Rhode Island School of Design

[Anonymous]

It is an excellent school. Two people I know from high school went there. I've lost touch with one, but the other is a very well-known children's book illustrator and is doing very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a waste of money. No offense.

You are ignorant.

[Anonymous]

It ain't no party, it ain't no disco, it ain't no fooling around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a waste of money. No offense.

Nobody asked you. Go away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It ain't no party, it ain't no disco, it ain't no fooling around.

are these song lyrics?

Like Sheryl Crow's

"This ain't no disco
It ain't no country club either
This is L.A."

[Anonymous]

Talking Heads!

I have two friends who went to RISD. One does restoration on historical houses: cabinetry, plaster work, painting, and gold leaf. The other does painting restoration for museums. Both also do visual art in their free time.

I say go for it!

[Anonymous]

I have. BIL who went to RISD. Did very well there and graduated with distinction in architectural design. He has been running his own design business for about ten years after graduation. His stuff is good and he gets work but he doesn’t make a profit. Sometimes his employees have to weeks to get a check. He graduated about $200K in debt. My MIL pays his student loan often. He got a second job to earn extra income.

My Aunt had a free ride to KCAI based on her portfolio. They aren’t talked about much but I think it is a pretty good school. She graduated debt free and has worked steadily as an artist but has always had day jobs to pay the bills going on three decades now.

I went to SAIC for a short time. I personally found it underwhelming and felt the other students were not very serious so I left. Graduated from a state college and with work experience got really far in my career. I earned enough that I only had to have one job and got my student debt paid off in a reasonable time. I’ve had interns from expensive art schools who were woefully unprepared for the internship much less a job.

A friend remained at SAIC and she said there was a lot of nonsense from the other students but she was fairly satisfied with her education. She is incredibly talented but found working in her field frustrating. Her and her husband live off their real estate investments.

Two other incredibly talented friends from high school went to small state colleges and have worked steadily and done nicely for themselves. They are nationally recognized for their talent.

Art school is tough but navigating a career in art is even tougher. If money is no object then I guess, go ahead and go to RISD. It will probably be an amazing experience but just know art schools are weird little bubbles that aren’t really grounded in the real world.

Your kid would really benefit from working under a professional or two for awhile first. It would be an invaluable education about how the art works really operates. There is no reason to dive into art school right away. Most people I know became successful because of work experience/talent/personality not because of a particular school.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might want to look into the joint Brown/RISD degree program. The admission rate is incredibly low, but it might be worth a try.

I know people who went to RISD. It was always considered the top art school in the US. I'm pretty sure it still is.

But it's very competitive, and the vibe there can be a little weird. The joint program with Brown might be a better fit for your child if she's a great student. The schools are nearby, and easily accessible to one another. Live at Brown, and take classes at RISD, so best of both worlds. And living at Brown might be a little less weird. Some RISD kids are "artists" in the extreme, and I mean that in a good way. They are destined for greatness, obviously.

[Anonymous]

I was a Brown undergrad and took a painting class at RISD, so will share my take FWIW. Those kids were so good! One classmate took commissions in NYC for all their homework assignments so that at the end of the semester, they had only portfolio pictures left. I was not so gifted, but I was struck by how little the art students paid attention to current events, went out, or participated in extracirruclars. I would only want my own kids to attend if they were 100% focused on art.

[Anonymous]

I know it’s a long shot, but does anyone know how financial aid works if a student is in the Brown/RISD dual degree program? Do you get Brown level financial aid? For 4 years or all 5?

I think RISD or probably any art school is out of the question financially but Brown calculator gives us an affordable figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a Brown undergrad and took a painting class at RISD, so will share my take FWIW. Those kids were so good! One classmate took commissions in NYC for all their homework assignments so that at the end of the semester, they had only portfolio pictures left. I was not so gifted, but I was struck by how little the art students paid attention to current events, went out, or participated in extracirruclars. I would only want my own kids to attend if they were 100% focused on art.

So essentially it is a true vocation. That's actually very helpful (not OP btw).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a Brown undergrad and took a painting class at RISD, so will share my take FWIW. Those kids were so good! One classmate took commissions in NYC for all their homework assignments so that at the end of the semester, they had only portfolio pictures left. I was not so gifted, but I was struck by how little the art students paid attention to current events, went out, or participated in extracirruclars. I would only want my own kids to attend if they were 100% focused on art.

So essentially it is a true vocation. That's actually very helpful (not OP btw).

The people who get the most out of places like RISD are people for whom art is a lifetime calling. It's in the blood. They will never do anything but art in some form. It's the same with musicians going to conservatories.

Don't go to such schools if it's just something for fun for a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a Brown undergrad and took a painting class at RISD, so will share my take FWIW. Those kids were so good! One classmate took commissions in NYC for all their homework assignments so that at the end of the semester, they had only portfolio pictures left. I was not so gifted, but I was struck by how little the art students paid attention to current events, went out, or participated in extracirruclars. I would only want my own kids to attend if they were 100% focused on art.

So essentially it is a true vocation. That's actually very helpful (not OP btw).

The people who get the most out of places like RISD are people for whom art is a lifetime calling. It's in the blood. They will never do anything but art in some form. It's the same with musicians going to conservatories.

Don't go to such schools if it's just something for fun for a few years.

I agree. DC has a friend we ho is there now. In high school, she was an extraordinary artist who truly lived to paint. She did her other coursework at what was a top high school, but art consumed every other moment of her life, and she is stunnningly talented. To me, that's RISD. That's the person who should be in art school. And for OP, if this truly is your child, then go. But wouldn't go to RISD if less than fully 100% all in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it’s a long shot, but does anyone know how financial aid works if a student is in the Brown/RISD dual degree program? Do you get Brown level financial aid? For 4 years or all 5?

I think RISD or probably any art school is out of the question financially but Brown calculator gives us an affordable figure.

According to their website—

All tuition and financial aid for Dual Degree students will be figured at Brown rates for the duration of the program, and students enrolled in the program must pay no fewer than ten semesters of Brown tuition. If a student leaves the program and continues at Brown, Brown rates will apply; if a student leaves the program and continues at RISD, RISD rates will apply.

All payments and financial aid inquiries should be directed to Brown.

https://www.brown.edu/academics/brown-risd-dual-degree/prospective-students/tuition-aid