<p>Hi, I'm in a difficult situation, so all opinions are appreciated. I'm currently set on going to Pomona, I love the school and want to be on the West Coast, but I am in a dilemma as to accept an offer to attend Brown (off the waitlist). It's been a while since this option has been made to me, but I've come to realize that there are some opportunities at Brown (I want to pursue fine arts/graphic design, and the option to cross-register with RISD is incomparable) that might incite me to withstand going up North instead of out West for the sake of having a broader choice in terms of what I want to study. In addition, the open-curriculum at Brown seems appealing to me, and I might feel more comfortable in a slightly larger school, but I'm not sure. Nevertheless, they are both incredible schools with a focus on undergraduate education, but I'm totally stuck as to what to do. Any advice?</p>
<p>Oh, and Pomona gave me a very good fin aid package, I don't know Brown's yet, although they are giving me an offer.</p>
<p>From what I understand Pomona has a pretty good art program, though I concede that you cannot compete with the RISD (on the other hand I've heard they've got a bunch of crazies over there so watch out). Secondly, do not underestimate the value of 75 degree temps year round. There is no snow, EVER. Also, student body wise the total claremont undergrad population is between 5500-6000, so don't be scared about being trapped in a small environment. Also, I think Scripps has a fairly good art program and cross-enrollment is no problem there.</p>
<p>But the advice I give everyone is to visit. There is no better way to decide where you feel more comfortable. I know for me it was Pomona.</p>
<p>The Brown/RISD connection is a terrific one to take advantage of. By all means pursue it. You should obviously apply to both schools; you might apply to Brown ED since it'll be the harder school to get into and then depending on their decision, look (or not) at Pomona.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong - I think Pomona is an absolutely wonderful school. But its studio art department, even relative to Brown without RISD, is tiny. It is close to LA - an hour or so with traffic. Providence to Boston is the same. If the graphic design interest is really serious, I think it is a no-brainer (as much as I love the weather at Pomona.) If, on the other hand, you think you'd like to put it on hold in favor of an excellent liberal arts education, then it's a "pick'em".</p>
<p>In fact, it is difficult to take many RISD courses as a Brown student. You can only take one (or possibly two) a year, and the fact that RISD studio courses are generally most of a day long, meeting once a week, makes it hard to fit it in with Brown courses that meet two or three times a week. Brown, however has a good art department of its own.</p>
<p>You may want to check into the practicality of actually taking classes at RISD. I know it is heralded as a benefit, but how many Brown students really take those classes? I have heard that it is difficult to cross schedule, so this is worth checking out. Having said that, if it is truly practical and not just "possible," it would be a great advantage.</p>
<p>Annelise, makes a good point and I certainly agree with what Mini stated. Yes, being able to take courses at RISD is a real plus. However, unknown to many students is that Brown has a heck of a good visual arts program with many instructors who are RISD grads. I don't know what courses are given at Pomona,but I would bet that the number of courses given in graphic design are more plentiful at Brown than at Pomona even without taking RISD courses into account.</p>
<p>In addition, don't forget that Brown has NO core requirements. This gives you a lot of flexibility and certainly more than that of Pomona that does have core liberal arts requirements.</p>
<p>I bet that not many Brown students take RISD courses, but I'll also bet that those who are seriously interesting in graphic arts do, and arrange their schedules accordingly, if not in the first year, then in the 3 following. The lack of a core, combined with a fine arts major with requirements filled through RISD courses, should facilitate that, I would think.</p>
<p>Akwired, Tough decision. They are both great schools. Have you visited Brown yet? The physical environment is VERY different from Pomona. Some love it, some hate it but you cant get farther from Southern California than Providence and still be in the same country, and I dont just mean geographically. :)</p>
<p>My son who wanted a strong studio art department liked Brown at lot but felt that the reliance on RISD was awkward. As others have pointed out Brown doesnt make it easy for students to enroll in RISD courses (although I understand that they have acknowledged this issue and are trying to improve it.) </p>
