<p>I'm considering attending SAIC, but I'm unsure for the following reasons:
-Their acceptance rate is around 80%
-Their highest test scores are about 1800 for the SAT and I can certainly make a better score than that. I'm taking the SAT on Saturday and believe I'll make at least a 2070. Also, I've been Art Club President at my school since 2009. I am in NHS (officer elections are taking place at the end of may and I have been nominated for president).My weighted GPA is 4.5 and I'm ranked 21 out of 345. This year, I'm enrolled in these classes:
-AP US History
-Pre-AP Physics
-Pre-AP Studio Art 2 (They couldn't fit me into the AP class)
-Pre-AP Spanish 3
-AP English Language
-Pre-AP Algebra 2
-Graphic Design and Illustration
-I want to study Art History and intend on working in that field; however, SAIC is not ranked for that major, but they do have the Art Institute of Chicago right next door.
-I'm concerned I might not be able to get a job once I graduate. Since they are not ranked for my major, I'm afraid my degree would not be as credible as a school with a better program. </p>
<p>Ultimately, I am considering SAIC because I want to study both Art History and Painting. I want to have intellectual classes as well as studio classes. The program I am looking at right now is the Consecutive degree option for BFA and BA in visual and critical studies.</p>
<p>You will have to do a foundation year at SAIC so keep that in mind, that is true at most art schools you would attend. The art history program at SAIC has a strong reputation from what I know and certainly that direct connection to the museum (indoor walkway, by connection I mean literally) could be a real big plus for someone with your interests. The museum collection is excellent. </p>
<p>Rumors of a very strong focus on conceptual art are true. With your academic record you would be in the running for some serious merit awards if your portfolio is good. But it seems to me that this might be true at some very highly regarded universities where art history is also taken quite seriously. Apply everywhere, you’ve got the academic record for it.</p>
<p>I agree with everything arty says. Apply everywhere. You have similar but stronger stats than my son and he had a lot of nice choices when he was done. ASIC has high acceptance rate but I think they mostly only give the big money to folks like you. Is your portfolio strong? Also look at the bha program at cmu. Look at combined brown risd thing. Check out wustl. Mica has strong liberal arts.</p>
<p>what kind of AH: ancient, modern, contemporary?
what kind of job? research, writing, museum curator, director?
what kind of art do you do?
traditional or commercial, or conceptual?
if you are ancient, research/director, traditional, look into Williams college.
you can always go to SAIC for grad school (ranked well and pretty competitive to get in if that’s important to you) for serious job, you will need to do that anyway, unless
your UG is HY maybe Brown and you change your route to contemporary track.
if you can fit in, you should start taking German and Italian, if you are ancient.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=47016[/url]”>http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=47016</a>
I posted about it in Cooper thread which gotten sidetracked to poetry thread
^she did AH and studio art at Brown, gotten job already.
it was before Brown/RISD dual degree was offered and people did either both at Brown or somehow took enough class from RISD to get their BFA:my guess is taken much longer than dual degree’s 5years that way.
so…
yeah why not apply to Brown/RISD? talk about selective, prestigious, bragging right!!!
then drawback is its still fairly new, no graduating class to prove its merit. and in-RISD out-Brown sorry no dual(most common scenario) you’d be kind of sad and wish you’d put all the effort on Brown instead of stressing over RISD’s bike drawing you spent critical app time frame on it</p>
<p>bears and dogs:
I don’t want to apply to the Brown/RISD program for a couple of reasons. First of all, I don’t think I can get into Brown. My academics are good, but they’re not ivy league material. Secondly, I’ve read that many who are in that program don’t feel like a part of either school. I want to go to one school all four years.
Right now, I’m not sure what kind of art I want to study. I’d like to study all areas, but if I were a curator of a museum I’d rather it be modern art.
switters:
I don’t think my portfolio is as strong as it could be. This year I have been stuck in an art 1 class rather than the AP class. I am one of three that this happened to . So, as a result, I have produced very few pieces of art this year. I was hoping on developing my skills some more in a pre-college program, but RISD did not give me any scholarship. They sent me a letter in saying that they had a larger number of scholarship applicants than usual, and as a result they would not be able to give many scholarship. I’m considering oing to SAIC pre-college, but I don’t think I have enough money.
