<p>Hopefully some of you guys remember me... I stopped posting a month or so ago because my schoolwork was getting pretty hardcore.
Anyway, the letters are in! All but one- Cooper seems to love making us wait.</p>
<p>Here are my acceptances + the approximate amount of money they are willing to throw at me:
SAIC (presidential scholarship)
RISD (stingy aid)
Knox (reasonably sized scholarship)
Bard (no aid notification yet)
U of M (no aid notification yet, but in-state tuition)</p>
<p>Still waiting on Cooper Union, as I said. But I am not expecting anything.</p>
<p>Right now, I am most seriously considering SAIC and Bard. RISD would be up there, but it is just not going to happen with the measly little financial aid package they tossed at me. And I love love love the idea of Bard, but it is equally expensive at this point.</p>
<p>I want a school where I can learn a lot about myself in addition to the art world, and the world in general. More than anything, I want a happy yet challenging college experience.</p>
<p>I know the decision is entirely up to me, and I am not asking anyone to tell me what to do. However, I really do appreciate your thoughts on any or all of these schools. </p>
<p>Cheers,
a very nervous Barney</p>
<p>PS: Is it worth it to take out a crapton of student loans to attend the college of your dreams? How much is too much?</p>
<p>I’m a SAIC first year student right now, and have had a mostly positive experience thus far. That being said, there are definitely certain things I wish I was told before I made my decision to come to this school. Some of them being,</p>
<p>1) SAIC is not for everybody, meaning there is A LOT of student drop outs and transfers. In the first few months of school you will see a lot of questionable work. SAIC admits a ton of people and slowly weeds out the slackers, non-artists, etc. Because of this, the first few months of school are hard because it is a time of great reflection. You’re going to question your art, yourself, your relation to the art world…
2) This is something I’m pretty upset about not hearing before coming to SAIC: Students at SAIC are required to take more credits then is possible to take in 4 years. Most people end up staying for 5 years, or take summer courses.
3) SAIC is absolutely great for conceptual fine arts, and in a lot of critiques, I at least felt that teachers cared more for the concept and less about the aesthetics, craft, or design. Because of this it is very easy to “bull*****” work. For example, in one of my classes my teacher was absolutely enthralled with a piece of white computer paper in which someone had traced a piece of toast.</p>
<p>Now I know I just mentioned some negative things about the school but I have to tell you that so far I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. Chicago has a GREAT art scene, and the faculty is super connected to that scene (and are greatly knowledgable). As well, students here are extremely passionate at what they do and it most definitely shows through some pretty awesome work.</p>
<p>If you have anymore questions feel free to message me!</p>
<p>Thanks so much Mollie. I will definitely keep those things in mind, as they are points that people have mentioned to me before. Do you know anything about SAIC’s study abroad opportunities?</p>
<p>Bears, I know! Soo nervous. But honestly, I wish I knew a little bit more about Cooper, and I am not sure how I would like living in the city. However, I will probably be saying something differently if I go home to find a big envelope today. Most likely, there will be a little one. </p>
<p>While you wait for CU to answer could you please give us more info? List your acceptances with the amount it will cost for you to attend. Sort it highest $'s to lowest $'s.</p>
<p>Also please expand on this a little more: “More than anything, I want a happy yet challenging college experience.”</p>
<p>Answering the above should allow you to eliminate several schools from your list.</p>
<p>I agree about UMich. You are very lucky to be in-state. SAIC and Knox sound like good packages too and they would certainly be very different experiences!</p>
<p>I think your search for a challenging college experience is more likely to happen at a college or university if you are thinking of “college experience” as taking a variety of classes, some outside of your comfort zone, hanging out with students who have a diversity of interests and skills (outside of art), going to theatre/music/etc produced by your fellow students…You can have a version of this at art schools like RISD and SAIC but it is really all about the art so keep that in mind. If Bard is your gut top choice perhaps you should ask yourself why? Is it because of the art faculty/facilities/students/curriculum or is it because of the whole colleges’ faculty/facilities/students/curriculum. If is the latter and it is not financially feasible…UMich may be a better place to be…if it is the former, SAIC may be the best. My S also applied and was accepted at art schools and universities and found that he wanted the latter environment…he just didn’t really know it until April of senior year.<br>
Good luck…you have good choices so don’t sweat it too much.</p>