<p>Hi everyone. I am a senior at a arts magnet high school. As college decisions begin coming out, I would like to know your opinion on the arts programs of the mentioned colleges compared to each other. I have been mainly trained in traditional art, which made up the majority of my portfolio, but also did a few conceptual pieces. I am very interested in the combination of comp sci and art, possible game design or animation. so far i have been accepted to UCLA art and CMU art (but not their BXA program, although they say that the majority of BXA students are internal transfers), received a 120K scholarship(including financial aid) from SAIC and 80k from RISD. Assuming i am accepted to the rest of these colleges, which would you choose?</p>
<p>With that large of a scholarship to RISD I’d find it hard to turn them down given their reputation. </p>
<p>I’m not too sure about the other schools for fine arts but from what I have heard USC doesn’t push students as hard as other colleges in this area. Like someone my friend met from there was just being introduced to concepts in her 3rd year she had been taught her first semester.</p>
<p>Yes, although i have been more interested in studying art in a university setting, the generous offer from RISD kept them on my list!
I agree, i went to USC for a portfolio review and I did not really like the teacher assistants. They are very strong in digital arts, however.</p>
<p>Dray45,</p>
<p>First off, wow that is some list you have going there kid. Nicely done. Getting into these fine schools means you are very smart and very talented and as such I’d like you to look at your decision as a 6 year plan instead of a 4 year plan. My Magic 8 ball says you’re like to end up in grad school so you may want to look at undergrad with that in mind. (I just checked, it said "all sources point to yes’.)</p>
<p>I like all of these schools very much. No make that very VERY much.</p>
<p>You mention digital animation and to me that might bring UCLA, USC, Cornell, and CMU to the top of your list because of their strong computer science departments. USC has a really cool option of an animation minor with the School of Visual Arts. UCLA might have the strongest undergrad art program of this group. Cornell is well, Cornell. Hmm, this is tough.</p>
<p>What if you looked at this as choosing 2 from this list: one for undergrad and one for grad. Lets say under in fine art and grad for animation. (?) How would that change your view?</p>
<p>Are you in California? I ask because of UCLA prices.</p>
<p>You can’t miss with any of these… congrats!
Best,
Wheaty</p>
<p>Thanks Wheaty!!! My grades are not the best, so I’m relying on my portfolio to get me places 
Im definitely thinking of a 6 year plan at this point. Would you completely rule out RISD and SAIC from my list? Im very reluctant to do so because of how much money they have offered me D: But I would much rather attend a larger university. I was thinking of USC for grad… As for Cornell, their art seems pretty good (it is unranked), but they offer a dual degree program that offers BFA + BA, and their comp sci program is among the best in the world… And yes I live in CA, so i’m so grateful to have been accepted to UCLA Originally my dream schools were: UCLA, CMU and Cornell</p>
<p>Thanks again, and i look forward to your thoughts on my situation!</p>
<p>Dray45,
Okay some more questions first:
1.) Tell me about your grades in math and science.
2.) Which of these schools have you visited? What were your impressions?
