Art schools?

[Serena]

Any suggestions on how I can get reviews or information about which ones are good and which ones to avoid?

This is for Kelsea.

 

[metime]

what part of the country?

 

[Serena]

Indianapolis. She's looking into an art school in chicago though.

 

[amid chaos]

I've heard great things about Herron in Indiana, RISD in Providence and Mass Art in Boston.

 

[janette]

I've done searches on Art School Reviews there are several listings. collegebound is also a great resource. My 15yo DD is seriously considering Ringling College of Art & Design. It has great reviews and is located in FL which she likes. This review is in US News & World Report. Still a little early as she's just starting HS but art is her passion so pretty sure of her college path.

 

[Serena]

I've heard great things about Herron in Indiana, RISD in Providence and Mass Art in Boston.

I was thinking Herron too, but I didn't know if it was good or just looked it. It's 10 minutes away too.

Thanks everyone I'll do some looking around.

 

[FINFAN]

My DD is a sophomore at Ringling ( Computer Animation)we are in the burbs just west of Chicago,so you would thing having SAIC and Columbia that we were in luck, but Ringling blows them away. DD walked from a $40,000 merit scholarship to CCAC, and 28,000 to SCAD to attend Ringling. What does your daughter hope to major in? All majors but CA and GAD are rolling, but only about 100 kids make it in for CA/GAD, (and that is International applicants as well, so pretty tough)so they have to prepare EARLY! My DD LOVES it there...I mean, LOVES IT THERE! She could not wait to get back over summer.( we miss her terribly tho, 1200 miles means not seeing her until Christmas break each year)
Does she like a tradtional campus? A large school or small school? A lot of the Art colleges are more urban, set in the cities and not tradtional dorms etc. Has she looked into any Pre-college programs? It is a great way to see if Art School is a match vs traitional college. Another biggie is to make sure the college is Nationally Acredited. Our DD knew 3-D computer animation was her choice so she contacted film studios and video game companies and asked them what colleges they recruit from, and then narrowed her list to 6, then 4 then Ringling. National Portfolio Day is coming up, wher reps from art school will critique student portfolios and have tons of literature/info to hand out, DD was accepted to Ringling at NPD for their Illustration program, so that was kinda cool. However, for their CA program it was more difficlut...she had to submit her portfolio along with regular application/essay/transcripts, and sweat it out to see if she made the cut of 75-100.
Chexk the Bio's of the teachers in the catalogues the schools hand out. If you see a LOT of the faculty graduated from the school they are now teaching at...maybe not so great as new blood, teachers who have real life /work experience bring so much to the table.
I can try and answer any questions you may have, to be honest, I was less than impressed with Columbis College as far as their Illustration /animation , and game art majors go,, SAIC was just too unstructured, way too fine artsy, as in not making you marketable and competitive...no real guidelaine for say, graphic arts or Advertising. It's a shame as Chicago offers tons of companies for Internship opportunities...but the school has to do their part in the training/skills.
A great site is
www.conceptart.org
go to their forums page and then the art and education page..get comfy as ther is a ton to read, especially the sticky on "the cost of art school and is it worth it" At most of these places costing an average of 40-50 grand a year, it is a lot to consider. I believe Kansas City has another decent school...you are looking for 4 year degree, right?

 

[Serena]

A lot of good questions and many things I need to bring up with her.

 

[janette]

Serena, hope you don't mind me asking a few questions here too.

FinFan - what type of prep would you suggest for Ringling? My DD is interested in CA; her dream is to work for Pixar and we've talked about that it takes being the best of the best. I did see that Ringling has a summer program and considering that after her Jr year.

Our HS offers block scheduling so she'll be able to take the equivalent of 8 HS art classes; I've thought that if they don't seem to be challenging her enough she could take classes at local jr colleges. I've found finding extra art classes to be difficult - most cater to arts/crafts for kids. She has done a few "adult" clay classes and been fine with that.