As for MICA, I’ve just about ruled it out. Where the college is located is very important to me, and I’ve heard bad things about Baltimore.Concerning CMU, I like that I would be able to study different languages there, but I can’t find an art history program on their website.
artsmarts:
I would like to simply think about what my goals are right now, but it’s impossible. My mother, a graphic artist, doesn’t want to help me with college because she doesn’t think I’ll be able to get a job as an artist. I can’t even start to talk to her about colleges without being given a speech about how I’m not going to find a job. Secondly, I need support from my grandfather to go to college. I’ve looked all over for scholarships, but if those don’t work out I don’t want to have serious debt after college. He, being an engineer, doesn’t think I will be able to make it as an artist. I need proof that I will be able to get a job after graduation. Thirdly, it would make me feel a lot better if I knew I had a job secured in a field of my interest after graduation, there aren’t many jobs in Art History.</p>
<p>I’ve heard good things about NYU’s art history program. Are my academics good enough to attend? Does anybody know anything about their program?</p>
yet to prove that your portfolio can do you favor (have you tried scholastics? does your school participate? you can do it yourself if school doesn’t)
afford pre-college to pad your portfolio this last chance ( you are junior, yes?)
convince your mom you are different from she is/was/have been
convince either mom or grandpa times a-changing: art degree is the coolest thing to have - better than law, business or (cough cough) engineering</p>
<p>find portfolio prep class that you can do this summer in your community outreach. If there is nothing around where you are, you can still do it yourself if you really really want to do. read in here and look at works kids posted to see what is that you need to improve.
don’t feel bad, RISD always says that, you are not the only one.</p>
<p>if money is tight, I would still say pick one Ivy as super reach.
and would push Williams. your family and friends might say “where?” let them be. Where do you live? go visit if you can.
for safety, try lower tier LACs with half decent art program that give good merit aid. Knox, Willamette, Guilford, there must be lots more depending on which part of the country you can/can’t live with. there should be half decent art history that come with and other academics choices are always better than art schools.
location wise, I am not sure WashU is your thing, but look into anyways.
RIT, Syracuse are also location no-no s but known for merit$$ especially for minorities.
and
look into your state school with art program that possibly give you full ride or outa state that would, Ohio state? ask fammom on this. again, your family and friends would say “where?” let them be. </p>
<p>Baltimore where MICA is fine, just like any other big city. Chicago is “sketchy” to many people. NYC more so.</p>
<p>tell your folks there would be no job lining up anywhere anymore after UG unless you’d be doing high end programing and really good at it.
I did hear 2D to 3D converting is in great demand. are you interesting in that sort of art?</p>
<p>lastly
NYU is one of the most expensive, most stingy, most overrated school.
then again, I am here in NYC and being sick of them, don’t listen to me.
wait, are you saying your grandpa would pay for NYU? or even SAIC? then forget everything I said.</p>
<p>You are in a bit of a bind. I do understand your mother being worried about you getting work but really I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve know who studied in a field because there would be work and then times change and there was no work in that field when they graduated. Which is why I think this is often a misconception but I do get the worry about an art degree. I have an art degree and yes, it was rocky for awhile before I found my footing. </p>
<p>Do your best to work with grandpa. And I think a lot of the parental types on this thread can help you with some good advice. Bears and others have seen a lot of different schools between them, all with an art focus. </p>
<p>And let me add that I think that a kid with a weighted 4.whatever and obviously a good student should NOT be under any pressure as to where they can go to college. Your generation has so much pressure placed on them when it comes to getting into schools. I’m thinking you should just apply to a whole bunch of schools, and yes some ivies if you’re interested, and see what happens and who you get offers from. Then decide. </p>
<p>Don’t rule some place out if you’re interested. Let them make the decision, you might be happily surprised. You’re obviously bright, you’re a junior already asking questions and thinking ahead, you’re going to be just fine!</p>
<p>SAIC is a well-respected, world-reknowned art college. It’s association with the Art Institute is invaluable and students have ready and easy access not only to the museum, but to the “back rooms” as well. It’s in an amazing area of Chicago, very cultural, vibrant and young. The question of the 80% acceptance rate continues to baffle most students and parents. I agree that they give the top students strong merit scholarships, which might result in many students not attending in the end. And others have suggested that many students transfer out during the freshman year, offering a “natural” reduction of number of students.<br>
BUT, if you are interested in academics as well, even though SAIC and many art colleges offer 1/3 of their classes in academic subjects, consider a strong LAC or university with a great art department, art history courses, plus. You can always go to art college for graduate school – you are obviously a strong student and probably would benefit from a more well-rounded education. EVERYONE will have trouble finding a job (except engineers and computer science majors!) – I would not let that dictate what you choose to do for the next four years. Explore differenct learning environments and apply to a broad range. You will be a very different person in April of your senior year than you are today. Been there! Good luck</p>
<p>I would really like to attend pre-college, but I’m not sure i can get enough money to go. There are some art history courses at Brown this summer that I’d like to take. Will not going to pre-college lessen my chances of getting into some of the more prestigious schools? How much would going help? Also, I don’t want to simply go to pre-college to better my chances of getting into a good school. I’m genuinely interested in taking some higher level courses. My school doesn’t have an art history class and I’d like to see how I like the major before I devote my college career to it.</p>
<p>Also, I know that Williams has a strong art history program, but I’m not sure about the location. I’m looking for a school with artsy students (not all but some) and ample internship and study-abroad opportunities. Does Williams fit that criteria, and, if so, could I get in?</p>
<p>far as I know hi priced summer classes at brand named college campuses are more likely cash cows to said school and eager willing monied parents’ trap. it does not help your acceptance or intellectual growth much. sure they’d ask transcript and rec letters but if you are basically OK student and apply on time and willing to pay, they’d take you.