3.) PM me a link to your portfolio please.</p>
<ul>
<li>Wheaty</li>
</ul>
<p>Damn, you must have a helluva portfolio huh? and… academic grades? If you got accepted to UCLA after all. What did you get on your SAT/ACT?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I am neither taking any science nor math classes this year, but my junior grades were all A’s. I took up to Pre-calc and plan to take calc at city college this summer. I scored 700 on math on the SAT. </p></li>
<li><p>I have visited UCLA and USC. I love both campuses, UCLA more. the art building at UCLA is great. Both UCLA and USC were extremely nice and gave me a tour of their department. I also went to the portfolio critique at USC. the TA’s at USC were not very helpful, but the prof. was pretty insightful. At least for undergrad, i would choose UCLA over USC for fine art. but USC’s SCA looks amazing. Ive never been to CMU or cornell…</p></li>
<li><p>sent</p></li>
</ol>
<p>goodfornothin: aha i hope so!! my grades are far below the UCLA standard, however my test scores are a bit above their average</p>
<p>Dray45,
Terrific portfolio kid. Really nice. I can see why everyone said yes. Just out of curiosity, who said no?</p>
<p>I would love it if you could visit both CMU and Cornell. Is that possible? If not we will work around it but there is so much to be learned just by standing on a campus.</p>
<p>Okay lets try to sort. Remember, I’m a biased old guy and others here will have different views. But lets try anyway.</p>
<p>In my biased view UCLA Art is as good as both RISD and SAIC in turning out great artists. For you UCLA has the advantage of also having a world-class computer science department (along with a ton of other stuff). After scholarships but factoring in travel costs all three of these are similar in price. I love RISD and I love SAIC but neither has the comp sci to the level that you will want. RISD says you can walk across the street and take classes at Brown but the kids I’ve talked to say this just doesn’t really happen in real life. So as painful as it is I would take those two out of the mix.</p>
<p>Now it gets tougher. CMU is tops in comp sci and very very good in art. Certainly a strong school for you. Cornell has a solid art program and of course a top comp sci program. UCLA has the best art program and a very good comp sci program. USC is very strong in both but has the advantage of several game design and several animation programs. I would say USC and CMU are both tops for game design.</p>
<p>I guess I could argue for or against all four of these with equal passion.</p>
<p>I would encourage you to play with the combinations. Like UCLA Art undergrad and say CMU grad. Or Cornell under and USC grad. Both combinations would be extremely strong.</p>
<p>I think if you could visit the other schools it would make this much easier.</p>
<p>Just some random thoughts from a jet-lagged brain.</p>
<ul>
<li>Wheaty</li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks for the great advice! I will definitely take all of that into consideration.
I was rejected/wait listed from a few UCs that did not require portfolios, and even cal poly D: You’re right, all of these schools each have their own advantages but are overall pretty equal, its pretty much down to personal preference isn’t it? I’ll have to visit each to decide!
Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi Dray. Congrats on your great choices. I am very impressed. I have to agree with Wheaty that SAIC and RISD may not be your best choices even with the money, as they are not “big college campuses” (no campus at all at SAIC), nor do they have true computer science programs. I think you might be better served going to a school that has both a fabulous art program and a great tech program too. I have to disagree with Wheaty however that UCLA is the “best” UG program in art. I can’t tell you if it is the best, I can tell you it is great, but the program at CMU is phenomenal! (I am a UCLA grad, though not art and I have a daughter that did the art tour this year and is going into an art program). I do think a stand alone art school could work for you, but it would have to be one with a tremendous computer/multi media side, but I digress. </p>
<p>The other schools on your list are also great. My biggest concerns for your decision are that you have not seen many of these schools and I would think it is a very large and expensive decision to make without knowing the schools first hand. Also, being a Calif resident, you have such an opportunity to get a great education at in-state rates. The money from SAIC and Risd may have brought you close to CA tuition, but when you add other costs such as travel and a new wardrobe if you come east to the cold, the money might not get you as far.</p>
<p>How do you feel about going to a school you haven’t visited? If you really feel that a school other than UCLA would fit the bill, could you try to narrow it down to one other and go see it? In that decision, think about fit of school: is it the right size; will I like the weather and the program: does the school have exactly what I want.</p>
<p>For me, I would think that CMU could be a great choice if you really want to come east. The program is exceptionally well thought of, it is both fabulous art (conceptual) and digital and computer science. The city of Pittsburgh is wonderful (which surprised us) and the city is full of other colleges (most notably Pitt), which allow even more exploration of people and opportunities. </p>
<p>That being said, if you were my child, I think I would suggest you think strongly of UCLA. Grad school could bring you East, or to USC or who knows? It is easier to look for rankings of grad programs, so you might be able to get a better feel for what you want. UCLA is a great school and a great place. I loved my years there (both UC and Grad) and I really think it is a tremendous opportunity for you right there-good luck with your decision, you are very lucky to have such fabulous choices!</p>
