Tranfer from a state university to a progressive, artistic LAC that near a city?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My son is in the school of Fine Arts at a medium sized, Mid Western state university. He
is really thriving and being challenged in his major, studio art. </p>

<p>However, his liberal arts classes are not challenging. Another issue, while he and his
friends live in on campus, it's kind of a suit case school, and it really clears out on the
weekend. </p>

<p>He is insistent that the college not be in a rural area, which he calls "Bumble*uck".</p>

<p>Also, he is less than enamored with the many core requirements and distributional
requirements. I know that Vassar and Brown do not have these requirements.
He was an underachiever in high school and his SATs would not be consistent with
admission at schools of that echelon</p>

<p>I understand his feeling about ridged "one from column "A", two from column "B"
curriculum model. I actually chose my college based upon this. I wanted academic
freedom. We support him in his desire to transfer.</p>

<p>Most of the colleges that I can think of, are either in a rural setting, have a
distribution requirements, or would be major "reaches".</p>

<p>I think he'd like a place like Clark. I attended there in the late 70s, but graduated
from a state university with intricate and annoying Gen-Ed distribution requirements.</p>

<p>I loved Clark, but from what I have read they've become more traditional, as far as
requirements are concerned. </p>

<p>I would suggest Bard, but the location will disinterest him.</p>

<p>He has a 3.5 GPA and excellent recommendations. He was on the Dean's List for the
first two semesters.</p>

<p>I am most familiar with East Coast schools, although we now live in Ohio.</p>

<p>Thank you. .</p>

2

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions?</p>

3

<p>You can have academic freedom at a school with divisional requirements. First of all, the divisional requirements usually aren’t that extensive: at my college they amounted to five courses (one in each of natural/physical sciences, social sciences, fine arts and humanities, plus one in women’s or international studies). Even if you include GEs and languages, and assume that a student is starting from scratch, that’s about 10 courses (math, English, 4 semesters of a language + the 4 required - most schools don’t require women’s/international studies). Most students take ~40 courses in college. So if there are 10 courses of GE requirements and 10 courses in your major, that means about half of your course requirements in college are completely up to you.</p>

<p>The other thing is that distributional requirements often open you up to modes of inquiry that you wouldn’t necesarily take, or get you interested in things you wouldn’t otherwise know you were interested in. I was a psychology major, but my divisional classes were some of my favorite ones - I had to take an acting class, an honors philosophy seminar, a class on the biology of human women and a class on modern history. They were all fascinating!</p>

<p>I like [this[/url</a>] article, although it’s unlikely to sway a person adamantly against GE requirements.</p>

<p>On a practical note, eliminating any schools with general education requirements severely limits your choices.</p>

<p>Annandale-on-Hudson is 3 hours from NYC by car. It’s also about 40 minutes from Poughkeepsie, at which point one can get on the Metro-North and ride into NYC. In other words, it’s not much farther from New York than Vassar.</p>

<p>Here are some suggestions:</p>

<p>-Amherst has an open curriculum, but he may dislike the location in Western Mass. Hampshire College, in the same consortium, has few distributional requirements, although it’s not completely open.
-Pitzer College nearby Los Angeles has an open curriculum, and it does have a reputation as an artsy kind of place.
-Eugene Lang College of the New School, in New York, has an open curriculum. He also may be able to take graduate classes at Pratt.
-Sarah Lawrence College allows students to completely design their course of study; they don’t even have majors.
-Brown has a completely open curriculum.
-Beloit College has very limited distributional requirements, and is a little over an hour from Milwaukee.
-Wake Forest University has an open curriculum program: [url=&lt;a href=“http://college.wfu.edu/academic-programs/open-curriculum-program]Open”&gt;http://college.wfu.edu/academic-programs/open-curriculum-program]Open</a> Curriculum Program | Wake Forest College | Wake Forest University](<a href=“http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Why_colleges_require_general_ed_courses/20120913_65_a17_uisece277802]this[/url”>http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Why_colleges_require_general_ed_courses/20120913_65_a17_uisece277802)
-Gallatin at NYU allows individualized majors completely designed by the student. And there’s the option of taking classes at Tisch.
-New College of Florida has no required GE classes. It also has no grades - written evaluations instead. I think this is a little more out there, though.
-University of Rochester has a certain level of curricular freedom - I think it has fewer distributional requirements.
-Wheaton College
-Wesleyan College</p>

4

<p>Rochester requires a major, minor, or cluster (three related courses) in each of humanities, social studies, and sciences. That is just a different way of stating a fairly conventional set of distribution requirements.</p>

<p>Evergreen State’s BA degree has no specific requirements other than completion of sufficient credit units of course work: [Degree</a> Requirements at Evergreen](<a href=“http://www.evergreen.edu/advising/degrees.htm]Degree”>Degree Requirements | The Evergreen State College)</p>

