Visual Arts Applicants: Words To The Wise

<p>All of this may be old news to many readers of this forum, but I figure it’s worth a shot.</p>

<p>After having reviewed so many applications that my head is spinning, I figured it would be a good time to express a few thoughts for high school kids applying to art schools.</p>

<p>Major Advice: Take a little time, be a little more thoughtful in completing the application to the school of your choice.</p>

<li><p>If there’s an assignment (i.e.: specific portfolio to be prepared for the application) follow the instructions and do your best possible work under the constraints. This is often the only palpable evidence reviewers have on hand and it’s hard to overlook rushed, careless or lethargic attempts. </p></li>
<li><p>Submit good quality slides or other supporting materials. Often, slides or prints are poorly exposed or presented and this obfuscates the quality of what may be pretty good work.</p></li>
<li><p>Write an essay or statement of purpose that is both from the heart and informed by intellect and maturity of mind. </p></li>
<li><p>Remember that art is not only about making aesthetically pleasing things or being able to draw or paint what you see.</p></li>
<li><p>The whole package—scholastic achievement, portfolio, personal character, all of it—are important, but physical evidence of your potential as an artist or designer are extremely significant factors in the evaluation process. If I were to rank these elements I would say that the work (its intelligence, sophistication, potential, formal and material resolve, etc.) come first; verbal articulation of personal intent and scholastic achievement tie for second.</p></li>
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<p>I suppose I’m biased toward a specific institution and its interests. Nevertheless, I thought this information may provide an indication of hopes and expectations on the other side of the fence. </p>

<p>Take care and good luck next year…</p>

<p>This is off your topic but maybe you can help. My daughter was admitted to MICA and RISD and she/we cannot decide which is the better choice for painting. She is attracted to the RISD reputation but is it worth the extra $$$ we will have to pay since she got funding only from MICA.</p>

<p>Bladeofgrass, if she got money from MICA, take the money is my opinion. Both schools are very good in fine arts and both have strong emphasis on liberal arts. Unless she doesn't like the Baltimore scene, I, personally, would take the money under these circumstances. I also think that MICA is a bit less expensive than RISD to begin with. Thus, it can be a sizable difference in payments between RISD, with no aid, and MICA , with sizable aid.</p>

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originally posted by bladeofgrass</p>

<p>This is off your topic but maybe you can help. My daughter was admitted to MICA and RISD and she/we cannot decide which is the better choice for painting.

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</p>

<p>I was going to reply in your own thread, but oh well. Honestly, I think your daughter should physically look at recent work of the students (and faculty work if available) from both schools. Each art school has its own methods and emphases in the way that they teach art... even within one painting dept. you can have all sorts of variations. Not to mention that your daughter may just learn/create in her own way and not exactly follow "the style" or whatever that is being taught at any of the schools. </p>

<p>I guess what I am trying to say is that the reputation and the reality of the work that comes out of any school are two different things and should not be confused.</p>

<p>Like taxguy said in your own thread, RISD, SAIC, and MICA all are ranked highly by USNEWS rankings. However, rankings can be crap for all the reasons stated above and because no school's undergrad/grad programs are necessarily the same. USNEWS currently ranks only graduate art programs (to my knowledge).</p>

<p>It might be early in your daughter's artistic career/path to know what exactly she wants from her possible school, curriculum, and faculty. So, it is definitely in her best interest that she examine her choices carefully, while it is still early ;).</p>

<p>As a final note, I want to add that the success of any artist hinges not on what school s/he attended or what school s/he didn't attend but rather on the resilience of her or his ideas.</p>

<p>Best of luck and keep us updated.</p>

<p>RISDprof....thank you for your insight into the admissions process. Hopefully it will reach students who may be applying next year.</p>

<p>I would like to also thank the RISD Professor for his insight, and apologize for getting off topic.</p>