<p>Congrats! What a hard decision. But may I ask how you received 80 k from RISD? From the I understood it, you applied for FA each year so it could change and they would not give you more than cost of attendance. Was this all merit then?</p>
<p>thanks for the insight phillyartmom! i agree the BXA program sounds perfect!! yet the question is if i can get in… I was rejected as a freshman, but their description says most of their students are internal transfers. It just worries me that it is not a sure thing. i’m still waiting for my financial aid from CMU, so hopefully that will help me in my decision. How is CMU’s campus compared to UCLA? ive been to ucla twice and i already love it. </p>
<p>Bowman: they offered me 20k and claimed it was renewable. are you saying that this amount is not secured and can lower? if that’s the case then it looks even worse! D:</p>
<p>Dray, the campuses could not be more different! UCLA is a huge and I mean HUGE place. It takes over Westwood, as you know. The buildings are tall and taller and long and longer! There is no one place to hang out, but people all over. Also, there are so many different types of people at UCLA. I think partially because it is so large and because it is a state institution. CMU on the other hand, is not such a large school, so the grounds are not as huge, but it definitely is a campus and it is beautiful. Mostly old buildings (the arts building is really pretty). There does seem to be one huge quad where lots of stuff goes on. There is a fence that sits there that different groups take over and do stuff at, such as sleep there for a cause…The feel of the kids seemed different to me too. The school definitely has a tech vibe, lots of stuff that kids get together to do, such as projects or activities. Even the art kids there seem to be a bit more nerdy (which I say in a loving way!). </p>
<p>Do you come from a city? If so, you might really like Pittsburgh. Very eastern and more midwestern at the same time. Anyway. Good luck.</p>
<p>I’m a bit tired an didn’t didn’t take in all of the commenter’s posts but I will throw my two cents in anyway. My son is at RISD for ID and a good friend of his is at CMU for ID so I have some perspective. They are both having amazing experiences. While my son is super involved in his department he is also meeting and working with students from other majors/departments and Brown. He is part of a RISD/Brown club called Painters and Hackers (comp sci students from Brown and various disciplines from RISD). While my S has not taken a class in graphic design or web programming he is learning on his own and has been invited to be a part of a very interesting startup with Brown students using these skills. During this wintersession he was able to take a class through the architecture department in generative programming/Rhinoscript even though he doesn’t have a programming background. My impression is that the foundation year at RISD gives the students good exposure to many disciplines and confidence in their creative problem solving skills. If you are a passionate student and tend to reach out and connect with others, opportunities are abundant at RISD. </p>
<p>RISD gave him financial aid upon acceptance and actually increased it this year. We had to update our FAFSA but they did not require that we fill out the CSS Profile again. Our experience is that they are very supportive of the students they accept and want to see them be able to continue through to graduation. If you have been given aid now and your family’s financial situation stays the same, RISD will very likely renew.</p>
<p>My S was also accepted to CMU and it was a hard decision. CMU was just as generous as RISD with aid so I expect you should see the same. The friend we know at CMU is very interested in robotics. And similar to my son at RISD, he has been able to become heavily involved despite the fact that he has not taken any robotics courses yet. This is also an environment where, if you have the initiative, opportunities abound.</p>
<p>As for location…philly described CMU very well. It is a very gray place for most of the year. There are not that many trees on campus to begin with and when you factor in that most of the time they will be bare…I think you get the picture. If you are craving something completely different consider it. </p>
<p>Providence also has a gritty industrial element to it but it also has New England charm, especially in the area around RISD and Brown. The campus is integrated into the city streets but there are so many students around that it feels like it all belongs to them. It is hilly and historical, with old brick and federal style clapboard buildings. When it came time for my son to finally make a decision, location was a big factor. He just felt better in Providence.</p>
<p>I do hope you get a chance to visit at least one of the east coast schools. Congrats on getting yourself to this point. Good work!</p>
<p>PS I like your screen name ;)</p>
<p>thanks for your thoughts! and i just made up this username randomly, i swear! hahaha
Its good to know that there is plenty of interaction between brown and risd students. would you say the university vs art school played a part in your decisions? how?
thanks!!</p>
<p>Is UCLA’s fine art program really that good? Maybe I just don’t really know what fine art is really all about since I have never had a favorable impression of the department. I’m not sure what a BXA is. </p>
<p>There are a few things regarding UCLA you should be aware of when making your decision:
- There is the CS degree in the school of Engineering, and there is an similar degree in Math in the school of L&S
- In the past several years with the explosion of tech and web industries, last I heard the CS department is impacted, meaning that anyone outside the CS related majors are not allowed to take CS classes. Before this was the case, one still had to be an Engineering student to take any CS courses.
