<p>Does anyone have any insight to about the undergraduate art programs at Yale and Columbia? A broad question, but I still haven't really had any luck and I think it would be great to be able to talk to a student, parent, or anyone with a connection to the art programs there. Just a general overview and opinion would be fantastic. Thanks all (:</p>
<p>Newberrytiger,</p>
<p>I’m not connected with either school but I can give you a little bit of info on both.</p>
<p>Yale
One of the best art programs in the world. They are currently changing many key professors but this is still way waaay up there. </p>
<p>Columbia
A good studio art program, solid in every respect. Their art history program is considered one of the very best in the world.</p>
<p>You would get a terrific art education at either school. If you have any specific questions I’ll try to answer.</p>
<p>Best,
Wheaty</p>
<p>Wheaty:
I agree with you.</p>
<p>Thank you for the reply! 
I’m planning (at the moment at least) to major/get a masters in graphic design. I know that Yale has good design programs, but i’m wondering if Columbia (or maybe even Cornell) would be worth trying to get into when I don’t plan on getting a masters in studio art.</p>
<p>Also, here’s the million dollar question that nobody could really give me the answers to, but maybe just to satisfy my curiosity, I’ll ask…
Many students from my school have gone to art programs at RISD, Cooper Union, Carnegie Mellon, Ringling, Swarthmore and the like. Also, many students score scholarships, one senior earlier on in the year got a 90,000 scholarship to SAIC. If my artwork is on par with the artwork of my seniors before me, would that be enough to make my portfolio competitive with other applicants?</p>
<p>re Yale Cornell Columbia: since Cornell has a BFA, it should have serious graphic design, although the people i know who went there or taught there (and liked it) studied fine art. </p>
<p>I dont understand your last Q . If your artwork is on par with those others, then . . . yes that would mean it is competitive. So i think i missed the Q.</p>
<p>Sorry, I can see how you misunderstood that. I was just concerned that everyone says the accepted art students into programs like Yale are national award winners and … we haven’t had any young arts finalists recently, and I haven’t won any national awards. I don’t think i’ll have a problem with getting into an art institution, but I don’t know much about arts admissions at Yale, Columbia or Cornell. How many nationally recognized young artists apply to these schools with an intended major in art, and would I be competitive enough with them?</p>
<p>Newberrytiger - I can’t help with Yale or Columbia, but I may be able to help with Cornell. My D was only looking at BFA programs and Yale and Columbia don’t have that. My D was accepted ED to Cornell for fine arts. She did not have any national, or for that matter any major art awards. She didn’t discover art until high school. At that point her she was working like crazy to develop her skills as well as put a portfolio together. Any time I brought up entering a contest she didn’t want to, because if she won most places keep the pieces for a certain amount of time. She wanted to make sure she had her “best” pieces with her in her portfolio. Her portfolio was fantastic, the feedback was amazing and she got in everywhere she had applied and heard back from, until she had to pull the outstanding applications after early decision from Cornell. So we don’t know about the last few schools.</p>
<p>She only applied to universities. She was looking for the full college experience and we believe she has found it at Cornell. </p>
<p>If I can answer any questions, please let me know.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how to detangle the undergraduate arts from the graduate arts at each school. Neither Yale nor Columbia offers a BA, so your major (they call it a concentration) would be studio art. Like other BA programs the ratio is about 1/3 studio work to 2/3 academic work (a BFA is roughly the opposite). The best thing to do would be to arrange a tour of the art department so you can see student work, and hopefully, speak to some current undergraduate students.</p>
<p>My D2 applied to both schools but we were unable to arrange more than a general school tour so it was not very illuminating. Both schools have specific and restrictive arrangements, for example, art tours are only on Tuesdays and you have to call a certain person to reserve a spot, etc. With Ivy League schools, they are so popular and sought after that all the logistics become a bit more complicated. We walked through the art department building at Yale, but saw very little student work and the administrative staff there was not helpful or friendly. </p>
