<p>You have two problems taking courses at Brown:</p>
<p>1.First the schedules do conflict a bit
2. Secondly, and most importantly, studios take a lot of time. This generally presents a lot of conflits with courses that you would like to take. </p>
<p>However, with the above said, it is somewhat doable if you are very open as to courses that you will take at Brown.</p>
<p>Regarding schedule conflicts between RISD and Brown and RISD students taking a class at Brown: It is relatively easier to do in the fall semester since the two schools have the same schedule offset by just one week. (Brown starts a week earlier than RISD, but if you are taking a class at Brown, you can move into the RISD dorms a week early.). It's much harder to do in the spring semester, since RISD has a 4-1-4 schedule with a 6-week Wintersession; also, spring breaks are different for the two schools.</p>
<p>Yes, studios take a lot of time, but taking classes at Brown is still very doable. Roughly 25% of RISD students take at least one class at Brown before they graduate.</p>
<p>Somehow I don't think that being able to take one or two courses at Brown before you graduate is a real selling point. RISD markets this like it is wide open and easy to do. This is not really the case especially if you have 25+ hours of studio courses.</p>
<p>The best way to accomplish this is by going through the new duel admission program,which is easier said then done.</p>
<p>I am going to deposit at MICA and wait to hear from RISD, I am really hoping I get in so I can face the choice! I think I'd be fine at either school, there are alot of pros and cons for each that I need to weigh out though.</p>
<p>Taking classes at Brown University is a real selling point at Rhode Island School of Design. The kids at Brown and RISD cross-pollinate and they really seem to like each other. They become friends and party together. Many of the clubs includes both schools. You can also go to their gym and work out. Daughter goes frequently to brown’s impressive libraries for papers and projects. Also you can hear great speakers that Brown can pull in because it’s a bigger school. My daughter said the Brown kids think the Risd students are super creative and the Risd student think the Brown kids are great. So it’s all good!</p>
<p>Taxguy, it's a selling point for RISD that is justified. RISD students can take one class per semester for each of the sophomore, junior, and senior years -- that's up to 6 classes, not just "one or two". (Freshman obviously can't take classes at Brown, due to RISD's intense Foundation Year.) </p>
<p>And it actually is doable. Several of his son's friends are doing it right now and I'm pretty sure that Mackinaw's daughter took language classes at Brown while she was at RISD. Yes, it isn't easy to do but those RISD kids are so creative and highly motivated that those that want to take classes at Brown find a way to do so.</p>
<p>The dual admission program is great, but certainly would apply to far fewer people, since you have to: (1) want to major ("concentrate") in two different subjects and (2) get accepted by both schools. Getting into even one is tough enough!</p>
<p>daughter told me tonight that several of her freshman friends took a class at brown freshman year. I didn't know you could do it, but I guess you can.</p>
<p>Yes, worried_Mom, my daughter took Italian at Brown while she was at RISD. Also some sociology, history, and ecology courses. In all 5 or 6. One or two of these may have been during summer school, which is also an option. And of course, Brown and RISD are adjacent to one another on College Hill.</p>
<p>mackinaw-What did your daughter think about her classes at Brown? Any impressions that you would like to pass along?</p>
<p>Osage, I don't know a lot about this but she seemed to enjoy them, in part because they allowed her to explore subjects that were interesting to her (e.g. dealing with ecological issues) but not covered within the RISD curriculum. She also interacted a fair bit with Brown students in part because she had a cousin who was enrolled at Brown but was a couple of years ahead of her (and who kindly left her Brown ID when she graduated . . . lol) as well as an off-campus roommate who was enrolled there also.</p>
<p>My son is completing his freshman year at RISD and is planning on taking a class at Brown in the fall. He has taken advantage of the Brown/RISD connection and spends quite a bit of time on Brown's campus. While this year has been challenging with the demands of all the studio classes, he has loved it and is thrilled to be there!</p>
<p>I went to the RISD Pre-College program this past summer, and it was incredible. The teachers are so knowledgeable, and they are more than willing to help the students outside of class. Yes, it does have a rigorous curriculum, but it is only to prepare you for the "real world". My friend (who will be going to RISD next year!!!) went to the MICA Pre-College program this past summer, and did not like it at all. I do not know all of the details, but she did not even apply come fall. GO RISD!</p>
<p>mackinaw-My daughter (like meandmyboys son) is planning on taking a brown class next year in the fall. So I was interested as to what your daughter's take on Brown's classes was like. She's had an exhusting yet great year at RISD. Loved every minute. She's wrapping the year up and completing her two papers. She's gone to bed at 3 am and been up at 6 everyday this week. She has one presentation to complete and then finish up projects and start the finial exam week and after that Crit week. Whew! It exhust me just to think about it. Coming home is sounding pretty good to her at this point.</p>
<p>My d. chose MICA over RISD, and will start in the Fall. She also went to MICA's Pre-College Program for two years running and loved both years. </p>
<p>Whatever RISD may offer, it's certainly not much scholarship money, so you need to be ready to pay for nearly the full ride if you want RISD. </p>
<p>MICA offered her $17,500 per year and RISD $0. Only KCAI and SCAD were in the same range with scholarship offers. And it really did matter on the scholarship money, she needed as much as she could get.</p>
<p>If we had an unlimited income, I doubt that she would change her decision. </p>
<p>So I think it's up to the individual student and their preferences. I am sure RISD will provide as much to those that select it as the 400 or so new MICA undergraduates.</p>
<p>S.Dad</p>
<p>apparently it's not just john's hopkins, it's 15 schools that participate with mica</p>
<p>Mica doesn't give scholarships, they give discounts.</p>
<p>Whenever I go to bloomindale's there rugs are always 75% off, which is of course the real cost of their rugs.</p>
<p>How many people post here that they receive the most amazing scholarship offers from Mica? </p>
<p>Does it really seem like comparing apples to apples when comparing the cost of MICA vs RISD?</p>
<p>Not saying Mica is not a great place, far from it. Maybe it's better than RISD. But it doesn't cost the same to go there. It's much cheaper because almost everybody gets a 'scholarship'</p>
<p>I understand that RISD may not award the same number of scholarships each year as other art schools, however, it IS possible to be awarded a scholarship. My son received a very nice one and that added to being an RA, makes RISD very affordable.
(My son almost didn't apply due to what he heard on these boards - - it would have been a shame as RISD is a perfect fit for him.)</p>
<p>meandmyboys - At what year can you apply for the RA position at RISD? What do they offer in the way of a salary or money off living expenses? what kind of time does it take? Can you give some basic details about the RA job?</p>
<p>Are you saying that everyone at MICA gets a scholarship??? Gee, they have a number of them ar varying amounts.</p>
<p>yes, they offer a lot of scholarships, but my impression is that far less than half of the incoming students are awarded substantial money. I base that on going to the accepted students (and families) tour and presentation they gave in April of my son's senior year in high school. Falvey Hall was about half full with FAMILIES of students awarded scholarships, whereas a MUCH larger contingent of families that day were attending other presentations. </p>
<p>I'm not sure what the point of calling MICA's scholarships "discounts" as opposed to scholarships, as if they jacked up the tuition only to make incoming students feel special when they got the "real" price.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that MICA is a GREAT school, and relatively affordable to many accepted students, regardless of their motives or methods.</p>