franglish

Reptar-- another thing to keep in mind about RISD is that you can cross register for courses at Brown University, one of the best schools in the country (world?!) I don't know if such an opportunity exists for MICA students. In any event, you are accepted at MICA and on RISD's waitlist, so I would say, enroll in MICA, fall in love with it, and keep your options open for the waitlist. If that comes through for you, try to visit Providence (quickly) and decide then. It's tough to get into RISD, so you may not even have to face the choice! Good luck!

caressemh

^ MICA students can take classes at Johns Hopkins (and vice versa)

franglish

I am glad to know that about MICA and JHU. Thanks!

kalonity

I hear it's somewhat hard, though, since JHU isn't really within walking distance of MICA, and most people don't bother.

leiqeltk

I've heard that Brown and RISD schedules conflict.

taxguy

You have two problems taking courses at Brown:

1.First the schedules do conflict a bit
2. Secondly, and most importantly, studios take a lot of time. This generally presents a lot of conflits with courses that you would like to take.

However, with the above said, it is somewhat doable if you are very open as to courses that you will take at Brown.

worried_mom

Regarding schedule conflicts between RISD and Brown and RISD students taking a class at Brown: It is relatively easier to do in the fall semester since the two schools have the same schedule offset by just one week. (Brown starts a week earlier than RISD, but if you are taking a class at Brown, you can move into the RISD dorms a week early.). It's much harder to do in the spring semester, since RISD has a 4-1-4 schedule with a 6-week Wintersession; also, spring breaks are different for the two schools.

Yes, studios take a lot of time, but taking classes at Brown is still very doable. Roughly 25% of RISD students take at least one class at Brown before they graduate.

taxguy

Somehow I don't think that being able to take one or two courses at Brown before you graduate is a real selling point. RISD markets this like it is wide open and easy to do. This is not really the case especially if you have 25+ hours of studio courses.

The best way to accomplish this is by going through the new duel admission program,which is easier said then done.

ReptarMania

I am going to deposit at MICA and wait to hear from RISD, I am really hoping I get in so I can face the choice! I think I'd be fine at either school, there are alot of pros and cons for each that I need to weigh out though.

osage77

Taking classes at Brown University is a real selling point at Rhode Island School of Design. The kids at Brown and RISD cross-pollinate and they really seem to like each other. They become friends and party together. Many of the clubs includes both schools. You can also go to their gym and work out. Daughter goes frequently to brown’s impressive libraries for papers and projects. Also you can hear great speakers that Brown can pull in because it’s a bigger school. My daughter said the Brown kids think the Risd students are super creative and the Risd student think the Brown kids are great. So it’s all good!

worried_mom

Taxguy, it's a selling point for RISD that is justified. RISD students can take one class per semester for each of the sophomore, junior, and senior years -- that's up to 6 classes, not just "one or two". (Freshman obviously can't take classes at Brown, due to RISD's intense Foundation Year.)

And it actually is doable. Several of his son's friends are doing it right now and I'm pretty sure that Mackinaw's daughter took language classes at Brown while she was at RISD. Yes, it isn't easy to do but those RISD kids are so creative and highly motivated that those that want to take classes at Brown find a way to do so.

The dual admission program is great, but certainly would apply to far fewer people, since you have to: (1) want to major ("concentrate") in two different subjects and (2) get accepted by both schools. Getting into even one is tough enough!

osage77

daughter told me tonight that several of her freshman friends took a class at brown freshman year. I didn't know you could do it, but I guess you can.

mackinaw

Yes, worried_Mom, my daughter took Italian at Brown while she was at RISD. Also some sociology, history, and ecology courses. In all 5 or 6. One or two of these may have been during summer school, which is also an option. And of course, Brown and RISD are adjacent to one another on College Hill.

osage77

mackinaw-What did your daughter think about her classes at Brown? Any impressions that you would like to pass along?

mackinaw

Osage, I don't know a lot about this but she seemed to enjoy them, in part because they allowed her to explore subjects that were interesting to her (e.g. dealing with ecological issues) but not covered within the RISD curriculum. She also interacted a fair bit with Brown students in part because she had a cousin who was enrolled at Brown but was a couple of years ahead of her (and who kindly left her Brown ID when she graduated . . . lol) as well as an off-campus roommate who was enrolled there also.