<p>I'm looking for the best art school to become a photo major in and these two have become my top choices. While I have visited SCAD and fell in love with it, I am also liking what I hear about SVA. My concerns are, overall, who has the better photo program?
To help, some of the other schools I'm considering are UARTS, MECA and NHIA but I believe that I will end up going to either SCAD or SVA, if accepted. So basically I am just curious which school is better not only in photography but in general. Also, how much would having an uncle that is an alumni of SVA increase my chances?</p>
<p>We checked out both schools for animation. Frankly, I liked the SCAD program in animation a bit better than SVA,but SVA had unbelievable contacts in NY. As for the Photography program, SVA is considered one of the best schools around. I don’t know much about SCADs program for photography.</p>
<p>Also, you have to see SCAD for yourself. SVA is in a great part of Manhattan. This is probably the best city for a college student. SCAD borders what seems to be a “bombed out” area. Again , these are my personal perceptions. You need to check SCAD out.</p>
<p>Taxguy, I was hoping I might see you pop up on here (I’ve been rummaging through anything I could find about SCAD and you appeared quite often.)
I have seen SCAD for myself. My family and I went the second week in August and I loved it. I felt right at home and my parents were quite pleased with it. They had their concerns about the surrounding area but the security at SCAD put them at ease. Besides, location is somewhat important to me but when it comes to going to the best school possible, it can mean very little. As far as their photo equipment and studios, I was also very pleased.</p>
<p>SVA is the school I need to see. Do you suggest I wait until I apply and possibly get in to go see it, or should I attend the open house in October? It really is peaking my interest because not only is NYC very exciting, it certainly is the place to be when it comes to art. I was reading through SVAs catalog today and I was amazed by the internships and connections available through the school. I do love SCAD and was all set to go there if I get in, but I am starting to lean towards SVA for the thrill of the city, connections and if it is such a great program, that as well.</p>
<p>Also, do you know anything about the other schools I listed? I wanted to keep a good number of schools to apply to so I dont get set on one and have no back ups.</p>
<p>Lauren, what does MECA and NHIA stand for, not that I know anything about them?
Yes, you can’t beat Manhattan for a student. It is probably the best college town for a student that exists. I personally even like it more than Boston, and I do LOVE Boston. The connections in Manhattan are also unbeatable.</p>
<p>You should also check out Rochester Institute of Technology,which is widely considered to have the best photography program in the US. They have a very strong affiliation with Bausch and Lomb, which helped start and fund their program. Of course, Rochester is not as great a place as Manhattan. You might want to read my review of RIT found in the College Visit forum. I also reviewed SVA.</p>
<p>Maine College of Art (MECA) and New Hampshire Institute of Art (NHIA.) They are both relatively small schools, MECA having just under 400 undergrads and NHIA around 560. While they aren’t my most ideal location nor school, they are still nice. I visited NHIA and really really loved the photo teachers. They were very friendly and knew what they were talking about. The work, as well, was very good. I haven’t been to MECA but I heard its that “diamond in the rough” kind of school. It’s in Portland, Maine which I hear to be a very beautiful and art focused city and although the school doesn’t have as much to live up to, I’ve been told their program is quite good. </p>
<p>I never thought to look into RIT but I will certainly do that. I’m just not sure how I would feel about Rochester as compared to Manhattan or Savannah, like you said its not the same. Thanks for the suggestion though.</p>
<p>My daughter visited both MECA and NHIA, and did pre-college at the latter. Portland is a great city, larger than Manchester where NHIA is located, and has more going on (my opinion). As my D is an illustration major, that what’s we were focused on, so I don’t know anything about the program at MECA. She liked NHIA, and got a substantial scholarship from them and at half the cost of other art schools (a couple of years ago anyway), was a tempting option. I remember seeing the photo labs and was impressed by the developing areas and equipment. She chose Minneapolis College of Art and Design instead, as she was looking for a larger city with more opportunities since she knew she would probably not be moving back to her home state (Florida), and really loves the school and programs. She has had 2 roommates in the photo program there, and they both liked the program, so that might be another school to look into. Minneapolis has a lot going on in the arts, much more than Portland and Manchester for sure, and probably is halfway on the “activity-stuff going on” spectrum between NYC and Savannah. A kind of happy medium, friendly city with lots going on. If you search for MCAD links, you’ll find a review my D wrote after her foundation year. Feel free to pm me if you’d like more info.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info redbug! However, I’m not sure if MCAD could work out simply because of the distance. SCAD and its 14 hour drive from NJ is already pushing the limits on distance for my parents, so I think the 21 hours to MCAD will probably be a no. Despite this, MCAD does look like a great school and I’m glad your D enjoys it!</p>
<p>The other hard part of the decision that comes into play is I cant seem to make up my mind on location. Big city vs. small art focused city, its just too hard to chose!