5

<p>Thank you both. His high school performance will rule out anything Ivy League - or almost Ivy. I’m aware of Brown and Vassar. Most of the college that have relaxed or non-existent extra major requirement are in that caliber. </p>

<p>I don’t know much about University of Rochester. What is the social climate there? He is looking for a very liberal school with an excellent art department.</p>

6

<p>Evergreen State has a “hippie” reputation.</p>

<p>Art courses:
[2013-14</a> Undergraduate Index A-Z at Evergreen](<a href=“http://www.evergreen.edu/catalog/2013-14/index.htm?field=visual%20arts]2013-14”>http://www.evergreen.edu/catalog/2013-14/index.htm?field=visual%20arts)
[2013-14</a> Undergraduate Index A-Z at Evergreen](<a href=“http://www.evergreen.edu/catalog/2013-14/index.htm?field=media%20arts]2013-14”>http://www.evergreen.edu/catalog/2013-14/index.htm?field=media%20arts)</p>

<p>It is about $34,000 per year for non-residents:
[Cost</a> of Attendance @ Evergreen](<a href=“http://www.evergreen.edu/admissions/costs.html]Cost”>Costs & Aid | The Evergreen State College)</p>

<p>Transfer admissions are described here:
[Transfer</a> Student @ Evergreen](<a href=“http://www.evergreen.edu/admissions/transfer.html]Transfer”>http://www.evergreen.edu/admissions/transfer.html)</p>

7

<p>I made a list then realized that most had already been mentioned, so I’ll say I second the following for good art and good academics:</p>

<p>Evergreen – If he doesn’t mind going across country.
The New School/Eugene Lang – New York City!
Skidmore – A lively small town, medium selectivity,
Conn College – Close to both New York & Boston</p>

<p>Wesleyan – Probably a reach but there may be extenuating circumstances:
Hamilton, Kenyon – “Bumble” but everything else is good</p>

<p>RISD – Art school, but you can take classes at Brown</p>

<p>Virginia Commonwealth – Large university, but very good art</p>

<p>Why is he worried about distribution requirements? They are usually quite loose and manageable. Does he want to avoid math/science (or some other category) all together?</p>

8

<p>In general, he resents it. He feels that his time would be better spent studying areas that he has a passion for, rather than a little of this and a little of that. He has no use for math or foreign languages. </p>

<p>I’m aware that people are deeply divided about this issue, and I really don’t want to debate this. I have done so ad infinitum. It never gets any where.
I know that in my own college experience I enjoyed the open curriculum. We had to fulfill our major requirements and some cognate courses for that major.
When my mother’s illness forced me home, I transferred from Clark University to Stony Brook, where I graduated. I really preferred the academic freedom at Clark.
So, I understand him fully.</p>

<p>He had looked at Evergreen, as Freshman but decided that it was too sixties hippie and too “Bumble”. </p>

<p>He’s kind of alternative, but not hippie. Not in dress or in music. He likes urban areas and would like to be in a place with access to music - “shows”, as he calls them. He also appreciates other city or large college town amenities such as museums.
He’s a vegan and politically left of center. </p>

<p>He does not hate his current school, but he is bored. The exchange of ideas and passionate atmosphere just isn’t there. The liberal arts courses are “boring”. </p>

<p>He has been to VCU while visiting a friend, and he did like Richmond and the university. He saw more people that were his “type” there.
I don’t know much about VCU, but I assumed that it would be a typical southern state school with a huge Greek sports emphasis. That wasn’t his impression at all.</p>

<p>What is the vibe at Rochester and does anyone know about the art department?</p>

<p>He likes (on paper) College of Wooster and Allegheny College. However, the Bumble factor might get in the way of an actual transfer.
Also thinking about RISD and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
He’s looked at Beloit , but it is also in Bumble.</p>

<p>Wouldn’t Kenyon be a reach? </p>

<p>I’m also wondering about which colleges will want to see his high school transcript. It’s certainly not a selling point.</p>

<p>He is a really gifted writer and has added a minor in Writing and Editing this year. Are there any colleges that place special emphasis on writing, as a criteria for admission? He would also like to continue to minor - or double major, in writing.</p>

9

<p>Every college has a different take on distribution requirements. My son was language adverse and sought colleges that didn’t have a language proficiency requirement. At his college, math and science were an either/or requirement. There were science options for the most hardcore humanities kids.</p>

<p>I don’t know much about VCU overall, but I do know that the art department is one of the best, especially sculpture and new media.</p>

<p>Most academically rigorous LACs value writing skills. This will be a plus for him. </p>

<p>Both Kenyon and Hamilton would probably be reaches. Again, they are very rural, but have excellent academics and excellent art departments.</p>

