Anonymous wrote:It would really help to know what art medium your student is interested in. Visual or performing arts?

VCUArts is a great option. New York also has some strong and affordable public options, like SUNY Binghamton and Purchase College, both of which have respected arts degrees.

In the OP she says:

studio arts/photography

So, clearly not performing arts.

Later she clarified with this list: my dd loves drawing, painting, ceramics, photography. She also loves museums and galleries.

It would really help to know what art medium your student is interested in. Visual or performing arts?

VCUArts is a great option. New York also has some strong and affordable public options, like SUNY Binghamton and Purchase College, both of which have respected arts degrees.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, my dd loves drawing, painting, ceramics, photography. She also loves museums and galleries. I want her to find a school where she can foster her love for these areas and be around other arty kids and adults, while also getting a broad based liberal arts degree. And not break the bank (I’m looking at you art schools in NYC).
She seems to like a bigger school, but I’ll have her check out anything that might fit the bill.

Thanks for the replies

Not to be a Cassandra, but unless you are wealthy and able to substantially support your kid after their art degree is over, this is mostly likely not a route your kid wants to go down.

There is that. My Art kid (fortunately) spun herself into game design which led to steady employment by Microsoft out of GMU, which is why you should try to direct your student into a BA or BS (computer sciences generated art) because your child is far more likely to get employed with a standard BA, etc. behind them than attending a dedicated art school. I know several classmates of DD who went that route and are working service jobs to pay off loans

Anonymous wrote:Good art schools are usually dedicated art schools, not full spectrum college/universities.

No.

At vcu, look at the da Vinci center. A lot of art students add these certificates to get the needed business study.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting pp thanks. Actually I’m pushing the BA vs BFA, as my daughter has yet to specify a specific career she sees herself doing (besides having a crystal store/jewelry store/little art gallery) - of course those are legit careers - but how about a business class too while you’re in school then? I’ve also suggested a teaching degree which can blend well with her art studies im guessing.
But sounds like all the arty kids need to decide if they’re all in on art and think a lot on a BFA.

I appreciate the feedback and school suggestions.

Does anyone know if any of the UNC schools besides CH have art programs?

I'm with you, OP. I have an MFA in Theatre and encouraged my kid to choose BA over BFA. She is at an open curriculum school snd may actually not get any degree but still pursue theatre (I know a little different than art). She is pursuing her craft, very happy with her liberal arts base and can get an MFA later if she wants to specialize. But, I know several people with BA in Fine Art who are doing well with this type of foundation, my sister included. As a PP mentioned, look for schools that have good outcomes for grads and opportunities for undergrads. At bigger schools, BAs (if even offered) may not have the same opportunities as BFAs. You might have better luck with LACs. What about Vassar or Wesleyan? Not cheap I know, but they have good need aid if you are around 150k or under. Bard, Fordham or Skidmore may do merit and should have some nyc connections. If in MD, have you checked smcm? I don't know the quality of their program, but they are a state school with a LAC feel. Some schools will have interesting facets (like Salisbury U for glassblowing). Good luck!

What schools are listed as strong for art majors in the Princeton Review Guide to Best Colleges?

Has she considered combining something like Museum Studies and Art History ? Does she want to create art or be surrounded by it? Write about it (an Arts critic?) Sell it?

I know she is young but can she have informational interviews with people in these fields to better understand what they do all day, and what training they would recommend?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting pp thanks. Actually I’m pushing the BA vs BFA, as my daughter has yet to specify a specific career she sees herself doing (besides having a crystal store/jewelry store/little art gallery) - of course those are legit careers - but how about a business class too while you’re in school then? I’ve also suggested a teaching degree which can blend well with her art studies im guessing.
But sounds like all the arty kids need to decide if they’re all in on art and think a lot on a BFA.

I appreciate the feedback and school suggestions.

Does anyone know if any of the UNC schools besides CH have art programs?

PP. FWIW: When I was studying theater the thought of combining it with education classes was anathema. That was like admitting defeat in advance. My best friend, who studied studio art and then got an MFA in print making is finally getting some serious attention in the art world at 50ish, so her years and years of work are paying off, but she has made a living teaching art in public high schools and has found it rewarding. But she never would have considered education classes while studying art at RISD.

Let your kid do what they want and don't send them in the direction of practical "career" choices while they study. The arts get a bad wrap, but if you are a strong enough artist to pursue art at college, you have a lot of traits that will see you through life just fine (patience, always striving to get better at something, taste, perspective, learning about unusual people, better than average knowledge of culture etc). And if they need to figure our business or want to teach later, like my bff, they'll be more than able to figure it all out.

I think that's a pretty dated thought process--many of the strongest art students study education now and K-12 teachers are often exhibiting artists.

