<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 an art school, I really want to have a broad liberal arts education as an undergrad. I am possibly 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>I like that you put them in alphabetic order
suppose you are a girl want to date. maybe wanna avoid SLC</p>
<p>If I were to repeat this LAC goddess momorath (mom of Williams grad)used to say
-from your list,
Brown, Oberlin, Wesleyan (my ultimate fav)
-not in your list but her push
Williams(I saw it and photo is weak, other disciplines so-so, AH the best)
Smith if you are female (but this is no-no for you?)</p>
<p>what I know and learned
-should avoid (not so much of art strong)
Amherst, Swarthmore
-dark horse
Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Vassar
-almost never mentioned art wise here and I haven’t seen it, don’t know
Bates, Grinnell, Middlebury, Macalester, Whitman</p>
<p>what kind of photo do you mean?
technical or art-y?
Bard can be either heaven or dumps depends on what kind of mindset you got.</p>
<p>to narrow the list,
look for faculties listing, search their works on web and visit them in person if you can.
or send some of your stuff and ask what do they think of them, or not even reply to you.
it does not guarantee that profs would keep their job until you got to go, but there are certain traits in hiring that fit to each school’s personalities.
If you look up many of them, you can sort of smell it, as an artist yourself are.
good luck!</p>
<p>I posted this on your other thread as well. So from the “LAC Goddess” 
shortlist:</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>Thank you both so much, that really helps me. :)</p>
<p>bears and dogs – thank you. i like things in alphabetical order. and I realize SLC doesn’t have a great f:m ratio, it’s kind of lower on my list though.
I’ve never given Williams much of a thought before but now I’m seriously considering it perhaps in the place of Amherst or Swarthmore… I don’t know though, I have to do more research obviously
Errmm I mean I’m definitely more interested in the art aspect of photography rather than the technical parts but obviously the technical part is important to understand as well… I’m kind of confused by your question, sorry.
I’ll definitely do some more research and make sure to explore the art department when I go to visit as well as bring some work with me or perhaps send in some stuff. Thank you!!
momrath - Thank you so much, I’m definitely going to look again at Williams and hopefully visit soon as well. And I’ve heard a lot of great things about Smith but I don’t know, I’m really not too keen on all-girls, haha
I’ve heard that Bowdoin has a good art history department but I’ll definitely have to research into the actual visual arts and such.</p>
<p>oops sorry goddess.
It was Kenyon, not Oberlin.
and I knew I missed few of them.
since we are underwhelmed at Conn college (art was about OK, museum was sad and didn’t go well with its student body) I must have self de-selected. Hamilton and Skidmore are harder to visit and were out of my mind as well.
and STILL can’t spell your name right after all these years…</p>
<p>alice, wherever you apply be sure to submit art-related supplementary material, even if you may eventually major in something completely different. The art portfolio can be a big admissions plus at LACs – and at some medium sized universities as well.</p>
<p>Another consideration is financial. If you are so fortunate as not to need financial aid, you may want to think about applying ED. If you need – or just want – aid, you should factor that into your planning as well, as these schools vary widely in their ability to provide need and/or merit based aid.</p>
<p>Check out the photography/head of photography at Marlboro. It’s not for everyone, very small, rural quirky but they have a strong photo department. It’s listed in “colleges that change lives.”</p>
<p>Check out the bio of the photography head and see if it sounds appealing.</p>
<p>Look at the curricula of the schools to see how many photography courses they actually offer. They would all have good art departments (although not necessary on the level of art colleges – if that is your path, you can always go to graduate school at an art college and explore many areas now) Bard has an entire building devoted to photography and is very strong. Skidmore has no photo classes per se. All of the schools on your list are excellent schools that will offer you a great LA education. But look at the actual courses if photography is a requirement for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>Just visited Skidmore. They do not have any dark rooms. Their focus is digital photography. Otherwise their art facilities were good and we were surprised to find out that art studio is their #3 most popular major.</p>
<p>I am hearing from some hs seniors …some that did well in the scholastic etc…it seems it is harder to get into a lot of schools than before…it used to be that a good art portfolio and in the range scores/grades and you had a good shot at these schools. I am hearing that you should have a SAFETY…make sure you pick someplace that you are likely to get in because your list is made up only of very selective schools.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, you guys are so helpful! I went on all the websites and looked at the descriptions of their curriculum and facilities and such, some of them didn’t even offer photography courses it seemed (Grinnell if I recall correctly.)
My college counselor told me to submit a portfolio supplement so I am planning on doing that
I have around a 3.8 gpa uw (4.4 w) at an extremely competitive private college prep school and 34 ACT/224 PSAT, along with my art portfolio I’m really hoping that will be enough for at least some of the schools. My counselor told me that SLC, Bard and Whitman would fall more into the safety category but I may do some more research into safeties. I realize I have a lot of reaches on that list that I do need to pare down a lot. It’s a work in progress :)</p>
<p>I would agree that you have a good chance at many of the colleges on your list, but I wouldn’t strictly categorize them as safeties. Maybe high matches and low matches. You should have at least one “sure thing” safety that you’d like to attend. </p>
<p>Again, I’d recommend Smith, but if you’re not interested in all women’s (even in a consortium) then keep looking.</p>
<p>Also, please clarify your financial situation as this will greatly impact your strategy.</p>
<p>yeah. worry about money now. or let your folks know and make them worry about it.</p>
<p>Bard has this thing, I forgot what exactly called, very early fall un-binding EA, apply/visit/attend class to sow your stuff/ you know in or out on that day -thing.
If you have stellar stats already and don’t need senior grades to show “upward trend”, it is good way to have safety or know your ballpark (i.e. go find lower tier-ed school, now!!!)
check it out, if you can travel, nothing there to loose in your case.
that is, if you happened to like/agree with Bard culture and know what you are getting into…</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bard.edu/admission/applying/idp.shtml[/url]”>http://www.bard.edu/admission/applying/idp.shtml</a>
Ok, the next day, that is they mail decision letter.</p>