<p>I'm currently a junior looking at colleges. Right now, I've been trying to organize the list of colleges I will apply to in the fall, as well as building my art portfolio (hopefully I can choose one school for E.D.). My GPA is a 4.0, and my ACT composite score the first try was 31. I absolutely love art, and plan to major in Fine Arts/Studio Arts when I go to attend school. My parents want me to go to a regular university instead of an art school so I can keep my options open. However, if I do decide to follow a path towards an art career, I want to make sure I have the opportunity to succeed in the art field (not necessarily monetary-wise, but just leading a fulfilling life). These are the schools I'm looking at applying to:
Brown University
Stanford University
Duke University
College of William & Mary
University of Richmond
UNC at Chapel Hill
Vandie
Do any of these schools have a strong art programs? Are there any schools that you can recommend with strong art programs?</p>
<p>Thank you so much! And good luck to all of you!</p>
<p>Brown has a 5 year dual degree program with RISD, so you could get a degree from both Brown and RISD in two different fields. If that’s something you’d be interested in, I’d definitely apply. The program is very renowned and obviously both are top schools.</p>
<p>ED should be reserved for a school that you are absolutely in love with and want to attend at all cost(including paying full tuition). I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice applying ED. I’m not sure if this is the case with the schools you listed, but often times admissions into their art department/school is done separately from the college/university, which may mean that regardless of your stats and qualifications, your admissions will be based on your talent/portfolio. I don’t think ED boosts admissions into the art department/school, f you don’t have a strong portfolio or talent.</p>
<p>NYU, UCLA, USC, Carnegie Mellon are all schools with strong art/design programs. </p>
<p>Brown has a joint program with RISD, where you can earn a BA and a BFA through both schools. [Brown-RISD</a> Dual Degree Program](<a href=“Home | Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program | Brown University”>http://risd.brown.edu/)</p>
<p>Also, you may get more responses if you were to post in the Visual Arts and Film Majors thread. Given your stats, you may find that some art schools may offer you a merit scholarship. Art school students don’t generally tend to have the highest Stats, and some schools reward those who do. It’s something to consider. I think Pratt does this.</p>
<p>You should also post your question here: [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/)</p>
<p>Most of the participants in that forum are looking at BFA programs, but they also are pretty savvy about the sorts of programs you are looking for.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I just did, so hopefully that’ll be a better suit.</p>
<p>For ED, I was thinking more on the lines that it would boost me chances of getting in regardless of art. If the school has an amazing art department/the art I’m looking to do and I absolutely love the school, I definitely want to apply ED. I’m adding my portfolio as a supplement to my application to maybe set me aside from the regular pool of applicants. So far, I haven’t fell in love with a school, but I’m still looking 
Thank you for the advice! I have an interview a Brown-RISD Department Chair soon so I’m hoping to get more information about that. Thank you so much for your advice!</p>
<p>My parents were the same way, although I never really wanted an art school to begin with (not the right environment for me). I’m going to the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis ([Sam</a> Fox School | Sam Fox School](<a href=“http://samfoxschool.wustl.edu/]Sam”>http://samfoxschool.wustl.edu/)). While they don’t specifically have a Studio Arts major, they offer:</p>
<p>Communication Design (what I’ll be studying)
Digital Imaging & Photography
Fashion Design
Painting
Printmaking/Drawing
Sculpture</p>
<p>It’s also easy to double major across schools, which was my personal compromise with my parents (I’m studying English as well), and might be something to think about.</p>
<p>Good luck with everything!</p>
<p>The Brown RISD exchange seems like the best option as RISD is the first ranked fine arts school in the country and Brown is a good school and part of the Ivy League. The exchange is super selective though, they take less then 20 people (might even be around 10). If you visit Brown and like it then this is a good ED choice for you.</p>
<p>To Guitarclassical: That is so true- thank you! I hear the Brown/RISD program is almost impossible to get into, so as this is a nice option, it’s really a reach. I think I’m adding USC to my list- does anyone know about their art programs? The Fiske guide said it was known for its arts so hopefully I can take a visit there soon! </p>
<p>To Thentheresme: That’s so funny! My parents wanted me to double major as well if I were to do arts (which I totally am 
Is it really difficult though doing a double major? I was looking into doing a second major with either english (whatup! haha) psychology or anthropology</p>
<p>You might want to consider smaller liberal arts schools were it is very possible to double major in studio art and another area. Bard, for example, has great programs in the arts and all other areas.</p>
<p>Dont go to U of R if ur interested in anything but business, all other programs are weak</p>
<p>Have you considered Chapman in California? Chapman University has an excellent arts program. You can do double major or a major and a minor combo. It’s up to you. With your stats, you’ll probably be able to qualify for merit scholarships. Their merit scholarships are need-blind. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Momwonders: I’ve looked at a couple of small liberal arts schools- I really like Denison and sort of liked Washington & Lee. I think I’m more interested in a bigger school though. I would really like to look into Bard, though. Thanks for the suggestion!</p>
<p>Chestercheese: Really?? It seemed like a very well-rounded school, and the arts sounded like a really strong program. Do you go to U of R?</p>
<p>OCELITE: I have not considered Chapman University, but that’s very interesting and I’d love to look into that! I really like USC, though, as well as Stanford (if I ever have a chance at getting in :P). I heard USC is really known for its arts program as well. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Chapman, USC, and Stanford are all excellent schools. Chapman has a mid-size campus, and the other two have bigger campuses. You’ll likely to get a better merit scholarship at Chapman than at USC or Stanford. Chapman has excellent art programs and they’re currently in the design development process for the new Center for the Arts. Chapman also has a better film facilities than USC. I heard that USC is trying to catch up to Chapman’s standard. Anyway, Chapman also has their own production company; Chapman Entertainment. The students get to keep their own films at Chapman while students don’t get to keep theirs at USC. In addition to the Chapman’s current state-of-the-art film facilities, they also have plans for the Millennial Studios and the Filmmaker’s Village which houses the film students so they can be nearby and have access to the facilities 24/7. For details to their construction projects go to their link. Hope this helps.
[Chapman</a> University - About Chapman - Community - Campus Planning](<a href=“Campus Planning and Design | Chapman University”>Campus Planning and Design | Chapman University)</p>
<p>Tufts has a superlative joint art program with the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston. Know two girls who are amazing artists and students who seemed to be shoe-ins for Tufts but whose art portfolios didn’t qualify them for the art school. One ended up at Brown/RISD while the other is doing the program at SCADS (sp?), an art school in Charleston. A colleague’s daughter is at the joint Tufts/MFA program and loving it and living in an art co-op, as well, and loving that. She is doing some amazing things and has an show opening in NYC, this Fall–some sort fiber-optic art.</p>
<p>W&M has great art dept as well as a cool studio that looks out on Lake Matoaka.</p>