<p>So.......I GOT INTO MY DREAM SCHOOL as a transfer.
I was wondering about what College Confidential-ians would think about RISD vs SVA for graphic design.</p>
<p>Thankfully, RISD offered to give me 25k in scholarship + 5k in grants. (they said the amount may increase) SVA gave me 12k in scholarship. By going to RISD, I'd be saving about 30k in total after graduation.</p>
<p>BUT, there are some sacrifices I'd have to make. Someone just told me about how RISD professors do not hook up connections for their students, for they work full time. SVA on the other hand, work half time teaching at SVA and the other half in their professional field. I heard time and time again that connections are everything in the art field, so I am afraid I'd be a nobody if I went to RISD. Another factor is location. RISD is in Providence, which is definitely not NYC. On the other hand, there are those fishy "rankings" of art schools in the U.S. that ranked RISD #1 for graphic design. I realized that those rankings are usually for graduates. My question is, what about the undergrad? Is there a huge difference between the kind of education undergraduates receive versus the graduates?</p>
<p>My biggest concern is, do I give up my chance at SVA for connections for prestige and "#1 graphic design education" at RISD? Also, wouldn't more prestige help in getting internships and jobs?</p>
<p>I am so terribly confused, but I'm still happy and in denial that I was accepted ^^</p>
<p>What will help you get jobs is a great portfolio. Focus on that no matter where you go. </p>
<p>So you are saying that RISD gave you 13k more than SVA…over three years? 39k. What is that worth to you?..will you be that much deeper in debt if you stay at SVA? If it’s not you paying…what does that mean to your parents. Only you and your family can decide that. That’s a big chunk of change in my opinion.</p>
<p>Granted…I am writing in that thread about fine art but I think some of that applies a bit to design as well. Though I can see your point about getting connections to firms through your professors. </p>
<p>RISD does do a big carrer/internship fair in the Spring where the biggest companies come to review portfolios. MY son’s GD roommate will intern at Google this summer and my son will be at Microsoft. </p>
<p>You are blessed whatever you choose…opportunities abound. You really can’t go wrong in either place.</p>
<p>YES that is so true. It’s the final product that matters! My friends this year and I promised that even if we were to fail any classes, we’d make sure the portfolios will be bulletproof. Although we probably won’t fail any class :)</p>
<p>Oh waitwait I calculated it wrong! I just calculated the tuition and nothing else. Well, in the end RISD will cost a tad bit more because of the summer program costs too. Either school, I’ll be paying off similar debt so… I calculated everything in advance and I accounted for the worst case scenarios too on how I will pay back the debt. It will work out ^^ It’ll be gruesome, long years, but at least I’ll be able to laugh and be happy in the end. </p>
<p>They have that sort of thing at SVA too where they grade you 1-5 on the portfolio just like those AP tests. 5 will grants you “extra classes” or honors classes or something and any lower will be just whatever. RISD, I don’t know. I’ve been talking to many in SVA to learn about professors, what to take, what not, and how this one professor burns your work during critique if it’s bad. But RISD on the other hand, I had NO clue I’d even get in so I didn’t have much time to gather info because I was so darn set on SVA for another three years. Now that it happened, I’m just contemplating and hoping I’ll just fall in love with the atmosphere of the school and what not when I visit soon. BUT in the end, it’s the portfolio and what I make so…hmmm~</p>
<p>As a fellow transfer, who did a pretty decent amount of research on both SVA and RISD… well my opinion would be RISD hands down. I am going for illustration not graphic design, but I feel that both illustration and GD rank at a similar level at each school if that makes sense. <em>Personaly</em> I thought SVA was much more impressive in their catalogue than in person. RISD on the other hand really exceeded my expectations when I saw it in person. I loved the vibe at RISD way more than SVA. But that is personal preference… I have heard that RISD has really fantastic connections. It seems like schools practically recruit straight from RISD! SVA had me under the impression (when listening to the department head talk about “connections”) that you had to be someone that the professor was particularly interested in. Just the feeling I got. RISD doesn’t seem like you need to rely on a particular instructor, but rather you are self sufficient and the name serves as the connection, if you will. Also, that is a great scholarship from RISD. I have known people who have literally been given nothing from them, so that is pretty significant! </p>
<p>I should mention that RISD was my first choice, so maybe I am biased, but SVA was at one time a top consideration for me too. If it were me, I would definately choose RISD!</p>
<p>RISD has a fantastic reputation, particularly for graphic arts. I wouldn’t focus too much on other people’s opinions about whether instructors are going to “hook” you up with work afterwards. Things change, the economy changes. What I do know is that RISD graduates are highly regarded and as someone else put it, yes, your portfolio is what will really matter. Also it’s impressive that RISD offered you that pretty generous scholarship. Basically they are not known for offering money at all so they obviously have their eye on you. </p>
<p>As someone who has worked in the commercial arts arena for some time and hired also, I’m going to look first at the portfolio, secondly the interview and RISD would catch my eye anytime on a resume. Partly reputation, partly because I also know it’s a more selective school and graduates come out pretty well versed.</p>
<p>Let me add that I’m going to look at that portfolio first and SVA is a very good school. And if your portfolio is good your resume could say Podunk Anywhere and I wouldn’t care. However if I’m going to be honest, for me personally, RISD will catch my eye after the interview and portfolio process. I’m not diminishing SVA or any other school but I’m just being honest here.</p>
<p>I have written a number of posts that deal with my college visits, among which were both RISD and SVA. Although I do think that SVA is among the best schools of its kind and is among the best connected schools of its kind being in Manhattan, I would pick RISD if the total cost was about the same or even a bit more. RISD just has that stellar “ivy-league” reputation that can’t be beat. I LOVED the vibe there too over that of even SVA. If you are asking me about other majors such as graduate animation or 3d animation, I might give you a different answer. However, for graphic design, I would probably pick RISD.</p>