Before applying to a college art program, read this.
Applying to BFA and MFA programs can often feel daunting. Not only is the application process itself very time consuming, but it can be hard to tell what separates one school from another in terms of the trajectory of learning. More often than not, a choice of school or a program may come down to a random decision on the part of the applicant - which is not at all uncommon and not at all ideal.
Before applying, it is important to do research on what schools interest you and why. For these questions, we recommend reaching out to each school’s admissions team. Art schools and universities have a collection of professionals who are trained and educated on the policies of the school, what makes the school special, and what the trajectory for your studies would be. This is not a space to be passive. If you are serious, talk to an individual - don’t just put your name on a mailing list. People who work in admissions love students who ask good questions and show an interest in the school. This might benefit you to some degree at a later date - when decisions about admission into a school are rendered, or when scholarships and financial aid are considered. However, be aware that admissions team members are often trying to “sell” you a program - and while things will be honestly explained, the enthusiasm and optimism behind them may be fabricated or exaggerated. Always be discerning.
A hidden secret in the admissions world is that all forms of communication and engagement are tracked and recorded in a student’s digital file - which follows you from inquiry to admission. An institution can track your level of interest and know if you are the right fit for them even before you apply. While some admissions representatives may not directly render decisions on admission (especially in graduate school), they can definitely help you navigate the ecosystem of the application process, make things easier for you and your family, and help you understand how you would fit into their particular school. Most schools value a potential student’s demonstration of interest as much as they do supplemental material in your application like recommendations and personal statements - and speaking to admissions, attending tours, or participating in admissions events can influence not only how good your application to a prospective school will be, but also whether you will be admitted to a prospective school.
When considering different schools and programs in order to narrow your art school search, there are a few very general questions that you should ask yourself to start:
Do I thrive in a constructed art-making environment, or would I prefer a more open-ended, independent program? Another way of thinking about this is: Do I enjoy doing assignments in class, or do I enjoy making what I want to make when I want to make it? This is one thing that many schools do very differently. Some programs push independent exploration, electives, and openness; others push foundations, technique, and focus. Most schools fall somewhere in between.
How do this school’s curriculum and facilities support the type of learning that appeals to me in the arts? In relation to #1 above, if a school claims to be supportive of independent art-making, but then forces every student to take Drawing 1 and Color Theory before they can even take a Film 1 class, it might be frustrating for a student that really is focused on one specific medium or concept. Similarly, if you are an artist that works exclusively at night and the studios are closed at that time, will you be able to effectively make art that suits your schedule? In addition, facilities such as health centers, food services, academic support centers, and other seemingly menial spaces may take on massive importance if you need them at some point - and it is worth predicting as much as possible what seems to matter to you.
Am I interested in conceptual artwork (the thoughts behind the artwork) or technical artwork (the craft of making artwork)? These are very different approaches! For instance, New York Academy of Art, which is technical in basis, will provide a wholly different graduate experience than a school like the San Francisco Art Institute, which is generally conceptual in its approach. If art that stimulates your thinking appeals to you more than art that stimulates your eyes, you may want to rethink what schools you are looking at.
What does this school seem to do well and what does it seem to do poorly? Am I excited for what it does well and can I seriously navigate what it seems to do poorly?
How big is this school? How will I fit in and will professors know me? Do I prefer anonymity or focused attention? Larger schools tend to create more competition for attention, but also offer students the ability to find a unique community and lots of different opinions. Smaller schools tend to form a more insular community with a lot of specific attention from a few professors.
Does the school’s location allow me to engage in the arts off-campus? Do I prefer a quiet workspace or a bustling energy? Do I want to go to gallery openings on Friday nights, or stay in the studio and make work? Is my art rooted in nature or in the rhythm of humanity? Are there opportunities for me to showcase my artwork outside of campus?
Many of these questions revolve around finding schools that orient their teaching and learning philosophy around your needs. And if a school does not have a generalized teaching or learning philosophy that can be explained to you, that should raise a red flag. While it is a lot for a young artist to understand what their own personal educational philosophy is, broad categories should be considered like: Do I like to be told what to do or do I prefer freedom to make my own decisions? Do I like to write papers or do I like taking tests? Do I want to gain foundational knowledge in a variety of subject areas, or am I confident that I want to focus on one specific thing?
This leads to evaluating the curricular experience of the school. What does the first year look like? What courses do I need to take in order to focus on my major? In art schools and universities, there are certain classes or sequences that students need to complete in order to move forward in a more focused manner. While most art students we talk to claim that they want to “learn about a lot of things”, in our experience, it becomes very hard for students who are focused on art to survive a deluge of academically based classes that feel arbitrary and unconnected to your studies - especially early in your experience at school.