<p>Neither school encouraged sending “supplemental” material (portfolio) and Columbia went so far as saying that there was no guarantee that it even would be looked at. AND, they only accepted SLIDES! D2 saw that, a few days before Christmas, and thought it would be impossible so she didn’t send them. But early in February, Columbia contacted her and asked her to send some slides of her portfolio. It takes about a week to get digital images into slide form, but she did it and they were sent in. She was accepted there, but not at Yale. She was not a national award winner, but I don’t think she ever applied for most of the big awards. We’re a bit off the radar here.</p>
<p>That was two years ago. Hopefully Columbia accepts digital portfolios now! Good luck to you.</p>
<p>This is the closest thing I could find. The Columbia link is for prospective MFA students. The Yale link only mentions an open house that was last November. Don’t click on the Yale link if you have a seizure disorder - seriously! </p>
<p>[Tours</a> | Columbia University School of the Arts](<a href=“http://arts.columbia.edu/tours]Tours”>http://arts.columbia.edu/tours)</p>
<p>[Yale</a> University School of Art: Visiting](<a href=“http://art.yale.edu/Visiting]Yale”>Visiting - Yale School of Art)</p>
<p>There is a phone number on it. I would just call them and ask when a good time would be to tour the building and speak to any willing students.</p>
<p>mdmomfromli: The Cornell post is really heartening and good to hear. I hope your daughter loves Cornell! PM sent as well (:</p>
<p>greenwitch: Thanks for the insight! I would be nice if the ivy schools were a little more welcoming about their art departments. They always seem elusive, but maybe that’s what makes them so intriguing to many people. I’ll be sure to call and make sure to get a tour of the art department specifically if I can. I hope Columbia accepts digital portfolios too!
Did your daughter end up going to Columbia or did she choose another school? How does she like where she’s going?</p>
<p>Also, thanks for the links, Columbia especially. I haven’t yet dissected their visual arts page (:</p>
<p>She is currently a sophomore at MICA and is happy there. She took a long look at Columbia’s required curriculum for freshmen and wasn’t sure she wanted to commit to that.</p>
<p>Among the ivy league, I would definitely look at Brown, with or without the dual major with RISD. (As a Brown student you can take classes at RISD.) You might also want to look at some of the small LACs that have good studio art departments and strong academics, though these would focus more on fine arts and less on design. Williams, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Haverford. Smith if you are female.</p>
<p>One other observation: my son toured 14 college campuses. Only two, Conn College and Skidmore, included the art department in the standard tour.</p>
<p>Right, I’m not an entirely huge fan of Columbia’s curriculum and I’m starting to sway more towards Cornell than Columbia. I’m happy that your daughter is doing great at MICA! That’s wonderful to hear (:</p>
<p>I have taken a few glances at Brown but not extensively. I think i’ll check it out again and I might consider Brown/RISD. My only concern is that I have to limit the amount of applications I do because of the fees, not to mention the costs of test taking. But it’s definitely an option! Thanks for the suggestions, momrath (:</p>
<p>The Brown/RISD program is so selective that I’d consider it a “throw away” application. Brown has a very good studio art program of its own and RISD classes are also available. It’s quite theory focused, but I’d say that it’s one of the better BA choices among medium sized privates.</p>
<p>My understanding is that Yale admissions would focus more on your academic record – grades, scores, rank, accomplishments – than your portfolio. Your involvement in art would qualify as an EC, but everything else has to be top notch as well. Also, insanely selective.</p>
<p>Again, if you’re considering a BA (versus a BFA) then I’d look at Williams and Wesleyan too. Excellent well funded art and art history departments. Excellent academics and graduate school placements. They like artists.</p>
<p>My son is getting an M.Arch at Cornell. The department seems to me to be stronger in architecture and urban planning than it is in fine art, but it’s a great university overall – Big State U ambience with Ivy League cache.</p>