About Top Art Colleges
You're considering a career in the arts and are looking for the top art schools. There is variety of fields available in the arts. Top art colleges have a mix of prestige and quality teaching. Depending on the field you want to study and your financial resources, you should be able to find the right top art college for you.
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Types
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If you're looking for a 4-year education, you have two choices: liberal arts schools and 4-year art schools. Liberal art schools offer Bachelor of Arts and, in some cases, Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Art department quality varies wildly among the many liberal arts schools in the United States, but some schools provide very good arts education--including the Yale University School of Art and (on the cheaper side) Virginia Commonwealth University. Art schools provide intensive training. They offer Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Fine Arts. Top art colleges include the Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, and the California Institute of the Arts.
Cost
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Because art school tuition often ranges between $20,000 to $30,000 per year, it's good to look into financing options early. If money is an issue, attend a cheaper liberal arts school with a good art department (an especially appealing option if you are applying to a state school). If you want an art school education, most schools supply some sort of scholarships, whether need-based or merit-based. Financial aids and loans are also available. Find out which schools offer the aid package that's right for you.
Curriculum
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Different 4-year art colleges offer different specialties. One school may be a good choice for graphic arts, another for advertising and still another for fashion design. Make sure that your school offers the specialties you need. If you'd like to study another field as well as art, a liberal arts school may be right for you. You can double major in art and another subject, or choose a minor to go along with your art major. You can also look for a 4-year art school with a strong liberal arts program or one that allows you to take classes at another college or university.
Facilities/Location
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When you're picking an art school or liberal arts college or university, check out the facilities first. A school may have a great reputation but have run-down or cramped facilities. You may feel that the quality of instruction makes up for second-rate surroundings, or you may find that up-to-date classrooms and buildings are more important to you. You also may feel more comfortable in a certain area of the country or prefer the city to the suburbs.
School Applications
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What does it take to get into a top art school? Different schools have different standards, but there's one thing that art school admission departments agree on: You need a strong portfolio. A portfolio should demonstrate a student's creativity, technical capability and ability to work in a variety of media. Art schools vary in their attitudes toward academic achievement, such as SAT scores or GPA. Some schools consider academic credentials, and some schools find them relatively unimportant if your portfolio is strong enough (for tips on creating a good portfolio, see Resources).
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Related Searches
Resources
- Photo Credit nacu at morguefile.com
