the Westchester Art Workshop, which is part of Westchester Community College. It’s a pure art school in White Plains, NY, but it’s also a cc. I wish Mass had something similar! </p>
<p>You can also consider taking continuing ed classes at either Mass Art or at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Two <em>great</em> art schools. I’ve taken class at both, and found the instruction to be of very good quality. </p>
<p>As another poster said, it’s a really good idea to contact admissions at SMFA Boston and Mass Art and ask if they can recommend any Mass. CCs with good art programs that you can look at. </p>
<p>When you take art classes at the community college, or via continuing ed, try to focus your work as you would in Mass Art’s foundation year:</p>
<p>[Massachusetts</a> College of Art and Design | Transfer Students](<a href=“http://www.massart.edu/x349.xml]Massachusetts”>http://www.massart.edu/x349.xml)
[Massachusetts</a> College of Art and Design | Studio Foundation](<a href=“http://www.massart.edu/x448.xml]Massachusetts”>http://www.massart.edu/x448.xml)</p>
<p>In other words, while you can, and should, take courses related to the major you want (graphic design, illustration, painting, computer design, etc.), also take foundation type classes: drawing, painting, sculpture.</p>
<p>If you want to focus on building a strong portfolio, then MassArts or SMFA would definitely be the best options.</p>
<p>Suppose you are a mediocre student in high school, and after graduation you are trying to position yourself to enter a decent art school (a better one than you could have entered if you had gone straight from high school). Which would be better, to take all art courses and boost your portfolio, or take a mixture of art and liberal arts and satisfy some liberal arts requirements?</p>
<p>I actually read about this agreement they had in the Hippo Press - whcih is a weekly paper that has lots of NH Art related info - you may try googling the hippo to see if an archived version exists with this story.</p>
<p>Newton - I believe my first post was in error - It was awhile ago I read about the partnering with Massart by NH community college. But I did some digging<br>
here is the link - I believe this is the program I read about - its the Manchester community college Fine Art program -<br>
<a href=“http://www.universities.com/edu/www.New_Hampshire_Community_Technical_College_Manchester.html[/url]”>http://www.universities.com/edu/www.New_Hampshire_Community_Technical_College_Manchester.html</a></p>
<p>go to Home > Academics > Programs of Study > Fine Arts
The schools one can transfer to after completing the program are listed under the transfer section</p>
<p>There are several good schools here listed including Art institute of Boston </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I also want to add that at the Massart accepted students day this year - they mentioned that alot of the new students, be it transfer or freshman students - are older then 18. I know that my daughter has met lots of freshman in her classes in their early 20s. I suspect alot of art schools have this happen as well - because of the fact lots of kids come to the decision to attend art school later and must work to get their portfolios in order - so to take this approach is probably not that unconventional</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It depends on what you mean by “mediocre”, and on which art school you’re applying to. If by mediocre you mean “under a 2.0”, then you should take some academic, non-art classes and do decently in them, as well as taking art classes. If your HS GPA was above a 2.0, but maybe around a 2.5, then you’ll have to gauge your decision based on which schools you want to apply to. Some art schools want really good grades. Others only care about your portfolio. Still others require decent grades (not great, but okay) plus a strong portfolio. </p>
<p>In general, if you’re concerned about your HS academics, then do take at least a couple of academic classes at a community college, and do okay in them. I’d suggest English and math. You’ll need to take those at art school anyway, so taking them at cc is good - they could transfer to art school. And they’ll act as proof of your academics.</p>
<p>Artmom08 - The Manchester catalog lists a bunch of schools that you “can” transfer to, but it doesn’t say they have a formal articulation agreement. I’d have to look into it.</p>
<p>In any case, my D would have to live up there, it’s too far to commute. If we want to save some $$ by going this route she may as well live at home. (She may not agree with me…we haven’t had this discussion yet. She has time.)</p>
<p>ok - just trying to help. As I said - the article I read was awhile ago and I’m not 100% sure what the deal was - good luck !</p>
<p>Artmom08 - Really, I appreciate the input. I want to hear about al possibilities.</p>
<p>I just learned (from the Admissions Department at MassArt) that Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, MA has the state best community college art program. But it would be a hard sell to get my daughter to want to go to Greenfield.</p>
<p>I might be jumping to conclusions anyway. Her grades might pick up, she might be able to apply to a 4-year school. We’ll see.</p>
<p>How low are her grades? If her grades are a 2.0 or above, and her art portfolio will be strong, she can go ahead and apply to art schools. If, however, her art portfolio won’t be ready, then cc is her best option.</p>
<p>How motivated is she re: art? If she’s really into it, and if you can afford it, you could sign her up for some summer art courses while she’s still in high school. Mass Art and etc. all have summer art programs for HS students. Some of those courses include portfolio prep classes, which might be a very good option.</p>
<p>Its great that you are such a strong advocate for your child ! nice to see</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I wouldn’t assume that your D’s grades are too low for art school. However, art school may not be the right place for her UNLESS she is passionate about pursuing art and would do it on her own outside of a structured class setting. And, of course, she has a strong portfolio. The serious art schools are all art all the time and more stressful and demanding than many 4 year colleges.</p>