<p>my daughter enrolled in the fall as a game design & development major – so far all is well and she is happy.</p>
<p>My daughter has been sold on going to RIT and was accepted into the Fine Arts program for Fall 2013. We just found out she has also been accepted to Syracuse U for it’s Fine Arts program as well. How do the two compare? I want her to go to a place where she feels she fits in (she’s a little reserved, but still wants to have fun). Her boyfriend goes to RIT so I know that comes into play in her decision making. I just want to make sure that if the boyfriend is no longer a factor she has still made the right decision. Both schools seem to have a good variety of art related areas of study…</p>
<p>My son is going into Software Engineering, so I can’t really address the arts side of the curriculum. However, I can tell you that we toured RIT and then rode out to Syracuse and actually met another mom and son who had just completed the RIT tour with us. Both our boys shut Syracuse out within 5 minutes of the tour. I think there are likely very different personality styles that each appeal to. Syracuse felt much larger to us even though I don’t think the total size is all that different. My son really did not like the dorms or the sports emphasis, not to mention the surrounding town.</p>
<p>I think what you get at RIT - or at least our impression of what you get at RIT, that you don’t find elsewhere - is just a real genuine arts/geek vibe. It’s very much unlike all the other “regular” schools we visited and the kids there all seem to possess some measure of geek/nerd characteristics along with being unique, often in an arsty sort of way. This definitely describes my son and most certainly accounts for the instant affinity he felt with RIT over anywhere else we visited, including pure tecchy schools like WPI.</p>
<p>Thanks Momom2! My daughter is not really a city girl and was also concerned about the surrounding area. She feels at least at RIT it is possible to take the bus to the mall, or leave the campus for that matter, without having to deal with ending up in a sketchy part of a city. She specifically chose to be in an art program within a university rather than an “art only” school so she can be surrounded by those with interests outside of art and she really likes those “geek/nerd” characteristics you describe. Now I only have to convince myself that her being 6 hours away from home is not that bad.</p>
<p>My son is also a suburban kid. I think the Wegman’s sold him on RIT as much as anything! :)</p>
<p>6 hours is nothing! We’re in Kansas City with no direct flights. :(</p>
<p>It’s nice to ‘meet’ another fine arts kid’s mom! My DD is an illustration major and RIT is her #1 choice. She totally fell in love with RIT two years ago when she met a bunch of kids at the ‘Art House’ special interest housing. I have never seen kids ‘click’ like that. She looked at the Syracuse program too, but her heart belongs to RIT. She’s also been accepted at Alfred University, College of St. Rose, University of Buffalo, Arcadia University, and Soka University of America. She has a very talented older sister who went the straight art school route and her sister’s experience kind of steered her towards looking at art programs in Liberal Arts colleges. She is very interested in art therapy and clinical psychology, but she is also interested in game design - she certainly has the brains and the art background (and interest in story telling) to make that work too. So we’ll see what happens. Waiting on the financial aid package and Honors invite (hopefully) before we make a final decision.</p>
<p>Hi Glutenmom! What did your daughter think about Syracuse’s art program. Moreover, what is it that did not appeal to her. Was it the location or something more specific about the fine arts program itself? We have yet to visit SU and I haven’t really researched the professors at either school yet. By the way, just to really stir the pot, she also got accepted to SUNY New Paltz. Any input on that art program?</p>
<p>My oldest daughter, who started off on the straight-art-school route has been accepted as a transfer student at SUNY New Paltz. Is your daughter interested in studio art (well she must be if she is pursuing fine arts)? My oldest is switching there to focus more on art history and less on studio art (very sad to me, but she needs to find her way). I think Purchase has a stronger art program but both of my kids were turned off by the supposed drug scene there. Maybe the real reason was that it is too close to Mom and Dad, lol.</p>
<p>The Syracuse program (oldest daughter was accepted there too) did not appeal to my ‘manga girl’. She liked the location and the campus itself. She didn’t think the student work produced there was as interesting as what she saw at RIT. RIT has a well-respected art program and since RIT resonated so deeply with her, she is more than likely going to go there or to Alfred, I think. Did your daughter look at Alfred? They also have a very nice art program there, with a plus of having a concentration for pre-art therapy majors.</p>
<p>I have a friend who was an art major at Syracuse and she loved it there and the son of another friend went to Syracuse for Industrial Design. So I kind of think the programs are probably roughly equivalent and you just have to go with what the kid wants to do. </p>
<p>My ‘manga girl’ is an excellent and serious student. She did not want to be at a ‘party’ school. She went to the pre-college program at RIT last summer and had a room mate assigned to her that was a polar opposite to her - and that didn’t go too well. However she did meet several other kids who were on the same wavelength that she is on… so she came home a happy camper.</p>
<p>Great input Glutenmom, thanks so much! Interestingly enough, we considered Alfred early on because my sister who went to FIT had friends at Alfred who raved about going to school there. The thing is we felt the location of Alfred was a little too isolated. Also, my daughter goes to a “smallish” high school and she really wanted to get away from that feeling. She is hoping to find people more like her as far as personality and we are banking on strength in numbers, LOL. You are right about letting them make the ultimate choice. If RIT is what she has her heart set on that is what will happen. There is no chance in h#$# that I am going to be blamed for making this kind of decision for her, although I will still insist on her at least visiting the other schools she was accepted at. I just want her to be aware of all her options before we send in the deposit. We are just waiting to hear from RIT in regard to FA and/or scholarships. We’ve already heard from the others as far as this goes and it does come into play somewhat :)</p>
