<p>What kind of computer do you use?
Does the art department recommend/prefer Macs over PCs?</p>
<p>i'm not a student but when i visited i remember there being a lot of macs- they're known for being better for creative/multimedia/ect</p>
<p>My daughter is in the art school. I spoke to the administration about this particular question. The short answer is that it doesn't matter - Mac or PC. If you pursue a major that requires use of the computer, you must purchase a particular computer at the beginning of Junior Year. You cannot continue using the one you used freshman year. When you need to use the computer in earlier years, you will not be able to afford the software that the school has available on your own computer, so you are "forced" to use the school's computers for graphic needs. The computer you bring to campus is for email, writing papers, taking notes, etc... Buy an "inexpensive" one with the functions you need for normal life - don't worry about Mac vs. PC.</p>
<p>BTW, my daughter is a sophomore. So the advice in the earlier post is from personal experience, not just discussion with the art school. We bought her a PC.</p>
<p>Nugraduate, does your daughter know which field of art she wishes to specialize in yet? My daughter is applying ED for Art at Wash U. She is thinking about fashion, but is open to other specialties too. She wants to double major in Psychology as well. I noticed on some earlier threads that you also have a child who is applying to Northwestern. My son is a journalism/polysci double major (and creative writing "minor" ) in his senior year there. He loves it. So, like you, we are especially fond of both schools.</p>
<p>Our eldest daughter has not decided what her specialization will be.... she is leaning towards painting, but sometimes she wonders. She is also majoring in Marketing in the business school. She is spending sophomore spring in Florence in the art school program, and then it will be time to declare her major - it's amazing how fast the time goes.</p>
<p>Our youngest daughter vacillated between wanting NU and Wash U. At this point, she prefers Wash U. We'll see what happens - both are great schools, and I know she'll be succesful and happy at either one.</p>
<p>My daughter expressed interest in the Florence program as well. Good luck to both of your daughters. And thanks for the advice on the computers. I remember being told on the tour of Sam Fox that art students would eventually need to purchase a particular computer. If (crosses fingers) she gets accepted, we will follow your advice about not spending too much on the computer she uses for the first 2 years.</p>
<p>NUgraduate,</p>
<p>Is painting one of those majors that would require the "particular computer" (I am also just curious what kind of computer would that be??)</p>
<p>My daughter also plans to double major in painting, and possibly in business (or econ). I am glad to hear that this plan is "compatible" with study abroad in Florence! (Do all sophomores go in the spring? How much Italian do they have to take in order to be eligible?)</p>
<p>They don’t need to know Italian, there is no need for a high GPA, anyone can go, even those registered in other schools. Students go there to have fun, don’t expect an academic environment.
Beware that they have a lot of free time that means more cash out of pocket and Florence is expensive.</p>
<p>they take a one-credit (one hour) course during the fall which explains the Florence program and a five-credit (five hour) Italian class as prerequisites. The credits during the semester are all within art, so it does make it more difficult to double-major. My daughter had two AP credits in Calculus going into Wash U, and earned 10 credits this summer on Semester at Sea (she is a lucky girl) which will allow her to do the double major without great difficulty. Unless a student takes 18 credits instead of 15, I don't think double-majoring is very easy to do in four years without significant outside credits.... </p>
<p>As for expense, my daughter is planning to eat a lot of pasta. My husband and I just got back from the Netherlands/Belgium and prices over there are AWFUL. We were thinking of going over to see her during spring break and now I think we're planning not to.</p>
<p>art students go sophomore spring, architecture goes junior fall.</p>
<p>I don't believe painting requires the special computer.</p>
<p>newhere,</p>
<p>are you talking from personal experience? I don't know if you have to "know" Italian, but you have to take it as a prerequisite... I would hope that it is not a waste of time academically, otherwise I don't really see the point of doing it...</p>
<p>Based on previous posts on other threads, newhere seems to have quite a few opinions that are not based on any facts. I am familiar with the situation with NUgraduate and her statements are based on personal experience.</p>
<p>I misstated one thing in terms of what they take in Florence - they continue taking Italian. It's listed online as an art course. These are the courses my daughter is signed up for (I'm not sure how much variation there is between students.)</p>
<p>ART 3.0 C Drawing from Florence: The Sketchbook
ART 3.0 C Visiting Faculty Workshops: Theme-Sequence Course
ART 3.0 C Florence Seminar: Heritage, Site and Significance
ART 5.0 C Italian Level II
ART 3.0 C The Italian Renaissance in the City of Florence
Total Units: 17.0</p>
<p>there is a minimum gpa requirement - I think it was 3.0?? It was not a concern, so I'm not 100% positive this was the level, but I think it was.</p>
<p>As for free time? I suspect it's a lot less than expected. I don't know about other kids in the art school, but my daughter spends a LOT of time working on her individual pieces. I think she works longer hours than most majors.</p>
<p>If anyone thinks art is an easy major, at least at Wash U., they are SO wrong.</p>
<p>S took photography in Florence in 2004. My niece went this summer, also took photography and she is in Business. None of them took Italian; maybe the prerequisite is for the Art students.</p>
<p>Perhaps your niece and son already knew Italian?</p>
<p>It seems like those who go as a part of ART MAJOR have a pretty structured program, with set requirements and expectations.</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman and is planning to go to Florence spring of soph. yr. You do need a 3.0 GPA and have to take Italian the prior semester and continue it in Florence. (Only required for the Art program, I believe) You also have to apply to go and be accepted. Not everybody who wants to go will get to. I could not get a simple answer on how competitive it is, but I didn't get the impression that it was real hard to get accepted. Certainly with the weak dollar, it may limit some.</p>
<p>Dtr. is (today) majoring in painting with plans on a double minor in ArtHistory and Vis. Comm.</p>
<p>Photography majors don't need 3.0 GPA or Italian.</p>