 

[FINFAN]

What year is your daughter currently? Has her teacher(s) ever told the kids about NPD?
http://www.portfolioday.net/

has she ever entered Scholastics for Fine arts? The workd from that can be great to include in a portfolio for college admission, but I will say now, the absolute BEST thing she can do is to draw from life, direct observation. Not from pictures or magazines, even photos. The college reps can spot that a million miles away. Again, so much depends on her major. Obviously one majoring in Illustration or animation will need to show particulart strengths over an advertising orgraphic design major. I would hint at her considering "return of investment" as something to consider...if she plans to go into Art Education, a state school would be far more affordable. My DD knew she wanted to jump right into her "major" classes, Ringling does have gen eds but not as many as a state school and by 2nd semester of her Freshman year she was taking classes for her major.

 

[janette]

She is a HS freshman and only in Art I; school started last week not sure if they've even turned in any work. I'll look at the Scholastics for Fine arts; she is planning on joining the Visual Art Society and they also have a National Art Honor Society. The HS offers AP art classes in drawing, sculpture & ceramics. She'll take all that she has time for; the AP classes are really just portfolio prep from the description.

Their career center offers some CA classes but not sure how good they are; she might get a better class at a jr college.

She is talented; one issue we've been dealing with is that she really hasn't been challenged. Her teachers so far just tell her how good she is; I'm hoping that will change some in HS as the other kids taking the more advanced classes will also be talented so she can be motivated by them.

Definately not interested in teaching art; CA would be her first choice but another type of graphic art would follow.

 

[FINFAN]

Janette, does her HS offer Independent study or AP ART? Yes, if you can hit the Commuity College near you, have her take life drawing, they REALLY need this to be competitive, especially to get into Ringlings CA program)and draw from direct observation. Go to the Concept Art.org link and another is WWW.AWN.COM
Again, I cannot stress NPD enough, get there early, you will only be able to hit 5, 6 schools as the lines are long, but the critiques are so valuable and really, the kids get to see what type of talent is out there, what they will be up against. Both my DD and her BF made it into Ringling, (BF is GAD-Game Art/Design) and our HS went nuts to have 2 kids accepted, DD really strugggled w/her decision to go as the cost is insane...however you will benefit from the awesome new dorm and classroom buildings. Pre -college there runs about 5 grand ( DD did not attend as we didn't have the $) but I believe that credit from that does apply to their overall graduation requirements. Ringling is NOT for the timid or fragile...drop out rate for CA is 50%...DD saw many not return this year...tho for multiple reasone, work, realize CA is not for them, and sadly cost. If your DD likes to draw, I mean, only draw and is not into computers, 2-D would be more her thing, however most 2-d is outsorced overseas etc. The Frog Princess will be a huge deciding factor in the fate of 2-D. Does your DD use a Wacom tablet or Flash program at all yet?Has she taken a graphic arts calss? That is a really good one to take to see if she cares to be "creating" thru the use of the computer as her tool vs pencil/paper. Pixar recruits from Ringling, but they recruit from where the top talent is. Taht is one thing to keep in minf. Any company is going to take the top 5% from a multitude of schools, not 30% from one school . However, Ringling consistently churns out top students ( or vampires as our DD is now known)who, if they have prepared themselves right, are not pigeon-holed to a singel talent, they will be prepared for all options in their major( character design, rigging, background desig, special effects, etc) Word is out on Ringling, the school is only about 1400-1500 students so competition is tight. However, the GOOD news is their Endowment is growing, so more kids have been able to score small scholarships, DD has not received any yet( they do offer for continuing students as well) so that kind of gives you an idea when she was awarded decent sums from other top schools, but at Ringling, while she made it in, they all start from scratch day 1. Leave your ego at the door, you will learn, you will have your projects ripped to shreds, but you will be glad you did, because you will be competitve and prepared for the cut throat art world. A tough call is that art is so subjective,,,and talent is talent, great teachers are everywhere, not just at private art schools..so someone with no degree *can* land a job and they do, but those with the degree will move up. Networking/connections, the name of the game, and Ringling does offer that, the students look out for their own, Alumni come back and recruit...if CA is truly what your DD is after, there are only a handful of colleges that are going to fill the bill at this time:
Ringling
Sheridan ( Canada)
SVA
SCAD( tho I do not in any way recommend this school, but they do offer a 4 year animation degeree)
CAL ARTS ( MORE 2-D)
Laguna Beach
Mica and RISD...not sure of their current programs, some offer "media design" not sure how complete those are
CCS ( College of Creative Studies/Detriot)