<p>I’m so glad you guys are having this discussion! My D is interested in Animation, and we’re going to tour both Syracuse and RIT in a few weeks. (As well as MICA, MassArt, Sheridan, RISD… it’s an epic trip, LOL!) She has her sights set on the more “famous” programs like CalArts and Sheridan, but those are SUPER hard to get into, so I want to make sure she checks out a variety of alternatives as well. From what you’ve said, it sounds like RIT would be a better fit for her. We’ll see what she thinks! </p>
<p>Artypants, Please don’t go by rankings. Animation has two major disciplines,which intern have a wide variety of concentrations within the animation pipeline. The two major disciplines in animation are 2d and 3d. The leading 2d schools are CalArts, and Sheridan, USC, UCLA and Laguna College of Art and Design. The leading 3 d schools are Ringling, School of Visual Arts, SCAD etc. Some schools tend to be strong in both areas such as SVA, Pratt, RIT, SCAT et al. All animation is part of a pipeline that each student can specialize in and should eventually specialize in. They include: lighting, skinning, modeling, concept art, character animation, rigging, and particles and dynamics, which intern has its own sub concentrations in hair and fur, explosions, water and fire. Your daughter needs to decide whether she likes 2d, which is VERY fine art oriented or 3d, which is a combination of fine art and computer skills. </p>
<p>This thread was started almost 10 years ago.</p>
<p>Just be aware that most of the posts on this thread are years old and may not be accurate or relevant anymore.</p>
<p>Thanks @taxguy! She’s a 2-D girl. (So far, anyway.) She’s a little intimidated by NYC, so we’re not looking into those schools. Other than that, we’re going to try and cast a wide(ish) net. These art schools are so pricey, we’ll need pretty significant aid to attend. Could leave us with slim pickings at the end of the process…</p>
<p>Help! Is RIT viewed well by major companies??? That’s what I gathered on our tour yesterday. Son is interested in Computer Science. My biggest concerns are – 6 hours away and he is kind of a shy a bit young for his age guy, RIT seems like a super geeky school and no girls for him (so silly but I want him to blossom in college even outside the academics), the weather looks like it would depress anyone – by youtube videos I’ve seen and yesterday its April and snowing. Overall satisfaction of the school by students and quality of education by parents and does it have that good of a name by companies that it would be worth traveling all the way up there from DC area?? </p>
<p>RIT is well respected.</p>
<p>Just visited RIT over the weekend for my sophomore son. He is interested in CS/ game design. The school was immaculate and campus was very nice. Although the buildings are all brick, the architecture varies. The information session was one of the best we have attended with lots of good tips and information. The tour guide was a geek, but funny, and intelligent with a wealth of knowledge. We did not get to see the dorms as they do not tour those on Saturdays. The weather was sunny and in the 50’s and 60’s in April so we lucked out ( no rain or snow). The surrounding area had a ton of stores, shopping, and restaurants. We were impressed with RIT, particularly the co-op program since it is only one of four universities in the nation to offer this. Also, 97% of graduates have a job within 6 months of graduation. My S would definitely fit in at this school; only thing it is a 5 hour drive. Cost may be a factor but it is less expensive than other tech schools. RIT is definitely a well respected school and has many positives about it. </p>
<p>We are heading up to RIT this weekend for their Fall Open House. Daughter is interested in NTID, specifically their ASL interpreting program. Originally, I thought it was too far away , but there are direct flights between Philadelphia and Rochester, so that is a relief. I am curious about their substantial federal funding for that program that reduces the tuition significantly. My daughter has her heart set on another school ( NEU ) which was her sister’s undergrad school. But I would be lying if I said the price tag for her future college didn’t matter. I am hoping she gets a good feeling for the school on our visit</p>
<p>@lje62 how did your visit go? My daughter is a freshman at RIT (not in NTID though) and I was there visiting her this weekend. At least we had great weather, almost too warm at times. </p>
<p>There is a charter bus service that goes from RIT to some locations in PA. I believe the stops are in Harrisburg and Easton. Not sure if that would help you out or not, and it only runs for the major breaks, not weekends.</p>
<p>Five weeks in, and my daughter is happy with her college choice. The surrounding area has about every store and restaurant you could want, and she has navigated the bus service a few times. She complains about the dorm food, but the meal plan most freshman use only requires them to eat in a specific cafeteria 5 times per week. They have 5 ‘options’ for all the other campus eateries, and the rest is a food debit plan. I think it’s very liberal. Upperclassmen can choose an all-debit plan, so every meal is of their own choosing. </p>
<p>Good luck to all with your college search. Have to say, I’m glad it’s over - for now. I also have a sophomore in HS son.</p>
<p>@12dandelion do you know if there is a charter bus that goes from RIT to NJ or a way to find that information? What is the name of the bus company? Thanks for any assistance.</p>
<p>@carly135 the name of the company is mybushome, it has a website and a facebook page. I think there may be some NJ stops. I live in the Albany NY area so I’ve been paying more attention to the route that goes to Albany and then on to Boston.
Is your son still considering RIT?</p>