JMU has both a BFA and a BA, FWIW.

Anonymous wrote:Hi there, my DD is currently a student at VCuArts. Before she was certain about the art however I was in your shoes, looking for universities with strong art departments as well as wide range of other options and degrees.

She applied to all of the following and here are some thoughts about each

VCU - her toughest application by far. Definitely take advantage of the portfolio reviews they offer - she did one online. They also have precollege sessions which can help with art productions and portfolio prep but COVID scuttled that for DD.

Ohio University - was the second highest ranked fine arts program she applied to but lost interest when in state schools accepted her.

Tennessee - we loved the arts facilities, also fairly high ranked for fine arts. Cost ended up being a factor. We are in VA.

West Virginia - also good arts program and nice facilities. We visited and it would’ve been a good option if others didn’t come through.

JMU - lower ranked for fine arts but good program and facilities. She attended a portfolio review there and faculty were great.

Va tech - not known for fine arts but trying to grow their studio art program. New facilities and she could’ve gotten a lot of attention but preferred VCU. No portfolio required.

My understanding is the difference between BA and BFA is the amount of studio time - more for BFA.

VT has a "Creative Technologies" program if she's interested in the more digital side of arts.

If you're in VA, I think that getting a BFA at VCU (which is fantastic!) at instate rates, and graduating without debt puts you in a better position than paying for a private or OOS BA or art education degree. She'll be much more prepared if she does want to work as an artist and if she does decide to change careers, she'll be more able to afford some kind of credential without existing debt.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting pp thanks. Actually I’m pushing the BA vs BFA, as my daughter has yet to specify a specific career she sees herself doing (besides having a crystal store/jewelry store/little art gallery) - of course those are legit careers - but how about a business class too while you’re in school then? I’ve also suggested a teaching degree which can blend well with her art studies im guessing.
But sounds like all the arty kids need to decide if they’re all in on art and think a lot on a BFA.

I appreciate the feedback and school suggestions.

Does anyone know if any of the UNC schools besides CH have art programs?

PP. FWIW: When I was studying theater the thought of combining it with education classes was anathema. That was like admitting defeat in advance. My best friend, who studied studio art and then got an MFA in print making is finally getting some serious attention in the art world at 50ish, so her years and years of work are paying off, but she has made a living teaching art in public high schools and has found it rewarding. But she never would have considered education classes while studying art at RISD.

Let your kid do what they want and don't send them in the direction of practical "career" choices while they study. The arts get a bad wrap, but if you are a strong enough artist to pursue art at college, you have a lot of traits that will see you through life just fine (patience, always striving to get better at something, taste, perspective, learning about unusual people, better than average knowledge of culture etc). And if they need to figure our business or want to teach later, like my bff, they'll be more than able to figure it all out.

Hi there, my DD is currently a student at VCuArts. Before she was certain about the art however I was in your shoes, looking for universities with strong art departments as well as wide range of other options and degrees.

She applied to all of the following and here are some thoughts about each

VCU - her toughest application by far. Definitely take advantage of the portfolio reviews they offer - she did one online. They also have precollege sessions which can help with art productions and portfolio prep but COVID scuttled that for DD.

Ohio University - was the second highest ranked fine arts program she applied to but lost interest when in state schools accepted her.

Tennessee - we loved the arts facilities, also fairly high ranked for fine arts. Cost ended up being a factor. We are in VA.

West Virginia - also good arts program and nice facilities. We visited and it would’ve been a good option if others didn’t come through.

JMU - lower ranked for fine arts but good program and facilities. She attended a portfolio review there and faculty were great.

Va tech - not known for fine arts but trying to grow their studio art program. New facilities and she could’ve gotten a lot of attention but preferred VCU. No portfolio required.

My understanding is the difference between BA and BFA is the amount of studio time - more for BFA.

VCU, GMU, JMU all have excellent art education programs (that have some post-bac options for full licensure/accelerated Master's degrees. All three have good studio art programs too, with VCU being by far the most competitive/selective. For an art education position, you need to get a lot of studio credits, so some BA degrees would not be sufficient. To be an art teacher you need the license in art education--not just a general teaching license.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting pp thanks. Actually I’m pushing the BA vs BFA, as my daughter has yet to specify a specific career she sees herself doing (besides having a crystal store/jewelry store/little art gallery) - of course those are legit careers - but how about a business class too while you’re in school then? I’ve also suggested a teaching degree which can blend well with her art studies im guessing.
But sounds like all the arty kids need to decide if they’re all in on art and think a lot on a BFA.

I appreciate the feedback and school suggestions.

Does anyone know if any of the UNC schools besides CH have art programs?

VCU has an art education program.
North Carolina State University has a small art school. About 100 kids. More design/architecture
East Carolina University has a large art department and is well known in the art world.