<p>Brown and RISD have very different arts cultures RISD having a dedicated commercial focus and Brown having a highly theoretical approach. Brown has a great and well deserved reputation for having artistic students but the emphasis is on the cerebral aspect of art and I wouldnt rely on RISD to pick up the process slack, especially in the graphics/design area. I cant comment on Pomonas art department as it wasnt one that we researched; however, I dont think you could do better than LA for a design and graphic arts friendly environment.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses, they help a lot. Honestly I want every reason to want to favor Pomona, but at the same time I know that I would be doing myself a major disservice if I threw away an opportunity that could potentially better my future prospects. Brown alone and with RISD indeed have a much wider array of courses in art and graphic design in particular; I am active in both the 'intellectual' and 'commercial' aspects, and while this combination suits it perfectly Pomona seems to just reside on the intellectual, theoretical approach. One good news is that they are hiring a graphic/multimedia designer from LA who is very savvy in those respects but I clearly I don't know if that would still cut it, other than the personal attention and thus personal opportunities to branch out into LA. </p>
<p>As to the fact of open curriculum, Pomona has cut its general requirements by half recently, but that still of course doesn't beat out the chance to avoid taking a single math course altogether, haha. If you want a picture of how important the graphic/art deal is to me, you can go to my site (akwired.com).</p>
<p>Wow. Although i don't know much about web design, i know that the website rocks.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are trying to have people talk you out of leaving Pomona, and that you really do want to go to Brown.</p>
<p>Both schools can offer a lot, but clearly the claremonts cannot compete with RISD web design. They can probably match with ceramics and come close with painting, but not web design. If it means so much to you, go to Brown. Think of this- if you were only able to take one, maybe two classes a year in web design at RISD, and these classes interfered with your Brown class seletion, would you still go to Brown? If so, and money is not an issue, then go. If money is an issue, then you obviously have to wait to find if you can go to Brown. I think that if you do want to go to Brown, you should not let money be an issue.</p>
<p>You are from the frozen north east, so you know what the weather is like. If you think that the cali location is so much better, then stay. You will probalby be successful at either school, but you should visit Brown again- it might help you realize your feelings about the situation.</p>
<p>Went onto your website. Really liked the picture of you & your friend looking very blase about plunging down the falls in the flume ride. Be that as it may, think you'd be perfect at Brown, if not for the difference in vitality and energy on that campus, one which may give you greater impetus to continue your pursuits. I also think your sense of humor will find a fresh and willing new audience.</p>
<p>If you did all the art work on your site, you should NOT go to Pomona. You are very talented!
Definitely attend Brown and take as much RISD courses as you can. In fact, maybe you should have made RISD your primary school.</p>
<p>When I was at Brown I took classes at RISD. At the time, it was no big deal to arrange.</p>
<p>Beyond classes there are resources, lectures, & artsy peers. I lived on the RISD end of town (the two campuses are adjacent,) worked with RISD people, and to this day half my intimate friends from my college years are friends from RISD. </p>
<p>PS: The RISD Halloween party & costume contest cannot be believed.</p>
<p>If anything I'd wish that I'd be talked into wanting to STAY in Pomona, haha. I just don't want to end up after having spent four years there finding myself not to my potential in the areas that truly concern me, thus maybe having wasted four years of my life being happy but not developed, although I don't necessarily consider a LA education a waste at all. Frankly the weather and the student body and opportunities in LA at Pomona are really what makes me want to stay, and going to the polar end in terms of climate and location are really a factor for me, although I do live on the mid-Atlantic coast. Overall though, I'm getting a vibe to go to Brown (I have not visited Brown yet.... although I heard the weather sucks 8 of the 9 months in Providence), so I'll have to check it out ASAP.</p>
<p>I live near Pomona. Pomona is a great school and the 5 colleges are wonderful. You cannot go wrong there in terms of a great college experience. I am not knocking Pomona at all; if we did not live so close my D would have applied. </p>
<p>Do not kid yourself though. Nice weather, but LA can be hot. Also it is smoggy and congested. LA is NOT so easy to get to due to traffic; you will not be in LA frequently.</p>
<p>Brown weather is bad from about November to March. Bad = cold and rain, snow, slush or ice. However, the campus is easy to navigate and set up for east coast weather. In early fall and spring, however, the campus is absolutely glorious-- frisbee, the NYT crossword puzzle, music blasting out dorm windows, people soaking up the sun on the big central green.</p>