- This may not matter too much based on your interests though. UCLA’s Computer Science is heavily theory oriented. It will give you a strong foundation in programming languages, systems design & architecture, and networking however. Unless things have changed recently, UCLA’s program does not offer much in either Graphics or any entertainment related fields such as gaming.
- The L&S Applied Math department offers a series of Program in Computing courses that are more practically oriented, concentrating on specific languages and areas including programming for video games. The classes are also open to any student who has met the math prereqs for the courses.
- Art studio classes can take most of the day and it can be hard to arrange other department classes into your schedule, but by no means impossible.
- UCLA’s Design program is highly respected and may offer more entertainment/media geared courses that are more along the lines you are looking for. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Since both UCLA and USC are located near the entertainment industry, there will be a lot of opportunities available in the area. Because LA is a hub for entertainment, film, games and animation there are a lot of industry related classes, master classes, workshops, and talks that you will have access to supplement your education. </p></li>
<li><p>That said, I’ve heard stellar things about the CMU entertainment program that seems to mix collaborations between technical and artistic fields which seems very much in line with what you are interested in. </p></li>
<li><p>Can one really say no to RISD for a solid foundation in artistic studies?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>@drae27</p>
<p>I know I am not the original poster, but thank you for sharing your experience with RISD FA. I asked because I was worried about my scholarship there and how I would be able to deal with increasing tuition. People told me that RISD aid was terrible but my experiences have told me otherwise. Its great that they are willing to work with students to keep them in school. By the way, does your son know anyone who took a minor in a liberal arts major at RISD? Is it terribly difficult to do so?</p>
<p>dray…it was my son who made the final decision…not me
But I do know that one of his deciding factors for RISD was the chance to do a multidisciplinary foundation year. Some other programs have you go straight into your major and still others have so many general ed requirements that you don’t get to take too many studio classes from the get go. What I suggest is that you thoroughly examine the requirements of each school and department you are considering. Then you will get a sense of what courses you will be taking during your four years. That will help you choose where you want to be. For example you can go to each department on the RISD website and download the curriculum and analyze if you would be satisfied with the courses available to you. [Courses</a> | Film/Animation/Video | Academic Departments | RISD](<a href=“http://www.risd.edu/Academics/Film_Animation_Video/Courses/]Courses”>http://www.risd.edu/Academics/Film_Animation_Video/Courses/)
My son did this for every school he was considering. It makes things so much more objective. I would then go and look at the general schedule of classes for each school to find out what kinds of classes are available as electives and decide if those offerings are satisfying to you. (for ex:<a href=“https://wa.risd.edu/WebAdvisor/WebAdvisor?TOKENIDX=5136256690&SS=1&APP=ST&CONSTITUENCY=WBAP[/url]”>https://wa.risd.edu/WebAdvisor/WebAdvisor?TOKENIDX=5136256690&SS=1&APP=ST&CONSTITUENCY=WBAP</a>)
I believe you can find these course schedules on almost all college websites these days. They are very edifying. </p>
<p>Remember to check the requirements for each program. For instance, how many courses can you take outside your major, how many/which liberal arts classes must you take. This may sound a little obsessive but this is a big investment and four very important years of your life. </p>
<p>As for the art school vs. university question, if you are a strongly focused person you may want to consider art school because you would get to go very deep into your work alongside others who are doing the same. It is like entering a monastery. I wouldn’t say it was THE deciding factor for my son but more a question of which schools had the best facilities, resources and faculty for his area of study combined with the wish to be exposed to other disciplines through foundation year and wintersession. I am not saying you couldn’t be that focused in a university setting, just that you almost can’t avoid it at a stand alone art school.</p>
<p>bowman - my son has friends who are doing a liberal arts concentration (not major) at RISD. It is not hard…they have advisors who will help you plan out your courses.</p>