<p>I got accepted into RISD with a $29k scholarship/finaid. Even with a big scholarship I would still be over $100k in debt after 4 years. Even though RISD is my first choice, it would be impossible for me too afford it. Is the prestige that comes with RISD worth $100k? Also, my parents aren't paying any of my college expenses, meaning I would have to take out loans and work part-time while in college.</p>
<p>I am also considering UCSD, but their art program isn't as well-known as RISD. UCSD is significantly more affordable but more job opportunities are available to a RISD graduate compared to an art major at UCSD. Would going to UCSD be a smarter choice? and do you know if their art department is any good?</p>
<p>That much debt is a big burden. What do you want to major in? Maybe do this calculation: What kind of income do college grads in your field make 1-3 years out of school? How much more do grads from RISD make? </p>
<p>Based on your expected salary, how much do you think you could pay off per year? </p>
<p>You don’t want to be 45 and still paying your college loans. What if you wanted to go to grad school?</p>
<p>I am not a RISD hater.
but they are not financially straight forward.
read your award letter carefully, what is included in awards and COA.
My kid never applied even he did he won’t have gotten in, so I have never seen one, my experience is limited to pre-college offer and their finance site info.
It does list tuition and such, but unlike “cheaper” artschools in lower tier that their selling point is “affordability”, RISD does not budget in fees that individual class would charge you. the student life site only says, it is notified when you register to the class.
suppose if you take 3D modeling, lab fee could be say, $350 more that you did not count initially.
I suggest you talk to current students and parents here or face-book or anything, to get real number. to and from airport, (you are from CA, yes?) how do they get art supply (RISD in-store is highway robbery) food issue (they make you live in the dorm and buy their meal plan up to soph) etc etc
and count them in stretch of 4 years that their cost is only going up every year.
Where else did yo apply?
Could you take gap year to save money and broaden your choices if you did not apply elsewhere?
If “that” RISD gave you that much, I bet some other place would give you at least tuition full ride, or close to that.</p>
<p>If my one of my daughters were faced with that choice I would strongly advise them to go with UCSD. Graduating from RISD would be terrific but $100K in loans is way too much. You’d be choking on that debt for many years. You have a much better option: UCSD! UC San Diego has a VERY good art program. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the things that UCSD has that RISD cannot offer you. Minor in computer science, french, philosophy or whatever else you might be interested in. How about a double major? Go over the UCSD website slowly… how else can you maximize your time spent there? Be greedy - take everything you can.</p>
<p>Save your money for grad school. UCSD undergrad + MFA > RISD undergrad.</p>
<p>hey there lunch buddy!
to prove my point that I am not a RISD hater, you should swing by to Providence for once after our lunch.
RISD got everything that giant state Unis can’t give to certain kind of art-kid who need that certain kind of thing.
That’s why (cough cough) it is so-called Harvard of art schools.
Is it worth money? do they get job and pay off loans? I can’t tell.
you could politely PM artmommy or worried_mom and ask.
don’t tell them I sent you, thou. LOL</p>
<p>As b&d will tell you, I think very highly of RISD’s programs. I do believe they provide an outstanding education in art and design.</p>
<p>However, as much as I love RISD, I am also a bottom-line realist. I would say that TAKING ON $100,000 OF DEBT FOR A BACHELORS DEGREE IS A HORRIBLE IDEA FOR ANY STUDENT. No school – not even the Ivies or MIT or Stanford – is worth that kind of burden. I would say that even to engineering majors, who usually command relatively high starting salaries. But particularly for an arts major, it will be extremely difficult to earn enough money to pay back that kind of debt – unless you want to live with your parents forever!</p>
<p>Let’s be realistic. There is no way that a RISD degree will give you a $100,000 advantage over a degree from another school. Most art schools can teach you the basic skills and help you develop your talent (and you clearly have talent if RISD accepted you). But what you do with that knowledge is up to you and to your own creativity and work ethic. In the end, YOU are more important than the name of the school on your degree.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would tell RISD “Thanks, but no thanks” and then move on to UCSD or another more affordable choice.</p>
<p>worried_
the old comrade!!
