<p>I originally planned to go to Pomona College(with $35,330 per year), and I just received the RISD admission parcel this afternoon. I applied for RISD as part of the Brown&RISD dual degree program but was rejected by Brown, and hence receive no financial aid from RISD(I cannot even apply for loans because I am Chinese).</p>
<p>My family could at most support me with $20,000 per year(under very tensed financial budget), and the RISD tuition and fees is &55,500 per year. I know there is a scholarship available for international students (at least I haven't read the restrictions up till now) ranged from $10,000 to $27,500 and I have sent an email to the admission office consulting on it, and I am trying to apply for private scholarship(there is SO FEW for international students).</p>
<p>I can't really decide which school to choose even if I have the money. I DO want enjoy a general liberal arts education during undergraduate years and I know Pomona is a great place for that, but I know I really love art and I am going to work in something related to art(99%). I would probably regret for losing a brilliant liberal arts education if I chose RISD some time later, but right now I felt like if I give up RISD this way I would start regretting right away.</p>
<p>I feel you have your whole life to pursue your art, but only one chance to receive a liberal arts education and have the “typical college experience.” A good well-rounded education with exposure to a variety of people and ideas will serve you better in the long run as an artist, IMO.</p>
<p>it just seems to me that I only have one chance to enjoy an intense art training at top art institution too… …Thanks for your advice anyway…it’s really a hard decision to make…</p>
<p>kimcat, that is not the situation. There are plenty of schools like, art center, who have older students primarily because one can always go back to art school. You can’t really say the same thing about Pomona College.</p>
<p>You need to be realistic, and not be illusioned by the concept of doing art or having something art related as a career. At pomona you’ll be able to take studio art classes and possibly even major in art or minor in it.</p>
<p>I would only recommend art school straight out of high school for those die hard core “if its not art, I don’t want to do anything” people. And even then most high schools students haven’t been exposed to much compared to what you will in college to hold such a position. If you have a desire for a liberal arts education, or any other interests other than art that you want to explore, explore those first and take up art on the side.</p>
<p>You could get a good education in art at pomona, while also exploring liberal arts and not being massively in debt! many good artists are self-trained–you don’t need a great art school like RISD to be a great artist. Admittedly, at RISD kids may be more similar to you if you’re more an artsy kid, but I think you might find the lack of liberal arts confining/constraining. I’d go with Pomona.</p>
<p>I currently attend RISD, and I would advise you to go to Pomona. If you are interested, Art Center in Pasadena (about 35 minutes away from Pomona) has a great artistic environment and offers courses at nighttime. RISD is very intensely art focused and unfortunately offers little to nothing in the liberal arts department. If you come to realize later on that you want to study art, there is always the possibility of transferring in. Honestly, I would say the first year of RISD is not worth the money anyway, so transferring is a great option.</p>