RISD's pre-college summer program (regarding skill level...)

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>I'm a sophomore in high school right now, and I've been interested in RISD since the beginning of my freshman year, so naturally, I've filled out my application and I'm pretty set on attending RISD's pre-college summer program. My three choices are graphic design, traditional photography, and fashion design.
The thing that I'm worried about, though, is my skill level. I love art and design, but I'm very self-conscious about my drawings. I've been complimented on my art before, but I personally never believe I'm where I should be with my skill (I can't draw something good without tons of references, and I get discouraged because of that!) I also tend to have these little spurts of creativity, where when I draw something it turns out really nice so I keep on drawing, but then, gradually, everything starts getting worse, so I become discouraged and stop.</p>

<p>So with that being said, I'm just wondering,
1) How do college art courses work? Well... specifically these pre-college programs. With so many kids at so many different levels, how do they teach and make sure everyone is benefiting (if that makes sense??)
2) Should I choose drawing as my first choice instead of graphic design, or do you think the fundamental drawing course is enough to be able to improve a lot within the six weeks?
3) I've seen reviews from people who attended the RISD pre-college program that said they had little to no background in art, but still... can anyone provide some more specific stories or anything? How was your experience, what major did you take, etc? :)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>I’m going to add to this question, How difficult is it to get a full financial aid scholarship to attend the pre-college program there?</p>

<p>[Leocaat’s</a> Sketchbook - ConceptArt.org Forums](<a href=“http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=151774]Leocaat’s”>http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=151774)<br>
Heres a sample of my work/sketchbook new stuff is at the bottom. Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>I know someone else nicer would eventually come and post but this is what I know

  1. RISD does not ask for portfolio if you don’t ask for fin aid.(if it’s not changed) means, there are lots of mediocre rich kids who can not draw, but more better “student” from better-off families ( since they can pay) and at least know enuff to choose top school experience out of many other options.
  2. This is from my kid’s old classmate’s experience. lots of smoking, immature dorm party, I say this over and over again but viewing “family guy marathon” since its creator is the most famous alum between kids nowadays. and the kid hated family guy, loathed sound of it, but it’s only him.
  3. He took drawing as major and was unimpressed, uncompleted, can not work after hours or weekends because studio would shut down.
  4. He got full tuition scholarships with art supply stipend but room and board were gapped.
    He was tax wise borderline poverty, had mad GPA, can’t beat rec letter. maybe these are more important, since everyone with mad skill and killer portfolio would ask for full fin aid from Florida to California, those kids you are competing against.
  5. being rising senior (summer after junior) help alot in order to increase aid money, unless you are exceptionally poor and good.
  6. there are many success stories, like you get so liked by instructors to score rec letter from them, built whole portfolio on six weeks, made mind o ditch Unis or LACs to tackle art school, fall in love with Providence, etc etc
    I am sure you have read those. It is up to you, and your parents’ finance.
    Don’t forget to budget in transportation and art supply.
    RISD does not release supply list until you get there. (if it haven’t changed) you end up buying something you already have, or guess wrong and bring stuff you won’t need.
    Providence is hard to get to, or stay in for your folks cheap. Airport is meddling, Amtrak is the robbery, bus is tedious than other bigger cities, driving I-95 is the biggest drawback of that school, is often said.
    but
    Hey! it’s RISD !!
    go for it!</p>
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<p>@OP, I agree with bears that since RISD doesn’t require a portfolio that it sends a message that is welcoming to all skill levels. I don’t have any particular knowledge of their program though.</p>

<p>Also, in general it may be better to take a drawing course rather than graphic design. I only say that because all art schools seem to require having a good number of drawings from life in your portfolio for admission. If you think you have enough already, or can make more in the next year on your own or in another class, go with your real interests - whatever they are.</p>

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<p>Thanks greenwitch that was helpful :slight_smile: I was wondering when applying to precollege does one fill out many applications to different colleges? or just one</p>

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<p>research more programs and if you find good fit, you should do at least couple of them if you can spend app fees.
not only as backup plan-B,it is good to know which school would be friendly and who is not, who seems eager and who could care less.
when applying to the real thing, it often mirrors admission’s attitude, thou pre college is done by continuing education, people’d switch around within/out of the departments.
always be honest, prompt, clear and nice to them, then they will be more likely nice to you when it matters. keep all the paper trail when you do anything on line.
Ok I shut up now.</p>

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<p>Bears is right - my D did pre-college at NHIA and they gave her merit $ to go to pre-college, then at the last day with the exhibition, she was awarded a merit award to be used for tuition if she went there. Throughout her senior year, they courted her and offered her more $$. Tuition there was about half of the other “name-brand” schools, and the fin aid was generous. She liked the school but it was a little too small town for her.</p>

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<p>I’ve gone to the California State Summer School of the Arts and the RISD Pre-college, and honestly I think a lot of what you get out of the programs is how willing you are to work in them. Personally I thought as a whole the kids at the RISD Pre-college were a lot less dedicated to art and a lot more ohi’msoartsy than compared with my experience at CSSSA. There are, as bears and dogs mentioned, quite a few kids who are notsogood at art but rich (some kids have told me that their parents FORCED them to attend, treating it as a “summer camp”). Likewise the most public/vocal kids smoke, slack, party, etc. Despite this, I did gain a LOT from RISD pre-college (painting major) and I don’t regret it in the least. My painting teacher was pretty awful though the class was well-structured for beginners, art history across all majors is seen as a joke and an opportunity to sleep in one day of the week, I LOVED my design class, and my drawing class was pretty good. </p>

