Return to the College Advisor Home Page Return to the College Advisor Home Page Art school applicant Heather Rossiter wanted to find teachers who could bring out the best in her, not just "tell her how they do things," she says, admitting she was very picky when it came to finding an art and design school to develop her talent.
She had already looked at liberal arts colleges that had art departments but concluded that they "give you math, and English, and a little bit of art, and when you're done you don't have a degree in art and have to go back for more education." So, Rossiter applied to the Parsons School of Design, conceding that it wasn't easy to get in. "You have to be good," she says. "But if you know you're good, then you need that kind of school."
Picking a school of art and design is not easy. There are many variables to consider that could drastically alter what you're going to get out of your degree and what direction your career will take.
Some art students know they will design cars and nothing else and want to get up to speed as soon as possible. They can do so at some institutions since they are immediately plunged into concentrated studies and follow a tightly controlled curriculum.
But, at schools like Parsons School of Art and Design, first-year students learn the fundamentals first and then go on to greater specialization later. Nadine Bourgeois, Parsons' Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions, asks students what their objectives are. Many students are not sure but during Parson's foundation year, they can investigate the possibilities open to them before settling on final career paths. A student might say he or she wants to study fashion. Parsons, however, offers many different aspects of fashion -- costume design, ready-to-wear, and pattern drafting, so the first year gives students time to decide. "Investigate other schools to see which one will bring you to the place you want to be," she advises.
Make sure you have enough opportunities to explore different realms of art that might tie in to your interests. For instance, computers are becoming an integral part of art and design. "It's an issue that comes up more and more," Bourgeois notes. "Just look at the work being done." She notes that Parsons students can study illustration and cross over into computers. Some art students take business classes to prepare them for careers as self-employed artists.
Brill wants to investigate many different mediums and study areas she hasn't been exposed to. Rossiter has her eye set on advertising and illustration with a dream to write and illustrate children's books. It was important that she be able to take some extensive English courses, which she found at Parsons.
Some people learn well in a hang-loose, unstructured environment. At Parsons, Bourgeois says, it's quiet and serious. "When you walk around you see it's very focused," she observes. Classes are structured. Some students might want a more flexible approach, taking a course here and there, and they can find that, too. "There are lots of schools to pick from," she advises.
One way to know if an institute fits your learning style is to attend a summer program, which many schools offer. Rossiter did just that. "It was a good school with teachers from around the world," she says. But when the workshop ended, she realized that the style of teaching was not what she wanted and decided not to attend, despite a scholarship that was offered to her. Then she came to Parsons, which suited her more.
Parsons' students don't have far to go to find the best in museums and galleries because they are in the midst of a global art metropolis. "Our students come here because they want to be in Manhattan," says Bourgeois. Parsons' faculty work in the hub of New York's fashion, design, and art world, so students get realistic experience and access to instructors who have their hands on the pulse of their industry. Bourgeois observes that a school's proximity to a student's interests should be a top priority.
While you're checking out possibilities in different institutions, they, too, have strict criteria that you're up against. "First and foremost we look for potential and an individual's ability to succeed here," says Bourgeois. A portfolio, home exam, high school transcripts, and SAT scores all play into their evaluation.
Obviously, your artistic talent weighs heavily in a decision to admit you, but that isn't all it takes to get in. "You may have a fantastic portfolio, but your grades were troublesome," says Bourgeois, indicating the importance Parsons puts on academic achievement. "We don't just want to see a beautiful piece of artwork," she warns.
Admissions also looks at how you got to be an artist by asking to see working sketchbooks and thumbnail drawings, as well as polished portfolios. Observational drawings, done on the spot, really assess your ability. "That surprises some people who believe if you want to do art, any school will take you," she notes.