Colleges in the United States are failing incredible amounts of students by not gearing their programs towards student success - both in the classroom and through student services (please read more about this issue in this brief interview here). In a very generalized way, you can determine whether a school supports its students through its graduation rate. Schools that focus on student success tend to have a higher graduation rate - Schools that do not focus on student success tend to see a lot of drop outs.
There are a variety of reasons why students do not persist at an institution, but most tend to revolve around academic difficulties, financial troubles, or mental / physical health issues. In this way, “student success” can mean a lot of things, so please only use a graduation rate as a generalized guidepost (Graduate programs are slightly harder to evaluate based on this metric because most graduate students are older and more focused and can navigate difficulties more easily than those in undergraduate programs.).
Of course, it is also important to see what the art scene of a particular location is like. While you certainly want to network with peers in school, what gives a school life is often the environment around it - and meeting students from other schools or local professional artists at shows can very much inform your own trajectory. This becomes especially important in graduate school, as networks and connections tend to coalesce more tightly in the geographical area around the school.
There are a number of other very important things to keep in mind when answering these questions or evaluating a school:
The list of a school’s alumni can only tell you about their reputation and the past. Be sure to focus on the present and the future - because that is what you are investing in.
Big name professors may not be big name teachers. Some of the most impactful and important teachers will be exactly the ones that don’t stand out on a faculty list. In fact, in most art schools, many of your classes will be taught by adjunct professors or lecturers - especially in the introductory stage. Evaluate how consistent these adjuncts are used, what their work is like and, if you can, speak to them about their experience with the school. They will be able to tell you a lot.
Professors who make work that you think is associated with your work may, in fact, have no kinship with your work. When looking at an art school, don’t assume that professors who paint in a similar style or focus on similar subjects will provide you with the leadership that you are looking for. In fact, sometimes the best feedback will come from a professor who is working in a totally different field than you. Familiarizing yourself with a professor’s work is important, but it by no means portends a relationship or any sort of artistic value-add.
The bulk of your experience at a school will not be in the classroom. This cannot be stressed enough. Most of your time at a school will occur in the studio, in your dorm / apartment / house, and the surrounding city or town. Make sure you find a space that resonates with your sense of making and being. Make sure you feel at home within the student body. Make sure you know where you will be living and what amenities are there. If you can’t get food easily, if dorms are miles from the school or in a bad neighborhood, if health services are hard to access - you will feel unhealthy and disjointed.
The tuition cost listed on the school’s website may not be the amount you have to pay to attend the school. There is no doubt that almost every college feels extraordinarily expensive. However, almost every school provides a “discount rate” that they award students based on merit and need. Crossing a school off of your list because of its price tag on paper may be necessary for you and your family, but we always advise students to apply to schools they want to go to and fill out their financial aid application before determining cost. In general, private colleges and universities in the United States discount upwards of 50% tuition on average, whereas public colleges and universities discount around 20%. This is all, of course, depending on a student’s qualifications and demonstrated need.
Remember that art-making is only one aspect of art education. You should also be learning how to present, talk about, and showcase your work. Determine what opportunities there are to show your work on-campus and how often your work will be reviewed by faculty.
Facilities are great - but they are often bells and whistles. In a digital age, most schools have similar capabilities - and having cool equipment is very different than using cool equipment to make art. Facilities that are not open for you to work in or are dedicated to only certain students are completely pointless. Make sure you can be trained on how to use equipment and can access it when you need it. Make sure you can transport and store materials easily. Determine how close you will be living to important facilities and what hours you will be able to use them.
Visiting artists are important - but what interaction will you have with them? Going to artist lectures can be grounding and informative, but make sure there is the opportunity to interact more deeply if possible. Seeing an artist talk and talking with an artist are two very different things.
Marketing materials will often tell you nothing of significance. Speaking to admissions teams, professors, or students - as well as learning about a school’s curriculum and philosophy - will paint a much better picture of an institution than anything a marketing team can come up with. Overused terms like “creative”, “bold”, “innovative”, “dynamic”, and “professional” adorn most materials - but they might be hollow slogans. Dig deeper.
Visit the school. Envision yourself there and see if it fits.
Only after evaluating these initial factors should a student engage with the application process - because applying to schools can become emotionally and mentally draining. Every school has different requirements, which should only be met if a student can envision themselves successfully learning at the school. And while a student’s desired educational outcomes will surely change and refocus, the likelihood of persistence or success in an institution can often be determined ahead of time with enough research, honesty, and accountability.
Vision Field offers a soup-to-nuts approach to the college/art school application process. We help families determine what schools are a good fit, and where a student can be successful. We offer professional advice and approach each family with only a student’s success in mind. Talk to us about a free evaluation.
