Thanks so much for your response. We lived in Baltimore and know from experience how terrific MICA is, but are reluctant for our D to return to the city for college because of MICA’s location. A reality we feel sad about, for now. Do have have cause to not like painting at RISD? My daughter seems to be leaning towards a more “relaxed” environment like SUNY Purchase, but I want to be prepared to mount a strong promotion if I lean to the specifically intense RISD. This has been a difficult process, VERY. She is an artist with tremendous ability all her life; was told by her teacher last year (at her arts magnet school) she could be in a gallery then; we and she want her to go on growing her education so that component is essential; but I can’t foresee her intellectual growth arc. Maybe few of us parents can, but this child is just beginning to hit her intellectual stride, so she has to be able to develop that. Thanks again for you attention.
Specifically what type of art is she interested in: animation, painting, illustration, sculpture, print making or is she into design arts such as Industrial Design, Interior Design etc? Secondly, what kind of student is she? Does she want strong liberal arts accompanying the art program? Where is she willing to live? What type of school environment , if any, does she want: city, rural, campus etc. Finally, how much can you afford? What are her SATs and GPA for scholarship consideration? When all of these are answered, I can give you some ideas.
From everything I know about RISD the painting program graduates some amazing talent. But RISD is anything but “relaxed” LOL. For sure she will be motivated to work hard but that’s true at any of the nationally ranked art programs. A lot also depends on the school environment and what motivates her specifically. My D1, for instance, is a foundie at Pratt and the workload is intense - but she loves their approach to critique which is actually very collaborative and supportive - and she loves the very structured curriculum of the ComD program (her major). So for her Pratt is an excellent fit. But others on this forum in the past felt that Pratt wasn’t challenging enough for them - they were at a different place in terms of their skills and goals. For them Pratt wasn’t a good fit. This is exactly why visiting the schools before applying - and perhaps again once you are accepted just to kick the tires one more time - is such a great idea. Not to mention poring over the website and the blog and the CC forum and other resources that give you a good idea about the school. Nothing beats a campus visit, however.
@Taxguy has a great set of criteria and we spent a LOT of time during D1’s junior year going over these things. I would also add that some schools really emphasize an interdisciplinary approach, while others are a bit more structured. It’s helpful to understand the school’s real philosophy (ALL of them will claim to be interdisciplinary because that’s a buzzword that resonates well with visiting families).
I am very sympathetic to the concerns about the area surrounding MICA. Their security was top notch from everything I heard as I followed the news of the riots but it was chilling to read the schools’s Facebook posts. My D1 had just decided on Pratt when that all occurred and I have to admit I was relieved! Not sure what’s going on there now as I’m not really following the school news anymore but I certainly haven’t learned of anything adverse. The school should be able to address those concerns and, of course, they do compile and disclose detailed statistics on campus and area crime.
Mamelot, you’re the bomb. Thanks. Your process with your D1 is a pleasure to hear about and I’m very glad Pratt is such a good fit. I wish we’d been up to furthering our analysis in the junior year beyond some college visits. Those included RISD and CALARTS which she loves for maybe grad school. Glad to hear you’ve gotten input on painters from RISD. Grad school is a lifetime away, and she appears to think, probably rightly that Purchase and CALARTS are her style and that in her mind RISD and CALARTS would be preposterous!
Also really value your comments on supportive collaborative critique at Pratt. Additionally she just visited the School of the MFA in Boston and felt they don’t teach painting per se, and that she wants to continue to be taught painting; but that there was some brilliant work there. Can’t consider ateliers exclusively because we want a firm liberal arts component (without needing a dual major situation). Thanks again and wishing you the Greatest.
Also, my concerns about the MICA locale preceded the riots, in that it is a tad harsh, without many conveniences, and bordering and chiefly accessing Charles Village for restaurants, film, and an active neighborhood.
Thank you for your response taxguy. She is a painter and wishes to continue to receive some instruction - not to just do her own thing, which she will anyway. She’s very self- motivated. Does not want to be in the country far from easy access to town or traveling to a city. NYC is nearly out, she’s been there for H.S. Taken extra classes at Cooper, still considers it and SVA. We live part-time near Bard and as good as it is, there is no convincing her. She doesn’t want that kind of geographic bubble. Seems to want to postpone her passion for California until after college. Loves CALARTS but thinks it’s so conceptual she’d not like four years there and dreams of it for grad school. Needs a real liberal arts program without needing a dual major. Being a painting major will quite likely be the path. I’d like to get her out of the frozen north. SCAD turned her off when they told her a portfolio is not required. This is an artist with real ability and soul. We are not seeking a scholarship. She’d prefer not-a-preppy place nor too dull a place. Thanks so much for your attention and sending you warm wishes.
