<p>Hi there, I am currently a student in the UK and I am very interested in the ISEP student exchange program. I was hoping to get a bit more information from people who actually attend these universities or have knowledge of the local areas.</p>
<p>There are ALOT of universities that are available for transfer, but I don't recognise any of the names. Help? I would really appreciate anyone who could take the time and do a quick scan of the list and let me know if any of them jump out at them as a good university to study my subject at.</p>
<p>But if it is easier I can copy and paste the list into this post. (Although the list is quite substantial.) </p>
<p>I am currently a second year BDes Visual Communication for Design (Graphic Design) student. I was wondering if any of the above universities have a good reputation for their Design programs? Any that I should steer away from?</p>
<p>The ISEP program is made for international students to come over to North America and study however I am originally from Canada. And therefore have dual (technically triple) citizenship for Canada / UK (and Ireland). Is there any difference in getting a student VISA if you are from Canada Vs. UK or Ireland? </p>
<p>I also cannot drive though I hope to learn before heading over. I know that it is standard in the USA that everyone can drive by the time they are 16 but I am 21 and have yet to have a lesson. (We aren't taught in school — you have to pay for lessons privately.) will this be a problem in getting around in most areas?</p>
<p>Has anyone done the ISEP before? Any glaring adivce or questions I should be asking and am not?</p>
<p>Any help would be gratefully received! If anyone has any questions about the British University system please just ask I'd be more than happy to help! :)</p>
<p>Central Washington University - graphic design program with studio time.
Pacific Lutheran University - graphic design program with studio time
Washington State University - fine art
Western Washington University - graphic design (seemingly pure)
Willamette University - liberal arts in art & (portland)
Whitworth University - (super religious)
St. Edward`s University - graphic design (eh, strong catholic trad.)
Southwestern University graphic design and fine arts, liberal arts uni (eh)
Stephen F. Austin State University - general fine art</p>
<p>These are the universities I have looked up so far, as you can see from the link there are ALOT. Please don’t delete this as it’s the only record I have. I will be updating the list as time goes by. So ANY help and advice at all to eliminate universities from that massive list would be excellent! I have to apply to 10 all together so I would really like to pick the best I can. </p>
<p>I don’t even have a good idea about states apart from the fact I don’t fancy alaska too much. Haha.</p>
<p>I visited schools across the country using public transportation only(bus, train, walking)
from your list I saw
Pitzer (Claremont, CA)
UNC Greensboro (Greensboro, NC)
Willamette U (Salem, OR -is not in Portland, but kind of near)
only. None of them are particularly strong in graphic design.
Maybe VCU is your best bet?
I have not seen it but I do hear good thing about it.
Any large university would have some sort of design programs. You might want to figure out what kind of environment you want to be in, then narrow down the list.
which state, in the city or country? big or small, diverse or self selective students body?
You are right, the list is huge and I don’t see good coherent reason why some schools are in it and some are not, like, only one school listed for NY state the one I don’t know anything about.</p>
<p>I hope more people can answer your question. It is a daunting task. It is easier if you are to come to art schools, I think.</p>
<p>I have no idea’s about states etc. Haha. It really is daunting. There doesn’t seem to be any obvious art schools on the list, none that I have heard of before or that have art or design in their titles. Thanks for your help though! Every little bit helps. :)</p>
<p>My list is much longer now, I thought I could edit my post indefinitely but apparently not! Here is where I have looked so far:</p>
<p>Central Washington University - graphic design program with studio time.
Pacific Lutheran University - graphic design program with studio time
Washington State University - fine art
Western Washington University - graphic design (seemingly pure)
Willamette University - liberal arts in art & (portland)
Whitworth University - (super religious)
St. Edward`s University - graphic design (eh, strong catholic trad.)
