RISD vs. Chicago

[Nick-Teh]

As its coming close to the time when a young high-schooler has to apply to colleges, I was thinking of taking the GFX Design, Conceptual Art route. However, I'd like your people's input on this: In the unlikely and completely hypothetical situation that I am accepted by both RISD and the Art Institute of Chicago which have you heard is 'better'? Obviously I won't be hinging on feedback on this site, but since many people here are professional, or paraprofessional, I'd like to know what you think.

[JeniThus]

Hi, I'm a student at RISD in Providence, RI right now. I'm not here to tell you where you should go to school, but I think I have some advice for you that might be helpful in your college search.

These are things that I learned first hand. I went to a school for a year, and then transferred to risd, so I know what it's like to change your horse midstream.
VISIT the schools. Talk to the real students on campus, sit in on classes, if you can, most schools will set up a sit in for you if you ask. Talk to the faculty of the departments you might be interested in. Their theories for teaching and learning and curriculum are important. Ask them what you will be learning, ask them how, ask them what preparation there is for the "real world" ask them what services there are for graduating students, are there internships? Do you get credit for them? What companies recruit from the school? What accreditations does the school have?
And most importantly....
The super most important thing ever.
Go with your gut.
If you get a bad feeling about a school while you're visiting, from the students, staff, etc. GET OUT. It isn't the place for you. Go where you'll be happy, go where you think you'll be encouraged, even forced to grow the most.

So, I love risd. It's right for me, it may not be right for you.
I could tell you everything I like, everything I hate, and you could base your decision on that. Or you could check it out yourself.
www.risd.edu
for the official school.
intranet.risd.edu
for a more student friendly site.

And, of course, feel free to visit providence and risd too, cause that's the best way for you to find out. If you wanna get in touch with some professors, or students, or if you have any other questions, or if you have comments on what I've said feel free to PM me or whatever.
Jen

[ducktape]

I have to agree with the above. When I first looked at colleges in high school I went to six (all liberal arts) in one weekend. Funny thing was that the school I was most interested in didn't feel right after sitting in a class. I ended up going to a different college - didn't sit in a class there and wish I had. We got there in the middle of a blizzard so there wasn't much socializing to go on. Turned out to be the wrong kind of school for me. (And the wrong major, but that can be a different thread.)

Any school can look wonderful in a brochure. In person, it can be a completely different story.

(Sorry if that rambled...)