When I think of undergraduate painting, I think of MICA first, but that’s off the table for understandable reasons. My son is a sophomore Illustration major at MICA now, and when he chose it over RISD and SVA, my wife and I had to swallow hard and not scare him off by making too much of our concerns. So far he’s loving it, and the school is definitely on top of security in a big, big way, but crime has risen in the wake of the riots, so I can’t say I’m not still a little worried. Another great choice for painting, especially if you don’t want a place that’s too conceptual, is Lyme Academy, although it’s probably way too small and rural for your daughter. Have you thought at all about Art Center? Like RISD, it’s a bit stronger in design than fine arts, but, also like RISD, the talent level is incredibly impressive. And it’s in California without being in the hinterlands (like CalArts).
@Shadeland, your D might want to consider SAIC. They have an excellent painting program and a strong liberal arts component (lots of writing), and they are located in the heart of downtown Chicago. Chicago’s big, but not so big, and transportation options are plenty to get to the many distinct neighborhoods. Plus, the students have access to the entire collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, even the art that isn’t on display. My D is a sophomore there, and it really wasn’t on her radar until we visited during an Accepted Students Day (she was leaning towards RISD at the time.) But it quickly rose to the top of her list. She’s been very happy there.
@Shadeland - My S is a Painting major at AAC (Art Academy of Cincinnati). It’s not on many top 10 lists, but it sounds like it’s location and conveniences might meet you D’s criteria. They are not heavy on teaching technique, per se, but more about encouraging the development of each student’s individual passion/skill/interests. AAC is located in the heart of the city’s trendy, revitalized Over-the-Rhine area (on some people’s top 10 places to live) and has quick, easy access to all kinds of entertainment, learning and cultural venues. For those who want a stronger LA focus, AAC has agreements in place with the University of Cincinnati (very close by) and other Arts entities if there is a skill a student wants to pursue which is not offered by AAC. Many students find their own internships - locally and elsewhere - and there are connections for those who want to do a semester/year in NYC or abroad. For self-motivated students the individualization of pursuits of interest is endless.
Hi. Thanks for your comments. I’m still intrigued with Art Center despite D. meeting with a representative and afterward saying “They design cars there!” Phenomenal for photography. And yes a wonderful locale. True CalArts is like being on the moon! It does put the hinder in hinterlands or the hindrance or the yonder, oh you know what I mean… Am so glad your son is loving MICA - it’s a tremendous place. And Baltimore can be a fine adventure for an artist. Catch the farmer’s market in season in Charles Village and the salmon crepes!
Thank you. I’ll bet it is fantastic. SAIC. Glad it’s a hit for your daughter. I’m from the freezing so-called heartland and cold thinking of Chicago. Again though I’m thrilled for anyone who can make it work, plus Chicago’s great intellectual life.
Thank you for your input. It is very interesting. I have a worldly and academically sharp friend in a PHD program there, in Cincinnati. I’ll check out the art school. Thank you and All Best.
Re @Shadeland - What about SUNY New Paltz? It won’t be as intense/competitive as RISD, but campus and faculty have a lot of connections/interactions with the NYC art world
So glad to have tripped upon this post! We visited RISD, CalArts, OTIS, RIT, Alfred University, Pratt, UArts, Temple, Hartford Art School, NHIA, Ringling, and VCU. We started looking her freshman year because she knew art was her calling. So right now she’s a senior and waiting for replies. She got acceptance letters from Pratt, UArts, and Hartford with pretty decent merit aid. @Mamelot glad to hear about your D’s experience so far at Pratt. My daughter liked Pratt a lot and the location seems great for the careers ahead of them. UArts seemed like a nice area of Philly (one of the reasons MICA was off her list was due to my concern about the issues in the city there.) Whew! This is a lot of work for sure!
When considering environment, you may want to check out VCU. I visited this fall with my son. We’re from NJ and were in VA visiting family and thought we’d take a tour since it’s the #1 ranked public art school. The art school has a separate campus in downtown Richmond but you still can take advantage of being part of the larger university (sports, electives, etc.) They’ve converted old warehouses and factories into really cool art studios. The students there seemed very happy and the atmosphere was a lot more laid back than the art schools we visited in the northeast.