Redbug, did your daughter have anything she truely loved about NHIA while there for the summer and did she apply there, as well as MECA? Or was there something that swayed her away from it and made her chose somewhere else besides the big city aspect?</p>
<p>Would they actually drive the 14 hours? Or would they end up flying anyway? If the latter, than the number of hours hardly matters.</p>
<p>We went on a college tour of the New England area summer of her junior year, and both schools were on the list, as well as some local universituies. Before we went, she was drooling over MECA. That was her “dream school”, and I was happy about that because I am from Maine, and knew it was a great place. When we visited, the facilities were terrific. It’s located in a former department stores with large windows all over and the light and views are incredible. Dorms were in former hotels in the area, and the Portland Museum of Art was within a few blocks walking distance. The woman who was supposed to give us the tour was not there that day, so a fellow stepped in, and you could tell he was not happy about having to do so. She was totally turned off by his attitude, and it left a bad taste in her mouth. Over spring break, we did the Midwest (Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and some Universities). She loved Minn and KC, and they became her first 2 choices. She also applied to NHIA as her safety, because she had gotten a couple of nice scholarships at pre-college, we knew she would be accepted.</p>
<p>I think it was the city size that did it for her, altho it was a hard choice between Kansas City and Minneapolis. She got scholarships from both. Also, she does children’s books and she thought that aspect of the illustration program was stronger at MCAD. She liked the dorms at NHIA, they were all recently done just before she got there, and were really nice. She liked the teachers very much, especially the illustration chair. Money wise, it was the best deal going. </p>
<p>You need to see if you can visit both the schools, they are not that far from each other. Check out both their websites, see what kinds of things their alumni and faculty are doing, and also look at students work if they have it posted.</p>
<p>And I should add that my D was interested in SVA until she found out they had no real dorms and would have to rent on the economy and possibly take a subway/bus dragging her stuff thru the city in rain, snow, etc. (She’s a Florida kid, no idea what snow was!!)</p>
<p>Keep in mine there is a substantial difference between costs at NHIA and SVA.</p>
<p>Redbug, SVA does have dorms! In fact, one of the dorms provides free monthly transit passes and has live models each week in order to improve figure drawing.As an upperclassment, however, it is usually much better for the same price to rent a room in an existing apartment. Craig’s List is very beneficial for this.</p>
<p>As for taking a train, it is underground, very reasonably priced and very quick.</p>
<p>I stand corrected! I don’t know where I read that. After she had her choice down to 2, she got their viewbook and wanted to visit and I couldn’t do another trip, especially a last minute to NYC.</p>
<p>Sorry to disappear for a couple of days there but I am back! </p>
<p>Redbug, to address the distance issue: my parents drive everywhere. This is due to my mother having bad anxiety so she does not take planes but even more so now because last September she was diagnosed with brain cancer so we aren’t even sure if she could get on a plane for that reason. That and the fact my grandmother (who I am very very close with) is getting older so if anything were to happen, I would need to be home quickly. I am have never been on a plane myself so I have no fears of it but my dad isn’t very warm and fuzzy about putting me on one by myself for the first time. Plus, if they were to come visit, the long car rides are tedious on both of my parents.</p>
<p>As for Maine: I have been to every state on the East Coast except Maine but just by looking at pictures and hearing stories, I can tell I would love it and MECA does seem like a nice environment to get an education. I try not to let bad tour guides or weather get in the way of my opinion of a school but I completely understand why your daughter felt that way. </p>
<p>I, too, plan to apply to NHIA as my safety. I feel rather confident I could get in. While I was visiting, I got an excellent portfolio review. I do realize how much cheaper it is as compared to all the other schools and so do my parents so obviously they are pushing for me to go there. While I do like the school: the dorms were nice, it was a quaint little city and the teachers were very friendly, it simply doesn’t stand out as much SCAD, SVA or UARTS. I have yet to visit SVA or UARTS. SVA has an open house on October 20 that I’ve decided to attend but I think all my other choices that I haven’t been to (UARTS, MECA, and recently added Temple) will have to wait until I’ve applied and possibly accepted.</p>
<p>Lauren, obviously, SVA doesn’t have a campus. It is a collection of buildings. However, living in Manhattan,which becomes your campus. is a VERY cool and broadening experience for a college student.I just want you to keep this in mind especially when you compare schools with nice green campuses that have rolling hills and lots of flowers.</p>
