VCU vs VCU arts (reposted*)

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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(*reposted into a more relevant place)

Should I apply to VCU (and try for the honors pre med program and possible merit based scholarships) as a safety school that I wouldn’t mind attending? Or should I try to apply to VCU arts (and just double major/arts and pre med) but risk not getting accepted?
VCU only offers art classes to art majors.
While I have only recently gotten into art this year and while I am practicing every day and am improving, my overall draftsmanship is still lacking. However I am very passionate about art as I feel like it has truly changed my life, and I also wish to write my essay on it. I talked with a senior who got into the arts program and is also doing a pre dental program, and he believes I could get in as well, especially with my grades and test scores. I am taking ceramics for the 1st time this year, but I have made a few pieces that my teacher thinks are strong and has submitted to a jury show for the high school district. Apparently I won an award for the pieces I submitted (but the ceremony isn’t until tomorrow so I’m not sure what exactly). Nevertheless, I haven’t practiced in any other media. I try to draw in my sketchbook and I want to include some pages in one picture for my portfolio. However I have little to no experience with other materials and I know vcu wants to see variety.

Academics wise:
currently a junior, #2 in class, 4.5 weighted GPA
1460 sat, 33 act
I also do XC, Schobo, model UN, and sailing

Does anyone have any recommendations for portfolio pieces? I will try to attend portfolio day in November but by then I won’t have much time to make anything else. If I count my 2 ceramics pieces and compilation of sketches I still need at least 9 other pieces by the end of November. I intend to try out new mediums this summer and hopefully create enough pieces…

Thank you for your time!

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For the art show I got 3rd place for my portfolio (which was all ceramics tho)

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I’ve been deep in research and everything that I’ve found says that art schools place great value on drawing from direct observation.

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Yeah I’m practicing my observational skills but I’m just so behind time wise since I only started drawing every day about a month ago… I’ll keep practicing though.

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ok so first off know that VCUARTS is one of the top design schools in the country(usnwr ranks it #2 just behind Yale)they received something in the order of just over 3000 apps for just 600 or so freshman spots. So its highly competitive ( no ones safety) and the portfolio counts HEAVILY. Having said that and having a D attending, I recommend you get as much studio time as you can find. It is also a great idea to attend one of the summer intensives (probably VCUARTS as that’s where you want to ultimately attend). A summer intensive will also help you create at least a few appropriate portfolio pieces. Acceptance to VCUARTS is a lot more competitive than acceptance to VCU.

Now I can also attest that the workload is intensive. Further , freshman year is spent as a foundation year in which you have various classes in all kinds of medium and then have to apply (read compete) for acceptance to your desired major.

All things considered I find it highly improbable that the course load could be worked affectively. In fact after all the art and core requirements you wouldn’t have much time if any available for science credits. Maybe doable but you should speak to an academic advisor before assuming it would be approved.

National portfolio day is good but you need to get started now. Also you should have AP studio art at least as a class in HS.