worse yet, art schools’ pre college’s AH classes are usually jokes.
You get to know campus, town, what kind of kids would attracted/ may be matriculating to said schools, which is good to know. But if money is tight, I don’t see the point.
I sent my kid because I believed in its merit and gotten scholarships.
yes, it did help ruling out schools in the end. he did not even wanted to apply them pre-colleged schools, his stats and my finance wouldn’t have made it in anyway but still, don’t even want to go there for one reason or another.</p>
<p>ask this LAC Goddess poster named momrath about Williams.
I don’t call them artsy, at all. That is the biggest mystery. far as I know as LAC goes, maybe even compare to giant top universities, it got the best resources and highest demand on students considering AH. but look of general student body and campus don’t reflect it. very outdoor-sy, lots of drinking, boys got sweatpants, short hair and jock air, girls got running shorts, bushy ponytail, no makeup or adornment. kids are so nice and wholesome yet I am sure most of them are priveraged and parents are loaded in conventional way.
it is one of Questbridge school and known to meet needs. otherwise I would not have listened to momrath and dragged my kid to go see it.
you should see it yourself. either you love it be confused (me)
getting in, how can anyone could be sure?
again, momrath would know ropes. I will call on her.
besides hi scores and GPA, you should have good ECs and art suppriment/bragg sheet packet.</p>
<p>Bears
You’re post on the SAIC art historian was quite interesting. Actually I found the synopsis of his books interesting but what was fascinating was that in his book “Can Art Be Taught” (might not be exact title) he seems to be making a case for LAC’s with strong art departments. </p>
<p>Although he does say that most LAC’s have weaker art depts. than most art schools. Interesting…maybe the key is a good LAC for someone with a lot of interest and drive to do art on their own regardless of how the actual art department functions.</p>
<p>he must have know what he is talking about (I don’t. hahaha) being Ivy educated, himself used to be on studio track, wife being artst, etc etc.</p>
<p>Hate when I do this, made a typo, You’re on my previous post should have been Your. I hate that. Anyway I just think it’s funny that someone who’s teaching at a very expensive art school (with that high drop-out rate the young poster was concerned about might I add) would write a book about how art can’t be taught. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm is this indicative of something me wonders?</p>
<p>smarty luv
keep in mind that the book is 10 year or so old and he is no longer “teaching” anymore except maybe advice master thesis or two, but publishes great deal and sit as dept chair, be respected and figure-headed.
It takes time and effort, not everyone would get there or stay there. sh*it is tough.</p>
<p>No, I haven’t taken an art history class, but I enjoy discussing art in class. My art teacher recommended I study art history after I expressed an interest in that major because of how well I am able to criticize and discuss art. Apparently, I was able to recognize the meaning behind a particular piece my Freshman year that he didn’t understand until college.
I cannot say that I really have a favorite artist, but I tend to like sculptors like Ron Mueck and Claes Oldenburg, probably because I am more of a painter than a sculptor. I got lucky living near Dallas so the Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas Museum of Arts, Kimbell, and the Fort Worth Modern so I can always go see great artwork. Actually, I have never seen the Kimbell’s collection because I ended up becoming sick and having to go home on my first visit.</p>