<p>I was going to respond with a post similar to fineartmoms- Autism is fascinating, and I think that the art therapy component is very important. Additionally, I think learning about how people who think differently think is key to an artists success. Artists think differently.</p>
<p>About RISD- are you stuck on RISD because it is a famous school that your parents can understand- I say this with only fondness in my heart, because getting my parents to be supportive of my son’s quest for art school involved looking at RISD too, in part because of the reputation. Please be aware that you are very unlikely to receive any financial aid or merit aid from RISD. Also see above notes about MICA and VCU and art in the community.</p>
<p>Cheers and good luck.</p>
<p>Art is broad, you need to really think about what you want to focus on. But you can relax and search since you will have a long time for the coming year 2011.
Don’t narrow down you choice to RISD, there are so many good art schools.
RISD was my daughter’s top choice in the beginning but finally she didn’t even apply there. She applied two art schools: SAIC and Cooper in the end.</p>
<p>Best wishes!</p>
<p>welcome back loveblue, you didn’t convince your kid otherwise? she is coming to NY yes? yes?</p>
<p>OP, now you got all star parents lineup with genius kids eaches in tow that care about you.
fammom what have you done to poor nakedmolerats? And I thought you were my friend…</p>
<p>^ all star/genius means other than ourselves, of course. I know better than that ( then again maybe not, heheheh)</p>
<p>Thanks bearsanddog: D decided to go to NY. I got a lot help from this forum.
Thanks to all of your posting, which help me a lot on better understand art schools.</p>
<p>hi wjddbsdl89,
i was in a very similar as yours this past school year. growing up i really wanted to do art, but my dad (doctor) insisted that if i wanted to do art, i would at least go to a university. i didn’t think of rebelling and assumed my dad was much more wise than me so i applied for universities and liberal arts colleges, although i did apply for the brown/risd dual degree program (waitlisted and ultimately rejected by both). i ended up at boston college this year (just about finishing up). risd had been that dream school, but i never even considered it possible to be allowed to go there (let alone be accepted). so the summer after being waitlisted, i kept thinking how art school might be…
i did not like boston college. in october i knew i needed to be at an art school. for all the moms and dads out there, october is so early, right? especially as a freshman. but for the remainder of the year, i knew this school was not the right fit for me and the more i thought about it, the more i fought with my parents, the more i forced myself to think reasonably, i knew i had to at least try. i could not force myself to be a language major, pre-law major, what have you, when the option to be at an art school was possible.
i worked very hard on my application. i visited risd for the third time. and i am very fortunate enough to be a transfer student this fall in the FAV dept. i still can’t believe it.
i saw this thread topic on a Google search i was doing about students’ thoughts about risd. i want to tell you that as a fellow student, artist, and child of the helicopter parent generation, as long as you can show your parents that your heart is in it, you really think clearly and logically about your decisions, and you have the passion, you can do well. you sound very smart. there’s no reason that you would make stupid decisions 
i know what it’s like to feel misunderstood by your parents. you and i both know that our parents only want us to be comfortable and happy in the future. but art school is not a dumb version of college. it’s for people who think differently, who don’t want to be squares. and i believe that if you’re smart and passionate, cool things will happen.
i know that i’m going to risd not only to learn about film/animation, but to educate myself as a person. no where else can artists find such an enriching place.<br>
so i hope you do what you feel is right; i wish you all the best. maybe i will see you in a year. fighting! ^.^ and the most important thing about your application/portfolio: confidence and curiosity. sometimes people’s portfolios may not be on a very high technical level, but they have some crazy ideas. oh! keep a small sketchbook with you at all times. even if you’re not at school right now, if you keep drawing and experimenting, you will start to realize things. good things.</p>
<p>that’s very nice of you, I am sure OP would love to hear this.
however, from the beaten old helicopter here, last words
count your blessing and be nice to your dad then pat your back
and please come back and PM OP if you changed your mind by October.</p>
<p>hey i was wondering if anyone could help me out, I’m a student at Pratt Institute and was really intreseted in medical school, also i was suppose to graduate thismay with my AAS degree but I failed classes the last semester and can’t move on to my BFA int he fall until I finish my AAS (which i didnt even want ) I was thinking though possibly I could transfer to another art school for the fall i HATE pratt insitute AAS program they are HORRIBLE i dont wanna go back or take a year off</p>
<p>maybe start new thread? people would want to know what are so wrong with Pratt.</p>