VCU art

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>My daughter just got a package from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The ranking of school of art and gedign is pretty impressive. I have been reading threats on CC specific at visual art section for a while. But there is not much been mentioned about this school. why?
I prefer my duaghter attent in a university with good art program. She is interested in animation and graphic design. The graphic design in VCU is ranked at 4th, sounds good. How about animation program?
Any other info you have would be appreciated (admission as a out state student, financial aid,...).</p>

2

<p>We are VA residents so we hear a lot about VCU arts. My S has VCU as a top choice along with MICA and CMU. While my S is interested in an interdisciplinary degree (sculpture/animation/dynamic communications) he has many friends at VCU in a variety of majors. Animation sounds quite strong. Keep in mind that the rankings are for graduate programs which doesn’t necessarily translate into an undergrad strength. It is pretty competitive now to get into VCUarts and the university has just changed from rolling admissions to competitive with deadline. The scholarship deadline is December 1. I think VCU is an up and coming school in every respect. My S noted that many of the kids from the VA Governor’s school for art are now enrolled at VCU. I found the faculty at the open house to be very, very engaged and helpful. Try contacting the graphic arts faculty and get some feedback.</p>

3

<p>I think it is the location, no fault of the program nor the school.
Richmond is not somewhere people choose to go living from around where we are. Syracuse, MIAD, MCAD, DAAP, KCAI, even CMU suffer the same fate.</p>

4

<p>VCU’s art department is run of committed successful working artists who are also dedicated teachers and mentors. It is strong on both process and theory, traditional media and new media. </p>

<p>It’s true that Richmond may not be a destination of choice, but among the arts community there’s a kind of anti-gentrification solidarity. The department is close knit and supportive and offers access to some *very *smart and talented people – both full time faculty and visiting.</p>

5

<p>Thank you all for inputting the facts and your thoughts. In term of the quality of the arts as you valued, we will apply for it. location? well, I don’t know. As parents I have my concern. But as students, they have their dream. How to weigh the balance. It is tough to make a decision. Yes, that is why we are here. I’d like to hear more suggestion.</p>

6

<p>momrath
I get it, but people go where job opening is. Some chose not to teach, not even practice in town/state/city they don’t wanna go but stay where they want to be and do office work or bartender while if that’s Ashville or Protland, Marfa, somewhere in Colorado or even for the Burning man, they ‘d be packing their bags with glee.
Suppose VCU is filled with people who do not mind Richmond or never a snooty bartender, which is very good and rare quality for art teaching in that higher level.</p>

<p>For students, things get more complicated because most don’t have experience living out of their comfort zone and parents would stir them to cheaper (smarter) alternatives, there are loads of self convincing reasons; friend goes there, uncle went there, his/her idol went there thus they will be just like him/her…. often end up in the first semester melt down.
There is no answer or cure. It all depends on the kid and the place. Some kid’s paradise is another’s nightmare. You won’t know for sure which way it turns out until it’s too late.
You can research until teeny details and stay over every season to go to all the lecture and events and parties but you’d never doing anything with your future classmate or roommate, class and prof you enjoyed so much might not be there when you get there, or will be switched to someone you can’t stand as an instructor and s/he can’t stand you either.
Like everyone says, you can always transfer! (Really? That easily? Sure? )</p>

7

<p>b&d, do you mean would any professor at VCU jump at the chance to live in Cambridge instead of Richmond? I’m not so sure. The professors I know chose VCU because they wanted to be in the South, appreciated the ample space and low property prices that Richmond offers, like the close knit community, being the Big Fish etc.</p>

<p>For students you’re right it’s another set of trade offs. My son, who had only ever lived in mega-cities, chose bucolic rural schools – twice! Although safety wasn’t the determining factor, to a long-distance parent it was a definite positive. </p>

<p>I actually know a student who transfered out of VCU to Emerson. His reason was not safety or quality related. He said the program – which was part of the theater department – was terrific. As a Northerner, he just didn’t relate to Southern culture.</p>

8

<p>Nah, the opposite.
People who wish to be in the Cambridge - whichever the ones you are referring to - won’t take the job in Richmond that willingly.
I was saying in above post that there are cool “un-gentrified” territories and not-so-cool ones, where the person were this certain kind of artist or intellectual, s/he’d wish rather not to be published their whereabouts in their snooty alumni news or trade magazines, because it reads “loser” or “republican” or “conventional” or “done”
Sad, isn’t it?</p>

9

<p>Ok…I have issues with Richmond too sometimes–there are some really poor areas as well as gorgeous wealthy areas around Univ. of Richmond. However, the kids at VCU particularly the arts students love it…it has a very rich tradition of supporting the arts–alll types. Great music, great fashion design, theatre…gallerys, I really like how they keep a lot of these opportunities alcohol free so the under-21 crowd can enjoy them…first fridays of the month all the galleries are open with free music and a really welcoming attitude to the really young students…New York is NOT like this. However, while welcoming and not snobbish, it is more sophisticated and supports the arts rather than artisans (as in places like Ashville or the southwest hip towns). The downside is the really seedy areas of poverty some of which are in and around the university area. It is getting better but kids need to be careful…then there is the southern culture…that huge statue of Robert E Lee is just plain bizarre and Yankees will feel a bit odd seeing all the rebel flags that are around. The Museum of hte COnfederacy is tasteful and historically accurate–it is not a glorification of the south, However, people take away different impressions but, I think, they go in with preconceptions and don’t like to let go of those. I think VCU is an up and coming university, I really do. Great med school too and a real commitment to the community…I have to say that I went to visit with great reservations for my S safety and the cultural situation (he is pretty dark complexioned with a foreign sounding name) and I was very, very surprised in a positive way.</p>

<p>So…good arts, cheap tuition, nice climate (bit hot), a reputation that improves with each year…a pretty good place…we will be really debating hard should S get into RISD, MICA, SAIC --VCU is a top contender.</p>

10

<p>This is one of semi-snooty sites.
High is OK, I guess.
Except the headline news, who get photos in middle lows are more big shot than below who don’t
<a href=“http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=34407[/url]”>http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=34407&lt;/a&gt;
If I see anything VCU, I will post.</p>

11

<p><a href=“http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=34481[/url]”>http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=34481&lt;/a&gt;
it is in middle second part,means bigger shot, yay!
though, biggest shot of today( headline) is Murakami whichever that funky one.</p>

12

<p>VCU boy! cute! promising! (sort of. it’s in the middle with his photo in it)
<a href=“http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=35011[/url]”>http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=35011&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;