Choosing a college?
slayden
My son, 17, is applying to area colleges for Fall 2000. I have done
searches through the college board, US news, Princeton, Peterson etc to
look at various programs.
We have some constraints with money and distance from home. WE are in
Northern Virginia so there are several good ones he could apply to.
One question is in Arts is it best to study at a prestigious art
institute or University or best to get a well rounded liberal arts
education and then do graduate work at say Maryland Institute or the
Corcoran college of art?
My daughter, a dancer, attended a top ballet program and in the end I am
not sure it was worth it. But my son has not had much formal training
and I want him to be nurtured but not lost in the crowd.
thanks for any help
mls
Lil Ruse
>
>Hello,
>
>My son, 17, is applying to area colleges for Fall 2000.
What does your son WANT to do is the first question?
What will he WILLINGLY do is the second?
And how determined is he to attempt to make a living
in a field where very few succeed in doing so, even
with advanced degrees in art?
It's always 'nice' to have on your resume that you
attended Yale's art program or one of the other top
rated art programs in the world, but that WON'T
bring you much success if there's nothing else there
to back it up.
slayden
>
>
> What does your son WANT to do is the first question?
> What will he WILLINGLY do is the second?
> And how determined is he to attempt to make a living
> in a field where very few succeed in doing so, even
> with advanced degrees in art?
>
> It's always 'nice' to have on your resume that you
> attended Yale's art program or one of the other top
> rated art programs in the world, but that WON'T
> bring you much success if there's nothing else there
> to back it up.
At this point his interest is illustration.....but at present
he is studying with a artist who has done the range from comics to fine
arts and makes his living at it. He is also advising us, but I wanted
to know how important in art is where you go to school? My daughter is a
dancer who has trained at a prestigious ballet program. This opens doors
but the bottom line is how she dances....technique, body type etc.
The field of visual arts is rather an unknown for us. His cousin is a
medical illustrator and another relative is going into computer
graphics...should he study at an institution where he may be one of the
top students or compete with students at a more well known college.
What do they look for in a portfolio?
thanks!
Lil Ruse
>At this point his interest is illustration.....but at present
>he is studying with a artist who has done the range from comics to fine
>arts and makes his living at it. He is also advising us, but I wanted
>to know how important in art is where you go to school?
First thing to understand is the difference between
fine arts and commercial arts. Most major universities
offer either BA and MA degrees in art or BFA and MFA
degrees. The emphasis of each university will differ
depending on what facilities the art department has
invested in. Some are 'full-service' while others may
offer a limited exposure for the same end degree.
Some offer commercial study paths while others may
have only studio arts. Independent schools that deal
with specialties in the various commercial fields
usually contain the words "design" or "animation"
or "advertising" etc in the school's name.
I'd begin by browsing the following web site which
lists some of the finest commercial design schools
in the world. This is an international listing but
most of the best USA schools of design or commercial
art are listed, as far as I remember. Good Luck...
http://www.artnewspaper.com/homeschools.htm
Dan Fox
> institute or University or best to get a well rounded liberal arts
> education and then do graduate work at say Maryland Institute or the
> Corcoran college of art?
If he wants to be an artist, it is better for him to attend a good art
school. The emphasis on the fundamentals cannot wait until graduate school.
Good art schools also require students to take a liberal arts curriculum.
Check the catalogs.
Good luck!
--
Dan
'The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.' - Blake
http://www.danfoxart.com
Carey Gates
sculpture, I would be interested in helping but would first like to know
what area of the arts you son is interested in, visual arts, dance,
music, ect.. I this would help me to determine if I can be of any help,
and also what advice to give.
slayden wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> My son, 17, is applying to area colleges for Fall 2000. I have done
> searches through the college board, US news, Princeton, Peterson etc to
> look at various programs.
>
> We have some constraints with money and distance from home. WE are in
> Northern Virginia so there are several good ones he could apply to.
