<p>I've got a good GPA and test scores and I am very academically motivated (love literature, biology, history) but a lot of my true passion lies in art (photography specifically, painting/visual arts to a lesser degree). So far my list of colleges I'm thinking to apply to looks something like this (quite long):
Amherst, Bard, Bates, Brown, Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Grinnell, Macalester, Middlebury, Oberlin, Sarah Lawrence, Swarthmore, Vassar, Wesleyan, Whitman
and I'm wondering basically, which of these have particularly good arts programs? I'm not interested in attending art school as an undergrad but I'm considering a major in art. I've heard good things about Bard's art programs but I really don't know.
I'd love to hear suggestions about similarly selective schools with good art programs if you know any :) (only co-ed, and smaller is better, preferably)
thank you all.</p>
<p>Bard’s art programs, and particularly photography, are top notch.</p>
<p>Skidmore has a wonderful fine arts program with a really wide array of disciplines. </p>
<p>My S attends Grinnell, but I don’t know anything about the arts there, except that they have a new arts facility and that both by virtue of resources and institutional philosophy, they really support individualized study opportunities. Here’s a link to pictures and you can browse around the curriculum. [Facilities</a> - Art | Grinnell College](<a href=“http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/art/facilities]Facilities”>http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/art/facilities)</p>
<p>While Bard is renowned for its arts programs, majoring in some of the programs is limited, I believe. All students have to “moderate” into their major (basically prepare a presentation as to why you want to / are prepared to major in that field; for most majors, it’s a formality, but I believe that due to space limitations in some of the arts, not all students get their preferred major). I would check carefully to ensure that if you want to major in photography there, you can do so. (don’t take my word as gospel, but do check out my understanding!)</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Academics](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/academics/]Alfred”>Academics | Alfred University)</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Academics : Degrees/Majors](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm)</p>
<p>How about a regional university, Alfred University (NY) established in 1836. </p>
<p>2200 undergrads, small classes-know your professors, Division III athletics, need-based aid, merit aid, still under 40k/year for all majors. Shuttles run to Rochester airport at peak vacation times, buses to NYC at peak vacation times. No Greek Life. Housing for all 4 years. Small charming village of Alfred, NY with friendly people. </p>
<p>Princeton Review’s Best 373
USNWR’s Great Schools Great Prices
Fiske Guide 2011
Fiske small schools strong in Art & Design
Fiske small schools strong in Engineering
Fiske Best Value
Princeton Review Best 300 Business Schools </p>
<p>College of Liberal Arts
School of Art & Design
School of Business
School of Engineering </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid : Undergraduate Freshmen Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/scholarships.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/scholarships.cfm) Merit Aid-Freshmen </p>
<p>Best of luck in your college search!</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. I might definitely consider Skidmore, I was considering it before but that definitely gives it more appeal in my eyes.
Alfred University sounds interesting but perhaps not academically strong enough/selective for my tastes, thank you anyway though.
More opinions are welcome :')</p>
<p>You also might try asking this question in [Visual</a> Arts and Film Majors - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/]Visual”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/) Most of the people there are looking at BFA programs, but they also are fairly savvy about options at LACs.</p>
<p>I would highly recommend Williams for studio art and art history. My son looked at many of the schools on your list, but ultimately chose Williams. The studio art facilities are beautiful and well funded and the faculty mostly working artists. Studio has a vibrant synergy with the art history department and there are three world-class museums on or near campus that offer hands-on learning experience. The arts in general – music, drama, dance – are well supported at Williams and in the Berkshires area in general.</p>
<p>His other top choices were:
Wesleyan, Hamilton, Kenyon, Skidmore, Conn College. He didn’t look at Vassar but should have. Among the ivy league, Brown and Yale. Even though you are leaning toward co-ed, I’d suggest that you visit Smith before you eliminate it. Excellent arts-focus.</p>
<p>My son considered Amherst and Swathmore. They are wonderful academically, but I wouldn’t give them high marks for studio art (or any of the arts, for that matter). </p>
<p>Same for Dartmouth, Bowdoin and Middlebury. Williams, which has a similar culture, offers a lot more in art and The Arts.</p>
<p>Washington University in St. Louis has the Sam Fox School of Art, and you can double major in its other colleges as well. Actually, if you major in photography at Wash U, it would be a BFA, but you can also take classes at Fox, and major in the CAS (there might be the option for a minor in art there, but not sure). You have to decide which college within WUSTL you are applying to, but you can change your mind once you get there, with no other application necessary. I do know, though, that the art majors get priority for course signups over non-majors.</p>
<p>I see that you said that you aren’t interested in attending art school as an undergrad, but Wash U is different in that the students are of the same high caliber as at the rest of the university and taking classes across the system is required.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone.
I’ve never heard much about WUSTL, I’ll do a little more research on it, thank you.</p>
<p>Might look at Holy Cross and Colgate.</p>