<p>Has anyone looked into the Stamps art and design school at University of Michigan? My daughter just received their catalog and it really caught our interest. I wish they had sent it earlier. I like the flexibility they offer to mix it up with other majors.She is currently interested in film and we have discussed industrial design in the past as well. She is a creative type and also likes science, but is stronger on the creative side so she is looking for something that can combine both.<br>
The stories in the catalog sound a lot like what she is looking for. It is a little late in the game to be visiting but I thought maybe we can get some information from someone who is familiar with the school or has visited to see if maybe we should take a look.</p>
<p>Can you catch them at a portfolio review? D considered them until we talked to the rep at a portfolio review who turned us off. He seemed a lot less interested in conceptual art than talking about how the program let you take courses in other areas of the university. I also wondered how much funding was available to the 300 or so students in the art program vs. the programs which are better known. D selected MICA and has never looked back.</p>
<p>Thank you mom4art. I will try to find a portfolio review event near us. I think we just missed it. I don’t see a lot of information about them outside of their website. We do like that they let you take courses in other areas of the university as well as the dual degree program. However, It would be interesting to hear how well that works and how well known this program is.</p>
<p>My D is applying to Stamps. We like the fact that it allows students to explore different areas of art as well as academic areas in the University. The program is unique as far as I can tell, and not for everyone. She had a good experience with the person at NPD in Philly. We figured if she is accepted we will go visit and see if it is the right place. (Animation major.) One of the coolest things about Stamps is that every senior gets their own studio to work on their senior project and they spend the entire year on it. UM also owns a gallery in Ann Arbor that regularly displays works by Stamps students. </p>
<p>We talked to them at Portfolio Day in October. My daughter was impressed. I would also like to know more. She’s just a junior, so we have time. We just visited Syracuse and RISD. Very impressed with Syracuse from the art/university combination, but RISD is probably still first for her (illustration) and university support of their VPA college </p>
<p>We have applied there. I think it is different than a lot of the art schools because the university is so large and not solely focused on art. Looks like a great way to mix business and art. We will see if my D is accepted! It is quite pricey for out of state.</p>
<p>I applied to UMich STAMPS EA as class of 2019!</p>
Hi there! I know this is really late notice but I just completed my Freshman year at Stamps and absolutely loved it and if you still are considering or have any questions please feel free to ask! -Cydne Robinson
Hi cynderobinson. My daughter is so keen on Stamps after a 2-week summer program last year. She loves the structure of the BFA - flexibility, structure of 1st year, art and design together, balance of liberal arts, studio, and art academic courses. I’m interested in how you found your freshman year - what was a positive surprise, what negative (if anything)? Did you live on North Campus, and if so, did you feel disconnected from the “real” UMich? Also, did you know anyone who was in the Living Arts residential program? Sorry for all the questions - daughter is dual English-American and has never lived in the US, so it’s sometimes hard for her to draw comparisons with the UK art programs. Thanks.
@EnglishDad @cydnerobinson @mistyjr – I’m just checking back in on this thread and where you 3 are now on the Michigan front. My daughter just got accepted EA to STAMPS class of 2020. We are visiting in Jan or Feb to confirm, but it is feeling like a great fit for her. I am also curious about the Living Arts program.
@jenndon – My daughter also got accepted EA to Stamps, at precisely 5:00pm EST Friday – first choice so she’ll be there in September
@EnglishDad – that’s great! Have you looked at the Living Arts community? It seems pretty cool, and would definitely be a great way to make sure she had some connections. They also have some freshman learning communities, but honestly, from talking to the Stamps Admissions rep at National Portfolio Day, they work really hard to make sure the art students have a community within a community. We are from Texas, so she’ll be away from home as well.
@jenndon – Briefly looked at Living Arts etc a few months back… It seems like with 9 freshmen classes together, structured as a foundation year, it won’t be hard to integrate quickly into A&D community. Daughter is currently inclined not to join Living Arts, mainly to make sure she meets more people from outside art! It’s such a great collection of students and interests at Michigan - might be more fun to mix it up a little.
That’s a great point @EnglishDad. I like the idea that they have Engineering and music students too. I’m not sure how inclined my daughter would be to intentionally mix with others, so for her, I think the opposite might be true, getting her to mix with some other folks within her comfort zone. There will be some informational sessions at the Campus Day we are attending in February, so we’ll see how she feels.
My D has been accepted to Stamps and is very excited. Waiting to hear from LSA (applied regular decision). Curious if any incoming freshman or current students have any interest/knowledge in what it’s like to do a DUAL degree at U-M, one from Stamps, the other in Ross? Is it manageable? Will she have a “life”? If not Ross, anyone consider doing other double major or dual degree programs?
Hi LesWombats, my daughter is just finishing her freshman year at Stamps and has looked into a dual major like you describe. She looked into one in LSA and found that all the prerequisites for the LSA program made the BFA and BS degree into a 6 year program. It is very easy to get a Minor though, can get more than one even. Dual degree, however, is challenging.
Hey there LesWombats! That dual degree is definitely manageable, just not as common. It would be better if she choses a ba in stamps because a bfa is very much only art a lot of the time. Ross is difficult to get into but I’ve heard the classes are a lot easier than in Ross than lsa once you’re in. I have some friends in Ross who say the classes are much easier and manageable. Then again it could have been because freshmen year is a little difficult with all prerecs and such!! Good luck!
Hello Englishdad!! Yes I did have a good friend in a similar program where she lives in east quad, great dorm btw, and it did help her to meet many people and they had weekly meetings. Freshman year was also a bit of a struggle because you basically have only art classes and it wasn’t my favorite thing but I got to try a ton of different mediums and such which was fun/good as an artist. I really need the balance of art and academics though so that’s why I chose a ba in art and design. I also did live in north campus which is good for art students because it’s so close but it isn’t the best for meeting friends on central at night or going out but I made a ton of friends in baits 2 and bursley (I lived in baits 2). I also met my current boyfriend in bursley first semester freshmen year so it is definitely a social environment just a little far
Hi @cynderobinson - thanks for getting back! Daughter applied for north campus housing since, as you say, it’s basically all art classes freshman year. She decided that it would be easier to go to central & Ann Arbor to do things at night and weekends, rather than go back & forth all day long to north campus for classes. She’s hoping that she’ll make lots of friends in Bursley, so the social life won’t just feel like it’s on central campus. Also, she’s a BFA type, so doesn’t mind the balance being heavy towards the art. But, at the same time, she’s already thinking about sophomore year and being closer to central.
Hello Cynderobinson. Do you know of anyone in Dual who did LSA freshman year? It seems that everyone does Stamps first year. If you do LSA first year, what are the Stamps requirements as a freshman or are you just joining the art program the second year?