SUNY New Paltz fine art program (graphic design)

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1

College deposit day was a couple days ago and I chose New Paltz. After applying to Pratt, SVA, MICA, Tyler School of Art, NYU, RIT, and Hunter, and getting accepted to all of them, my mom basically guilted me into applying to a SUNY for art. Those art schools are just too expensive and I would have felt guilty attending any one of them with my single mom already paying for 3 siblings in college.

Pros of New Paltz:
-cheap
-one of the best SUNYs for art
-artsy town
-surrounded by nature

Cons:
-won’t give me as good of an education as well-regarded art schools
-my sister attends NP
-I know too many people going here (college is like a blabk slate and I feel like I won’t be able to start fresh knowing wo many people)
-isolated, but not too far from city

Does anyone here know if the art program (specifically graphic design) is any good? What is the program like and will I be challenged? I heard the program is very liberal-arts oriented and I feel I won’t learn much artistically.

2

Know that you are NOT alone in making such a tough decision between a more prestigious, pricey school vs New Palz. - many of us are going thru the same. Please remember college is what YOU make of it no matter where you attend - I hear New Palz GD program is very highly regarded - I think you sound very mature and are making a very smart decision you will not regret. Good luck to you.