<p>Has he looked at Wheaton, the one in MA?</p>

<p>The combination of hip, good art, thoughtful academics and urban location is a tough one for a student that underperformed in high school. Some colleges are willing to give “reformed” transfer students a chance despite a lackluster high school GPA. </p>

<p>A lot would depend on his current grades, recommendations and how he presents himself. A strong portfolio will be a factor in many cases.</p>

<p>He might consider an art school that has access to a partner school with strong academics. As I mentioned RISD/Brown comes to mind. Parsons/Eugene Lang is another.</p>

10

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<p>That is often more possible if transferring at the junior level, since the student will have more of the college record to base transfer admission on. Indeed, at some colleges, high school records are not even needed for junior level transfers.</p>

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<p>I can understand not wanting the hippie environment, but being on the edge of the state capital city (which is not that far from other major cities) is too “bumble”?</p>

11

<p>He is waiting until the end of his Sophomore year to transfer, so he will have four semesters of college under his belt.So far, he has been on the Dean’s list twice and this semester is looking even better. </p>

<p>Every college that I’ve looked at does want to see his high school transcript. They seem less interested in his SATs which are respectable. (above 1200, with verbal much higher than math) writing was in the 700s. </p>

<p>At first he was excited about Evergreen. After he looked at it he thought about it, it looked more 60s 70s “hippie” than millennial hipster. People who enjoy meditation and Eastern religions. Also, communing with nature.
Not his thing.</p>

<p>He actually enjoys decaying rust belt cities. He’s more interested in urban archeology than rock climbing.</p>

<p>My son also has an aversion to foreign languages, at least as they are taught in an academic setting. </p>

<p>The college does not need to be in Boston, or a city of that caliber. Just not in “Bumble”.</p>

12

<p>He needs to check the language requirement at his target schools. Most have a proficiency requirement that is tested on admission. If he already has some language background he may test out the requirement. If not, he may have to take two years of college level language, which, for my son, would have been torture.</p>

<p>Has he looked at the big midwestern universities with diverse and lively college towns – like Michigan or Wisconsin? Another one to consider would be Trinity in Hartford. Great academics amid plenty of urban decay. :slight_smile: Pretty good art and art history.</p>

13

<p>Ann Arbor is on his radar. He knows someone there and the requirements is the art departments seem manageable, because, in part; they grant the BFA.
I’ll look at Wisconsin. </p>

<p>Another school with a liberal reputation that he might like is Skidmore. No foreign language requirement and NSAD accredited, as is his current university. </p>

<p>He’s interested in Rochester since I told him about it but I’m not sure how strong they are in studio art or writing. </p>

<p>He is open to the North East or Mid West. Not into sports. He doesn’t hate them, and at this university he occasionally attends games, but if they weren’t there he’d be fine.
What he wishes there were more of are shows featuring Indie/punk type music and challenging academics. </p>

<p>Currently, he is making extra money editing papers for other students which he says are “pathetic”. Generally he is not challenged by his classes or by peers.</p>

<p>I’m really getting worried about finding the right school for him.</p>

14

<p>UW-Madison has a fantastic studio art program and strong academic offerings overall. It will be easier to get into as a transfer than Michigan, I’m guessing. Although there is a big sports scene on campus, it doesn’t dominate the city and the cultural scene is excellent as well. It’s hard to find a night when there isn’t a selection of good live music in town.</p>

15

<p>He might also look at Wisconsin’s Madison campus. </p>

<p>Skidmore has an excellent art department and a surprisingly well funded museum. Saratoga Springs is a lively small town, but I wouldn’t rate the college or the town high on the hip factor.</p>

<p>So from what you’ve said I’d lean toward Wesleyan, Trinity, The New School. </p>

<p>The intellectual curiosity of the student body is an important consideration. I think that’s why colleges like Evergreen and Hampshire keep popping up. They get a lot of smart underachievers and late bloomers.</p>

16

<p>Has he looked into Columbia College in Chicago?</p>

17

<p>Honestly, I’ve never heard of Columbia College in Chicago. I’ll look into it.</p>

18

<p>What are his chances at Wesleyan or Trinity? The New School - Eugene V. Lang and it’s location in NYC would, I am afraid; be too distracting for him.
We are originally from NY and he knows way too many people in that area. Distractions abound in NYC. </p>

<p>As far as Columbia College, it’s “Less Competitive” and a commuter school. His current university is ranked a lot better than that and he is bored there. So, no. That wouldn’t work.</p>

19

<p>I would not recommend Columbia in Chicago for this particular student.</p>

20

<p>My thought as well. He wants a school that is challenging and residential. I don’t see how this could be an improvement.</p>

<p>Anyplace that you would recommend?</p>