Southwestern University graphic design and fine arts, liberal arts uni (eh)
Stephen F. Austin State University - general fine art
Texas A&M International University - gen. “art”
Texas Lutheran University - gen “art”
The University of Texas at El Paso - minor art
University of North Texas - Art not open to ISEP
University of Vermont - studio arts not available to ISEP
University of Utah - Graphic Design (eh)
Utah State University - Graphic Design (eh)
Westminster College (Utah) - art not open to ISEP
Wesley College - nothing
St. Lawrence University - Art? Very confusing website.
Central Michigan University - Graphic Design (lots of options)
Elmhurt College - “Art Business” (graphic design) and Studio art too
Monmouth College - Graphic Design (eh) options
Framingham State University - Vis Com
Hampshire College - Looks really really interesting. Graphics & Media & Studio based. Really small. Intense.
Wittenberg University - Concentration in Graphic Des.
Miami University - Graphic Design
John Carroll University - Super religious
Rhodes College - fine art
California State University, East Bay - *only apply to one of these. graphic design lots of options within.
Chapman University - *only one of these. Graphic Design (packaging)
Pitzer College - Fine art
San Diego State University - ISEP excluded
San Jose State University - ISEP excluded
University of the Pacific - graphic design (letterpress)
Arkansas State University - graphic design (eh)
Hendrix College - Nothing
Eckerd College - Intedisciplinary arts (florida)
Agnes Scott College - Womens only
Bellarmine University - catholic tradition</p>
<p>Wow…what a long strange mix of schools. There are so many I have not heard of. Besides your major I wonder what kind of American experience you want to have. Urban, rural, conservative, liberal, big school, small school, diverse, middle America? </p>
<p>Virginia Commonwealth is the only one on your list that I know has a good reputation for art/design. It is in a diverse, southern city. Hampshire and Pitzer colleges are similar but on opposite sides of the country. Pitzer is outside of LA and Hampshire is near Amherst/Northampton Mass. I would say both are prime examples of liberal, politically correct, idealistic America each with their regional flavor. Both have open curriculums and I know that at Hampshire you create your own major. Hampshire has a stronger offerings in the arts.</p>
<p>I’m sure some of those big state schools have programs that will meet your needs. Students at those schools will tend to be from the state they are in as they are most affordable for in-state students. Again…it would help if we had a sense of what “flavor” of American experience you are looking for. If it is simple to choose the best design program I would say VCU.</p>
<p>What university is VCU? I’ve heard it mentioned before.</p>
<p>Not really sure what kind of university experience I would be after. </p>
<p>Definitely not rural — I can’t drive and wouldn’t have a car anyway, so getting anywhere in rural setting would be very difficult. That being said I don’t mind if it’s not a BIG city setting. Just a place with some life about it. </p>
<p>A good student population would be great. A campus where lots of people live there would be great. Diverse would be excellent as well. I don’t want to be excluded because I’m not a local. </p>
<p>More liberal than conservative, trying to avoid overtly religious colleges and women only colleges too.</p>
<p>I’m not very sporty (at all) so that wouldn’t have any bearing on my decision. :)</p>
<p>A university with great facilities would be awesome. Letter press, printing rooms, photography studios and darkrooms, mac labs, rentable equipment. Passionate students. That’s what would really sell a school to me.