<p>The thing about RISD pre-college which seems to be unlike other precolleges is that you work HARD. It’s a toned down version of the real RISD experience, but it the struggle is what gives you a sense of whether you can handle the real thing it or not. The first week is mellow so you think everything is not so bad, but by the fourth week working late into the night (I’m talking 2-3 AM) is pretty standard if you try your hardest on all assignments (which I do recommend, because in the end you gain the most that way). </p>

<p>My friends in the graphic design major didn’t really like it (they said all they did was draw a ton of eggbeaters–no graphic design!). I’ve heard good things about the traditional photography from my friends in it, and all I know about fashion design is that the culminating project is a dress made from paper featured in a fashion show. </p>

<p>However, if you’re thin-skinned about your work (ie: drawings) and you plan on attending RISD pre-college, I would prepare to feel inferior and go with the mindset of abandoning insecurity and being open-minded to growth (even if you might get worn down the in the process). A few kids who attend are seriously incredible, many are quite good, and all your studio classes have critiques. </p>

<p>As for how teachers teach everyone-- well it depends on the teacher. In general they have the set-up (ie: still life, figure, etc) and you just work and they walk around and point out what they like/what needs improvement, you can seek them out for questions/help anytime, and then at the conclusion of the assignment you do critiques. Sometimes they will give lectures (ie: in design in particular) and sometimes they will give slideshows of how artists have interpreted the assignment of still life, etc. </p>

<p>If you have the money to spend, I’d say go for it. Otherwise, I’d look into other programs and just build your skills and if you want, you can then go to RISD pre-college the summer after (the vast majority of kids who attend are rising seniors anyway) when you may be able to get more out of the program’s rigor.</p>

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<p>in addition to risd, check out penn’s summer art and architecture program. penn faculty is killer and the students are serious and fun, great program. 2 friends went last summer and had a great time, worked all day w/ penn faculty and loved living in the quad</p>

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<p>Sorry to necro this thread, but DD e-mailed tonight from RISD that she missed the big Family Guy marathon to finish her reading in the library. </p>

<p>I will never doubt b&d again. :wink: Not that I ever did.</p>

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<p>yay Daddy Angry is back!!
I thought we’d never gonna see you again you seemed so cozy in that (cough cough) parents forum.</p>

<p>NO!!
people!!! doubt, and contest!! that’s what we do here! (=art turf. unlike those “parents of class of (fill in the blank)” where if you peep one wrong word (cough cough spit spat gag gag) </p>

<p>That RISD and the bike and family guy… need I say more?</p>

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<p>I never left. I just go six or eight months at a time without anything intelligent to say.</p>

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<p>ROFL.</p>

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<p>I just want to know why you are angry?</p>

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<p>[Angry</a> Dad](<a href=“http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Angry_Dad][b]Angry”>Angry Dad | Simpsons Wiki | Fandom) is a comic book written by Bart on The Simpsons.</p>

<p>As to RISD precollege, it seems to me to be populated by the same mostly affluent, hard working, eager-to-please, rules followers you’d see at your local prep school. DD hasn’t met anyone yet, I don’t think, who is there against their will, there to party, or new to art, however. Maybe more of that in the boys’ dorm?</p>

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<p>or she is such a good girl who won’t see evil hear evil say evil.
plus much much fewer boys than girls. only top sl**… I don’t say the word or dad will be really ANGRY!!! would be invited into boys’ rooms.
and let’s not forget that “your local prep school kids” are different species from our lots.
to some of our kids, they are automatically categorized as “entitled snobby goody goody holier than thou” with no fault of them at all, just happened to be able to spend 20 bucks every outing or having smartphone.</p>

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<p>I do have a question…what is it with RISD and that bike? :)</p>

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<p>read “what high schools don’t tell you” chapter on visual art schools. there is bit of (misguided but nice try) explanation.
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/What-High-Schools-Other-Parents/dp/B001R23FR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309494535&sr=1-1[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/What-High-Schools-Other-Parents/dp/B001R23FR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309494535&sr=1-1&lt;/a&gt;
and
mom
don’t be too cozy, I am half speaking from (cough cough) my kid’s view from you-know-where!!</p>

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<p>I guess what I was saying is that I’ve got a bit of a hybrid on my hands, and I think she’s discovered others of her species there as well.</p>

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<p>We put our worry like this. At prep school, DD feels like an outcast sometimes because she’s an artist. But is she going to be an outcast at art school because she’s a prep? The answer thus far has been, ‘no.’ I think she feels like she’s finally home. We’ll see what she thinks after six weeks.</p>

<p>i did, however, get a cryptic e-mail about Rhode Island laws that I eventually interpreted as evidence DD is going to come back in August with a pierced nose.</p>

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<p>does it cost more than 20bucks in that mall?</p>

<p>jokes aside, NO!!
dad, you are THE law!! stop her if you don’t wanna.
give her one hole, there will me no end.
OK I quit now, getting to (fill in the blank)</p>

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<p>Beware of the lack of air conditioning in the woman’s dorm. One day last summer when I called my daughter I became very concerned when she was barely making sense due to the heat exhaustion. The School was completely unhelpful and seriously bordering on negligence. RISD pre-college is not for the immature teens.</p>