> One question is in Arts is it best to study at a prestigious art
> institute or University or best to get a well rounded liberal arts
> education and then do graduate work at say Maryland Institute or the
> Corcoran college of art?
>
==lola==
Hi, mls,
When my little sister was going through the college
application thing I enrolled her in this online service -
http://www.collegequest.com - basically a free reference
and info guide, like Kaplans or Petersons, but you can
do a lot with it, like see pictures of campuses and apply.
Also has a $20 financial aid counselling thing. Might be a
good place for your son to start surfing, but I believe a
well-rounded liberal arts school with a reknowned art dept.
is probably the most practical way for you to go (you know,
the old "something to fall back on" bit)
sincerely,
==lola==
"He is able who thinks he is able."
-Buddha
In article <38255D...@erols.com>, psla...@erols.com says...
Doug Ring
is both a fine art school and a good liberal arts college......
Carey Gates wrote:
> I name is carey and I am presently enrolled in graduate school for
> sculpture, I would be interested in helping but would first like to know
> what area of the arts you son is interested in, visual arts, dance,
> music, ect.. I this would help me to determine if I can be of any help,
> and also what advice to give.
>
> slayden wrote:
> >
Dr. Lori Verderame
Email me regarding your son's interest in art and his college choices. With
my experience as a college professor, I hope to shed some light on the
subject for you.
http://www.Masterpiece-Galleries.com
Lori
Lori Verderame, Ph.D
Director, Masterpiece-Galleries
http://www.masterpiece-galleries.com
Doug Ring wrote in message <38418AD6...@gte.net>...
ran...@my-deja.com
dedicated primarily to the arts or a university environment specializing
in a wider range of disciplines - I couldn’t help but respond to your
message.
I received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and I can honestly say
that one of the most rewarding and valuable aspects of my experience was
not found in the studio or in the classroom. It was in the restaurants
or local bars - sitting down with architects, engineers, actors,
composers, chemists, computer scientists, etc. - exchanging ideas,
debating, sharing our interests and ultimately learning from one
another. I strongly believe that a “university” exists not as a
trade/vocational school - where one learns a specific, marketable skill
- but rather as an institution that serves as a forum - a place to ask
and answer questions. To expose ourselves to new ideas. To take that
leap of faith. To succeed and fail - and to try again...
I later received my Masters degree from an institution dedicated
primarily to the arts- more specifically to painting. And although my
experience in graduate school was just as rewarding, its my time at
Carnegie Mellon that I truly consider to be the point where I grew the
most.
I realize that the expense of a college education can be overwhelming.
Each month I continue to pay enormous student loans. (I think I’ll be
in my early forties when I finally absolve myself of all debt associated
with education - fortunately that’s not too far away) In fact, those
monthly payments are the only bills I enjoy paying, simply because I
feel that I received far more than what the banks are asking...
But I consider my university experience to be invaluable. It became a
structural foundation - a framework from which to build. I believe a
strong work ethic - the drive to challenge yourself and ask questions -
derives from that “foundation” (whether its applied to a particular
profession or to the way you view yourself and the world around you.)
I hope this wasn’t too corny and please excuse the syntax. But good
luck and I wish your son the best
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Jay
I recommend that your son look into a large university where he can get both
quality studio courses and a liberal arts background (Columbia and NYU come
to mind). Many of my friends went to specialized schools like Cooper Union,
SVA, and Pratt, and now find themselves having trouble getting "real" jobs
to support their art. I went in the other direction and chose a small
liberal arts college, and while it served me well academically, I found it
stifling in terms of creativity--my art suffered greatly there. However, it
depends on the small liberal arts college--I've heard great things about
Oberlin, Marlboro, and Sarah Lawrence. More than anything else, I think it
depends on the individual student. None of the feedback you receive here
may be of any consequence to your son. Good luck! I remember what it was
like to choose a college, and I wouldn't want to have to do it again.
JP