Thanks again for all your help!</p>
<p>VCU is Virginia Commonwealth University. All of your above requirements would be met there. It is a public university with a broad spectrum of students from all economic levels and backgrounds. Some people say the area is a bit sketchy and that you would have to stay awake to your surroundings but others appreciate the city vibe. I think you would get a good exposure to all points of view there…not just a liberal bent though I bet the students in the art school tend toward the more liberal. [VCUarts</a> - Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts](<a href=“http://arts.vcu.edu/]VCUarts”>http://arts.vcu.edu/) </p>
<p>Hampshire College would be another good choice. It is in a beautiful area…a college town with lots of events and convenient transportation. There is a consortium of 5 colleges there (over 50,00 student live in the area) and courses at all the schools are open to Hampshire students. Their arts resources are extensive (the arts building was being renovated when we visited there 2 years ago). The students are unique in that it takes a quite motivated person to want to make it through their divisional system with the individual capstone project as a requirement for graduation. [Academic</a> Program](<a href=“http://www.hampshire.edu/academics/2564.htm]Academic”>Our Academic Program | Hampshire College)
It has a reputation for partying but not of the fraternity variety…more of the experimental, mind expanding type. But that is something of a stereotype about the school and there are a variety of people there and if that is not your thing you would find your niche. The students tend to be very progressive and liberal. It is a private school so the student body tends toward the upper middle class.</p>
<p>Oh wow. I already had my eye on Hampshire as a definite potential university to apply to. I will be adding VCU to that list as well! Thank you so much! I hadn’t realized that there were any particularly well thought of art & design schools offered by the ISEP exchange program. VCU looks fantastic. Completely different vibe compared to Hampshire, but it definitely appeals to me. (Honestly can’t thank you enough for taking the time to type up those reviews for me!)</p>
<p>Here is a list of universities that I am currently working on narrowing.</p>
<p>Northern Arizona University
Arkansas State University
Hendrix College
California State University, East Bay
Chapman University
Pitzer College
University of the Pacific
Colorado Mesa University
Fort Lewis College
University of Denver
University of Northern Colorado
Western Connecticut State University
District of Columbia
Howard University
Eckerd College
Georgia
Agnes Scott College
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Berry College
Columbus State University
Georgia College & State University
Georgia Southern University
Kennesaw State University
North Georgia College & State University
University of West Georgia
Valdosta State University
University of Idaho
Elmhurst College
Monmouth College
North Park University
Roosevelt University
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Western Illinois University
Ball State University
Butler University
Indiana State University
University of Southern Indiana
Iowa State University
University of Iowa
Benedictine College
Emporia State University
Fort Hays State University
Kansas State University
University of kansas
Wichita State University
University of Kentucky
Louisiana State University
Loyola University New Orleans
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Frostburg State University
Framingham State University
Hampshire College
Central Michigan University
Hamline University
Millsaps College
University of Mississippi
Missouri Southern State University
Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University
Truman State University
University of Central Missouri
Carroll College
Montana State University
Rocky Mountain College
University of Montana
Creighton University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Saint Peter<code>s College
New Mexico State University
St. Lawrence University
Appalachian State University
East Carolina University
North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Queens University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Western Carolina University
Winston-Salem State University
Jamestown College
Minot State University
North Dakota State University
Miami University
Wittenberg University
Willamette Uniersity
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Mansfield University
Westminster College
Clemson University
South Dakota State University
Austin Peay State University
East Tennessee State University
Maryville College
Middle Tennessee State University
Rhodes College
Tennessee State University
Tennessee Technological University
University of Memphis
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Southwestern University
St. Edward</code>s University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Texas A&M International University
Texas Lutheran University
University of Utah
Utah State University
Old Dominion University
Radford University
Randolph-Macon College
Roanoke College
Shenandoah University
The University of Virginia`s College at Wise
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Central Washington University
Pacific Lutheran University
Washington State University
Western Washington University
Marshall University
West Virginia University
Beloit College
Edgewood College
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
University of Wisconsin - Stout
University of Wyoming</p>
<p>U of Tennessee Knoxville has quite a good fine art department, but i don’t know if it includes graphic design–it might.
However, VCU’s in a more interesting location.</p>
<p>From this list I would suggest that you look closely at these schools:</p>
<p>1.) VCU
2.) U of Iowa (Solid art dept and especially good for painting, rural setting)
3.) U of Georgia (Solid art dept, great college town environment, pretty campus)</p>
<p>Oh, I just saw your comment that this is an exchange for one year. In that case I would move U of Georgia to my first choice because of the experience. You wouldn’t need a car, great college town, very good academics, solid art dept, over the top school spirit, and a beautiful traditional campus. It would be a good place to experience a slice of American life while furthering your art.</p>
(Honestly can’t thank you enough for taking the time to type up those reviews for me!)</p>