I imagine there are others out there, but when DD asked about recruiting, these topped the list...some state schools were listed, but did not offer Animation degrees per say.
Animation Mentor is an on-line program that is pretty competitive, but 2 year, not 4.
If you can get past the cost, Ringling is certainly going to offer what she needs to be ready. Don't be swayed by the beach tho...DD has been a total of 4 X's, twice at night. The workload is just that, a load, but these kids know how lucky they are to be there, they love it, they feed off each other. The atmosphere is amazing. I attended a state school , graduated w/a BS Studio Art-Illustration Emphasis...there is absolutely no comparison in how much better prepared after 1 year my DD is to my education. If I was competeing with kids coming out of Ringling for jobs..ummmm......well, I'd be wearing the T-Shirt that says "ART MAJOR...WANT FRIES WITH THAT?"

 

[tar heel]

My son is a senior BFA student at a major state university. We felt strongly that he needed an actual college degree with a bit of diversity so didn't encourage art schools. With a BFA, he has had intensive art eduction (much more so than if he got a BA in art or art education) but he also will have a college degree and thus be qualified for jobs for which a bachelor's is the minimum. The price is good, about $12,000-$13,000 a year for everything.

 

[FINFAN]

Janette, TX has a lot of studios and video game companies...and the colleges there are really ggod for the arts...I would by all means utilize any CC you have, and don't disregard the AP classes, if she scores a 4 or highter on her portfolio I believe that covers a basic drawing class freshman year. Ringling will not knock any $$off for that class but it will free up time for your DD. Ringling charges a "flat rate" for tuition, which hurts, but in all honesty , they are comparably priced with the other top tier art colleges. Their food plan changed this year for the better to be like regular colleges with the "credits" used for meals. It allows much better flexibility and cost choice. The new dorm is sweet, my DD had to put up with the construction of it directly ( and I mean DIRECTLY, as in 10 feet away) out her window all last year..this year her dorm is slotted for demolision ) so it kinda hurts to have paid big bucks and NOW the Taj Mahal is available...but oh well, she loved it anyway. Scored an on campus apartment for this year and has squatters rights, so it's all good.
Your DD sounds awesome and kudos for starting the search early. DD was worried about her GPA as she had a rough Freshman year...she ended w/a 3.25 and Ringling still accepted her into CA...they are getting tougher on the GPA, but the Portfolio still trumps it.
Have your DD talk to her teachers, and check out those web sites and join and ask questions...faculty from Ringling scopes out ConcpetArt from time to time, the Ringling thread under Art Schools and Educatioin is ALWAYS active, folks are very friendly there.

 

[janette]

Thanks Finfan - great information and Serena for asking this question, I really hadn't thought about that we needed to start now.

I looked up the NSD schedule and they'll have one here in Oct so I'll see if she has something she wants to bring.

Her favorite art form is dimensional; she's worked with regular clay & polymer. Much of what she did has really been self taught; she'd look at youtube to learn some things. She can and does draw well but her talent in 3d has seemed to be further ahead, she's played with flash but doesn't have a computer to run it on right now; I'm thinking we'll have to break down and buy her a mac sometime. Only class has been a summer camp that taught a very limited animation with flash.