here is virtual hug and pat on your back to you, well knowing you’d push me away full force being never wanting your nice clothes get bears’ hair nor smell on it</p>
<p>b&d, even though we have been sparring here on CC for several years now (especially on the subject of RISD!), you don’t know me, so I do wish you would stop making assumptions about me and what I would or would not do. </p>
<p>I wasn’t planning to major in the art until Senior year, so I only applied to 2 art schools. I got accepted into UCSD as a biology major. On their website, their only art majors are studio and other digital stuff, what is the difference between a major in studio art compared to a major in illustration? </p>
<p>I really wanted to go to RISD because of their foundation year, does UCSD offer foundations? If I do end up going to UCSD I would double major in studio and biology, is that doable? It would be a shame to have to reject RISD, because all my teachers told me I should go, and it was so hard to get into. </p>
<p>I also got accepted into MICA, but I got more money from RISD which is weird because I heard they give a lot more finaid. Thanks for all the replies!</p>
<p>You were accepted to great schools. A studio art double major with biology will be very doable. Studio art in a liberal arts school will not have the same intensity as RISD or MICA, or any other art college, but you will be exposed to many art disciplines. Your interest in biology can be a very fitting double major with art. And since you are newly interested in pursuing art, I would seriously consider UCSD for biology and art, and then if art ends up being your passion, you can go for your MFA at these and other art colleges. I agree with the above that $100,000 debt is a huge amount for a degree. As an artisit, your art will speak for you, more than your diploma. And the connections you make will also help to do that. Just a thought.</p>
<p>Worried_Mom says it best in post #6. I might just cut and paste that the next time someone asks for my thoughts about that fine school.</p>
<p>BandD,
I’d love to go to RISD… I don’t know enough detail about that place. I do know this: there is no “Harvard of the art schools”. The closest thing is probably Yale and they would most likely object to the title. </p>
<p>I’ve finally come all the way around to your viewpoint on the whole rankings issue. Rankings don’t work for art. Lately I’ve been thinking about it more or less as tiers. At the end of the day does it matter if a school is ranked 4th or 8th? No. I think it’s better to see it as it really is - that both of those would be outstanding and both have the potential to make me a better artist. Then it’s likes and dislikes, fit, money and so on.</p>
<p>Eljeff,</p>
<p>Yes UCSD has a foundation year –> [UCSD</a> - VisArts -](<a href=“http://visarts.ucsd.edu/undergraduate/major/studio]UCSD”>http://visarts.ucsd.edu/undergraduate/major/studio)
Double major with Biology might be tough. Bio majors in the UC system are really competitive and it becomes a pretty big load by itself. But I don’t know, that would be a great question to ask when you visit! BTW, you would have to apply to the VisArts department with your portfolio and that is a very competitive program. </p>
<p>Wheaty, dear
can I ask something since you are a photo guy? (you are, aren’t you?)
aren’t those ^ facilities’ photos in your UCSD link bother you aesthetically?
and grad school is actually worse than UG’s
shouldn’t some art people care to put the best show of what to be seen on their web site?
in other words
you should go there and offer to take better photos
<p>@Wheaty, ICAM seems very interesting. Since some of their courses for studio and ICAM are the same, would it be better to double major in ICAM instead of biology? ICAM seems to give me a well-rounded education with it’s liberal arts courses. Is the course load possible to complete in 4 years? </p>
<p>On the webpage it says a portfolio isn’t required, does it mean it would be easier to get in?
"Admission to UCSD is done solely by the Admissions Office. Please visit the Admissions Office main site at: [University</a> of California, San Diego](<a href=“http://gort.ucsd.edu/admissions/]University”>http://gort.ucsd.edu/admissions/).</p>
<p>Portfolios are not required for admission to any Visual Arts major when applying as a new student to UCSD."</p>
<p>Also, would it be hard to change majors and declare double major if I got accepted as a biology major?</p>
</p>