Informing your college application journey.
A visit to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) is a small visual arts college, perfect for a student looking for an urban campus outside of large metropolitan cities. They offer majors in both fine arts and design so most students will find an area of study that interests them.
Entertainment Arts
Entertainment Arts majors are for students who like to envision a concept from start to finish and want to be involved in the development of the entertainment venue from start to finish, students who like to physically build and make things, students who like to build in the virtual world and enjoy technology, and students want to focus on the business aspect of entertainment.
A Visit to the University of Miami
University of Miami offers all that you’d expect at a large school, but it is a gem for creative students as it houses the Frost School of Music, majors and minors in the Department of Cinematic Arts, and BArch degree from the School of Architecture. Worth considering if you’re looking for a school in a lively, international city.
A Visit to Ringling College of Art + Design
Ringling College has a top five Computer Animation program but do you know about some of their other programs? They’re pretty spectacular too.
A Visit to Rollins College
Rollins College is an exceptional small liberal arts college outside Orlando Florida. They house an on campus art museum, have D2 sports, and over 35 majors including a 3+2 BA/MBA program. It’s a hidden gem in Florida.
Juniors, Four Great Tips for Writing Your Brag Sheet
We all hate bragging about ourselves, but sometimes you have to do it. Here are four great tips for writing a brag sheet and getting strong counselor recommendations, and ideas for your personal statement! A win-win for you!
Some cool creative majors
Many school we think of as having traditional arts and humanities majors actually have some very interesting majors which connect art and STEM or humanities subjects. Read this post to see some of the cool majors which have interested our students.
Timeline for Juniors
Junior year in high school can be very busy. Creative students need to start researching colleges early as they will need to prepare and submit portfolios and audition materials, in addition to writing many supplemental essays. This checklist tells you what you should focus on and when as you apply to college.
6 Components of a Competitive Visual Arts Portfolio
Visual arts portfolios are often judged based on: concept, use of color, craftsmanship, composition/design, and observational drawing. Each college has their specific requirements for portfolios based on these characteristics.
Should you have a separate email for college applications?
There are good reasons to set up a college specific email to allow you to read important emails related to your applications, however, you have to remember to check it. If you don’t want to manage two separate emails then you might be better sticking with just one.
BFA? BS? BA? AA?
BFA/BMA, BS, BA should you choose one over another? What’s the impact of each degree? What’s the difference? Knowing what a college offers integral to making an informed decision about your education.
What is UI/UX?
UI/UX marries art, design and technology. It is the perfect course of study for a student who is creative and STEM focused. Read the blog to learn more about it and some great schools which offer majors in it.
The Common Data Set
The Common Data Set provides an array of important information about colleges including acceptance data, graduation statistics, and financial aid information. It is a must have piece of your college research. Read this blog to learn more about it and how to find it for each school.
Entering the Scholastic Art & Writing Contest
Entering the Scholastic Art & Writing contest is a fantastic opportunity for creative students to be juried by experts in the field receive awards. Read this post to learn more about the categories and the scholarship awards you can win.
A short primer on FAFSA and other financial aid terms
FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is your gateway for receiving aid from college as well as being able to apply for Federal loans. This blog also acquaints you with other financial aid terms you need to understand to determine the cost of the colleges to which you are applying.
Tips for writing amazing responses to supplemental prompts
The supplemental prompts on college applications can be as important as the personal statement and other materials. Spend the time to write responses that show colleges who you are and that you support their values.
RISD: Making your application stand out without the Assignment
RISD looks for students with exceptional technical skills and those that show successful risk taking. RISD loves curious students, you need to show that thirst to understand and problem solve in your portfolio. Your application is more than your artwork and we suggest you pay very close attention to the sequence in which you present your art, the descriptions which accompany each piece, and your personal statement in the Common Application.
What do you want your Personal Statement to say about you?
What are your experiences? What are your hopes and dreams? Who is your treasured community? What makes you come alive? Start answering these questions and you’ll be brainstorming your college essay.
Test optional. What does it mean for you?
Submitting test scores is a nuanced decision, depending on where your scores fall with respect to other applicants at a college. There is no right answer, but we give you some thoughts and data from the last few years to help your decision.
Juniors, do some (or all) of these college application tasks over the summer to greatly reduce your stress in the fall
Have fun over the summer, but squeeze in time to do some of these college application tasks and your fall will be less stressful, and you’ll feel so accomplished!