She has the patience to do things with the computer I wouldn't even think to do; when she first starting using power point for school projects she managed to use it as a drawing program. One project she had an exploding volcano; I have no idea how she did it but don't think power point is even designed to do animation.

Although I didn't like the price of Ringling's Summer program I thought it would be a good prep for her before attending. We also have the distance issue so hard for us to visit the campus easily.

ETA - One more question on GPA; do they have core classes like English / history? I didn't see anything on the website about them and wondered. My DD is dyslexic and compensates very well but does struggle in traditional academics. One of the reasons we've kind of planned for a less traditional education choices for her.

 

[FINFAN]

Sounds like she is right on track....so many get hung up on the computer end of things, and at Ringling anyway, not a lot of drawing( by hand) after Freshman year for CA majors. They are to always be sketching, pushing themseves etc., but as far as the curriculum goes, by 2nd year they are in the labs on the computers. DD has her Psych class this year, but that is her only Gen Ed.
She sounds like she will love having to make her characters out of Sculpey...DD has used it a lot.
Maya is currently the program the CA's use...but Ringling does not require kids to know how to use it prior to attending. Actually, they prefer to teach them there, so no bad habits are aquired...but they do like the kids to be kind of familiar...maya can bring you to tears, so a lttle familiarity is good.
We have family in SW Florida and have been going for years, but had never been to the campus until the day we moved DD in. Google earth is great and all the info on the web these days....however, we knew our DD would love the environment as she was quite used to being in Fl., was not homesick even for a minute. Her BF had a rough first few weeks, but she hit the ground running. She has said that she finally fits in,( her HS was all about the Prep crowd/ art dept was small) Sarasota embraces the college, it is a very Artsy community as it is, but the kids are not viewed as weird art kids. DD is in her element ( she's not the stereo-typical, pierced, tatooed, hot pink hair)and the age range of "freshman" is anywhere form 18-40. Many attend Ringling after having attended a tradtional college, many had parents who would not pay for art school, so now they are attending as it is what they have wanted all along. Many have to wait until they can afford it, many are simply trying to stay current in the art world...it's a melting pot in a good way. if you do get to check it out, you will see that it is a mixture of areas, some beautiful, some scary..the kids learn immediately where NOT to go walking, but all schools we looked at closer to home had that to deal with.
I am a firm believer in the match of environment and student, if they do not like where they are, I don't care how awesome the school is, they are not going to be happy and not going to do well. If you are ever at WDW over the next few years, it is about a 2 hour drive to Ringling..check it out if you can. Also, college more local probably offer pre-college, it doesn't have to be Ringling, just thatif she does do theirs, I believe she gets some credit which is nice. A 4 year CA degree is somewhat difficult to find at a lot of schools. Many are trying to add them and that's great...so keep your eyes open , safety schools and back up plans are a must. One big thing tho with Ringing..as of now, if your DD does make it into the CA program, she cannot defer and take a year off...if you are ccepted, you either yes go, or say no thank you and the slot is offered to the next in line. There is always a waiting list, and just becasue a student makes it in one yera, does not mean they will make it in the next if they defer. The competition is always a factor, so even if a student does have what it takes, they have to have it enought to make the top 100 ( does that make sense?) same goes for if they have to take a year of etc. They have to wait until a slot is open to return, there are no guarantees. After you have dropped that first 40-50 grand, invested it into Ringling, you pretty much need to realize is goes all or nothing...DD strugles with this..a lot of the kids do. Many are trust fund babies and have no worries, a lot are like our DD...we agreed to cover what state school would cost, after that she is on her own. It's a REALLY tough call...but she is going for it. She will probably be in your neck of the woods in the future...while she would LOVE to be in LA working for a Pixar/Dreamworks etc., she is realistic, she attended the CIA presentation. Yep, CA is used in a LOT if educational/medical materials...forensics ( she loves science) TARGET, hallmark, a ton of places recruit from there, so keeping our fingers crossed! DD graduates in '12...just about when your DD would be entering!