RISD, USC ROSKI, OR UCLA? Help me decide!

College Search & Selection
1

I’ve recently been admitted to RISD, USC, and UCLA and I’m completely crossed. These were all my reach/dream schools and I never expected to get into all 3. I’m hoping to study graphic design. Please, any opinions would be helpful! I want to consider all factors, such as housing, location, cost, etc.

Intended majors
RISD: Graphic Design
USC: Design
UCLA: Digital Media Arts

RISD pros
-best art school of course!
-amazing graphic design major
-small school, small classes
-safe & beautiful campus
-can share facilities with Brown
-close to NY
-affordable housing
-foundation year

RISD cons
-tiny dorms
-EXPENSIVE (70k+)
-it’s cold
-it’s on the opposite coast of where I want to be
-all new setting away from anyone I previously know

USC pros
-another great design school
-true “college life” experience
-beautiful campus in sunny California (i need sun)
-not cold
-able to take classes unrelated to just art
-living relatively close to parents & lots of friends in the area
-suites are available

USC cons
-EXPENSIVE (70k+)
-general education requirements (i never want to see a math test ever again in my life)
-not as safe as RISD
-large school large classes
-the major is just “Design,” not “Graphic Design.” is this design major less specialized?

UCLA pros
-affordable (in state)
-great food
-in a nicer area than USC
-nice, warm, & sunny
-able to take classes unrelated to just art
-living relatively close to parents & lots of friends in the area
-true “college life” experience

UCLA cons
-DMA is not quite… what I’m looking for
-(this is such a stupid point but) the art building at UCLA is intentionally asymmetrical and it BOTHERS ME
-large school large classes, 2x USC’s size

2

Some UCLA pros are: frozen yogurt near art department, there’s a LOT of museums near by that you can get on a public transport and be on your way, there’s a sculpture garden in front of the art department, and there’s a small library dedicated to art and contains books all about art and artists.
Btw I’ve been to UCLA for a summer session so i know this.

I would pick UCLA, since RISD is an institution so obviously it’s REALLY expensive and narrow (you can’t really study anything else other than art), and USC’s ranking for art program is pretty low (also, i’ve been to USC for a portfolio review and their art department is really gloomy and doesn’t look like an art department).

UCLA’s art program ranking is right under Yale and it’s #2 in the US. People who graduated from UCLA also have a higher chance in attending Ivy League schools when they study for their Graduate degrees.

3

@littlecorvidae thank you so much! I did some research on Roski and its got its fair share of controversies. Right now I’m really leaning towards UCLA

4

@ihateeverything
Just found you! My D also is CA instate and accepted to UCLA and Roski, for BA Art though. She sounds similar to you in that she wants to take a variety of art classes incl design. And she is struggling with choice between USC and UCLA. Are you going to Imagine UCLA Art on April 12? Maybe you guys can meet ?