I wouldn’t rule out Laguna College of Art and Design, although the liberal arts piece might not be as complete as you would like. It is a stone’s throw from UCI - perhaps they have some joint ventures? Our daughter attended the precollege program for figurative drawing last summer. The class turned out to be a mixture of precollege students, students who were about to begin LCAD or were attending, and one gal who was a rising Senior at Boston University and was repeating figurative drawing at LCAD because it was the best class she had ever taken. She planned to do a postbac at LCAD after graduation from BU. A few little pearls that we have picked up: pay attention to the work of the specific artists that you are learning from. Pay attention to whether they are adjunct, or full professors - she was burned by choosing a school based on two phenomenal adjuncts, who then didn’t return. If you want to focus on art, but also work in another discipline, pay CLOSE attention to how the two departments work together. Pay close attention to how much time is spent learning business and promotion. Look at the employment rate (very high at LCAD). Our daughter is into biology and representational art, and I am working really hard with her to research! I am surprised how many schools do not teach how to draw and paint realistically, or teach it only as a small piece. YET, employers say this is a key piece for employability. Go figure…
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Really rigorous program, and hard to get into. I second ditching anime and focusing on your fundamentals so your portfolio is strong. They want to see your nuts and bolts and potential. What you do with it after you graduate is entirely up to you.
The employment rate is only high at LCAD because they’re all jobs in the OC where the school is located.
If LCAD students are looking for jobs elsewhere, it’s hard.
I got into LCAD this year but withdrew my application because I got the same feeling. Maybe LCAD has a good local reputation but other than that, it’s next to unknown.
Can you elaborate more? Do you have personal/second hand stories about job placement there?
LCAD makes my blood boil every time it is mentioned. It is not because I had a bad experience/I hate the school that I mention bad things about it. It’s mostly of their false advertising and it’s mainly true. Take it with a grain of salt because LCAD might be the school for some and it’s not for others. It’s just my two cents as a student there that had to go out of their way because the second year, I realized how crappy of a school it is.
A little about me, I’m a recent graduate from that stupid school that graduated with graphic design. I nearly transferred my senior year because I couldn’t take any more bs from the school and I also felt I wasn’t ready to take on the world.
This is what I posted on another discussion for a person interested in the graphic design program.
I would not recommend LCAD unless you’re coming straight out of high school or you are specifically geared towards action sports emphasis for graphic design, which I personally think is limiting as a designer. As much as the school boasts about it being the only school that offers a degree in action sports, I think it’s a lacking degree to have if you can’t find a job in the sports industry.
The school is too small and you’re pretty much stuck with the same people in all your classes. The students at LCAD don’t know their competition and thus can’t compete with big schools like ArtCenter or Calarts for competitive jobs. A lot of students are full of ego when in reality they’re just a big fish in a small pond.
The chair of the department calls LCAD the art school of Julliard. I laugh at it. LCAD has trained their students to think they are the best when most of the recent graduates have not even found jobs to support themselves. And for their IOH show for recent grads to get hired by potential employers, the companies don’t even send their important people (art directors, senior designers, etc) to come look at work and most of the time, only half of the guests on the list shows up. (I know this because I volunteered because I was curious where they’re putting their students. The school is a total fail.
The only jobs that school can offer are the ones in OC, thus stating they have a 90% job placement rate because they can’t even compete with bigger schools whose students are working at Google, Microsoft, Disney, Universals, Intel, NASA and other big names.
I barely made it out to a big company because I took night classes at another school that was more well-known, which costed me 6k so I could feel better about myself. Oh and don’t be surprised by how good their program is in the catalog. 90% of the work is by a certain pick of students that they keep recycling to lure students in. I was fooled by it.
Their animation program is also bad. The school itself spent so much money to bring on the two chairmans of the departments and they’re spending a lot of money to keep them in the school. Mostly for the reason when they recruit, they mention that animation has two great ex-Disney animators that worked on Beauty and the Beast etc etc. They teach animation what it takes to get into the industry from the 2D era instead of focusing what animation is today which is total embarrassment when they use their connections to bring Pixar/Disney Animation to come look at their kids.
Game Art is probably the most serious major there that is actually learning what the industry is doing today. I’m not too sure about job placements other than Blizzard since it’s in OC, but the major itself challenges you which is what every major is supposed to do in the field of art and design and they put you down if you even have a single thought of having a big ego because you were only praised once. A lot of the students I seen and know have come out with great work. Don’t know too much about Illustration but it’s complicated because of the chairman wanting to stick with traditional. So it guess it’s between the good and bad. But graphic design and animation has been a joke to me there.
And LCAD, where’s that cafeteria you said you needed to increase my tuition for? It’s been three years! You must be spending on your Fine Arts program again.
Message me if you want to know more. I HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IT.