<p>Taxguy, I have come to realize that and I would love to experience having a city campus. It seems to me that I would feel so much more independent and my love for city would probably only grow stronger. To come to think of it, I’m pretty sure no school on my list even has an established campus; they’re all city-based.</p>
<p>I understand why you would not want to be too far away.</p>
<p>You say " Big city vs. small art focused city". If it’s the city experience you want, nothing will come close to NYC, except maybe Chicago. I know a lady who lives in NYC and there is art going on there all the time. If you are in NYC, you will have a big city experience and all the art stuff you can handle! Glad to hear you are planning on attending the Open House. Realize that they will be putting their best foot forward. Try and come up with some questions to ask that might not be covered in the generalized tours. For example, while touring the 3D workshops, woodworking areas, etc, my daughter always asked about the ventilation system, and how it worked. No one mentioned it until she asked, but it was something that was important to her.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips Redbug! I always come up with unique questions but then when they get to “Does anybody have any questions” I blank out! I guess I should listen to my father when he tells me to write them down lol.</p>
<p>But yes, I suppose you are right about NYC. I think my major issue now is money. My parents are deeply worried by the cost of these schools. Lately, since I seem to be leaning towards SVA, its getting hard to convince them because I even know they wont give me much money since they are for profit. SCAD may be a little better but nothing is set in stone. Same goes for the other schools.</p>
<p>Lauren, I would apply to both schools and see which gives you the lowest cost net of scholarships. It is true that SVA usually gives less money being a “for-profit” school.However, they do give out scholarships for undergrads. If one school is much less in cost than another, I would probably take the lower cost school unless the tuition and fees are within a few thousand dollars a year of each other. At that point, I might take SVA. Also remember, NYC is going to be more expensive than Savannah or Atlanta. Thus, you need to filter this higher cost of living into your consideration if money is an issue.</p>
<p>I see you have UArts on your list, which is something my D is considering…Redbug mentioned upstream on the thread that “big city” feel ing being mainly NYC and Chicago…I thought Philly would also qualify–but, I’ve never been there (nor has my D). </p>
<p>But friends who’ve been lately say it’s great…a lot going on. Maybe not NYC but not Portland, Maine, either (I love Portland, but it’s a micro-city). Just curious if you yourself have visited UArts and if so what you thought of it/Philly?</p>
<p>UArts would seem to be close for you if your family is in NJ?</p>
<p>Both UofA and Tyler are in Philadelphia. Tyler is part of Temple and is an incredible art building and the rest of your classes outside of art are taken with the other students on the large campus, giving you a feeling of being part of a larger university. UofA is in a fabulous part of Center City Philadelphia, near many of the theaters and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. There are many restaurants and other things nearby. The school is much more urban, in that the buildings are more scattered through a particular part of Philadelphia. While I certainly would not call Philadelphia the arts mecca that is NYC, I would venture to say that there is a lot going on in music, theater and art. There are some very “hip” parts of Philadelphia and some not so much! Also, besides Tyler and UofA, Moore College of Art is here too, as well as a few other colleges in the suburbs with decent art programs, so that there is a lot of art learning happening here.</p>
<p>My dd did programs while in high school at both Tyler and UofA. We found both of the schools accessible to things, as the train is very close to Temple and it was easy to get to Center City. </p>
<p>I would definitely keep these schools on your radar. Also, since Tyler is a state school, I have no idea, but it might be a tad cheaper, even for oos kids.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Laren -</p>
<p>Have you looked in Mass Art? Their photo program is strong and it is in a great area of Boston.</p>
<p>If you are at all interested in being part of a larger university I recommend NYU Tisch Photo. I am an alum and recently visited with my son and learned that the program has grown since my time but some of my well loved professors were still there. It is a highly nurturing atmosphere with top notch teachers and facilities. It is not a huge program but I made tons of friends from all over the university by living in the dorms (which I did for two years.) After you feel comfortable in NYC and have a solid social group you could look at living in Brooklyn or Queens where the rent is cheaper.</p>
<p>You may also want to look at Pratt in Brooklyn.</p>