Hey CC! I’m a high school senior and currently trying to decide on where to go to college. I literally decided that I wanted to go to art school only in November, and I worked extremely hard to produce a portfolio in time for January. It paid off, and I got into all three art schools I applied to! Luckily money isn’t too big of a concern. Here’s what I think so far:
VCU- the instate tuition is this school’s biggest draw, and really the only reason I’m considering it. I could graduate debt free. However, I wasn’t really impressed with the student work and there isn’t an illustration major. I’m also worried about job placement. Richmond is cute though, and I like the surroundings. Richmond is also fairly close to home.
MICA- I love this school. I love the vibe, and when I visited I instantly felt like I fit in. The student work is amazing, but I’m a little worried about job placement. I don’t mind Baltimore, and I think an urban environment would be fun. It’s also close to home, which is important because of a chronic health condition. The tuition would be manageable.
Ringling- this school is impressive. Student work and job placement both seem great, and the weather was gorgeous when I visited. This one is my parent’s favorite. It’s biggest drawbacks though are its tuition (despite a scholarship) and the fact that I’m not as in love with it as I am with MICA. Additionally, Florida is far from home.
Any other thoughts/anecdotes/personal experiences? On a side note, I also got into UVA but have no interest in attending. Am I totally wasting my opportunities by going to art school?
Keep in mind, like it or not, VCU IS ranked as the #2 in the entire country fine arts program behind Yale. It’s by far the #1 public arts program in the country and as noted in the us news rankings its ahead of mica , ringling , and places like RISD etc. So facts are , its a very very impressive department that has been placing students really well for the past few years. There is a lot of opportunity there. Consider yourself very lucky to have to only pay that way attractive in-state tuition as many out state kids attend and pay twice as much for VCUarts.
One of the top art students from my daughter’s high school who participated in the visual arts magnet program there went to MICA and loves it! I’m sure she had lots of other choices, but that was the place she chose. It sounds like you already love MICA, you can afford it, you like the student’s work there, and you will be close to home for dealing with your chronic health issue – done, your decision is made.
No need to worry about job placement at this point! I seriously doubt that Ringling has a bigger handle on job placement than MICA, and with MICA, you’ll be close enough to DC (and many other cities) to go interview easily for summer internships and actual jobs later. It sounds like you would want to live in that area more than south Florida after you graduate anyway, so why not attend college in that area? And health comes first, so if your health care can only best be done from there, then that is a critical factor in your decision.
If finances become the deciding factor along with health issues, then VCU is a fine option as the person above already described. You would want to figure out which major would best prepare you for illustration though if that is your goal, and seek out opportunities to get practice illustrating while you are there.
Not to debate @stones3 but my D1 is also going for Illustration and ruled out VCU for the same reason (no illustration major) & distance. Same for Yale - again not the school you want to go to for Illustration and also you’re not admitted into the visual arts program until you’re a sophomore and that’s not even guaranteed.
We’re fairly well connected with writers and artists in the field of graphic novels and comics and both MICA and Ringling are very well respected programs that have great alumni networks. I think they’re both solid choices and congratulations on pulling off that portfolio this year. That’s a big chunk of work!
Do not underestimate how much further ahead you will be if you can graduate debt free.
Tuitions at RCAD and MICA are similar unless you have significantly more aid from MICA.
Not debating, just providing info. VCUarts’s major is called kinetic imaging and covers illustration. having said that, you might want to consider CalArts, its’ probably the best at having employed students . They have strong relationships with major studios. Coupled with your connections should be all she needs.
Or go to VCUarts(save $$$) and then do MFA at CalArts. That’s similar to what a well known animation director told us he did. Good luck whatever you decide.