bowwatch

This is my first CC post. I am a California community college student with a 3.9 GPA, significant intern experience, and a strong art portfolio (drawing and painting). I have done a summer program at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Although MICA has an outstanding painting program, I would prefer to study art in the context of a LAC. I plan to apply for admission as a third year transfer to (some of) the following colleges. I will be majoring in studio art (painting), but also have an interest in psychology and sociology and their integration with art. I would appreciate any insight you can share with me concerning my college selections. Are any of these schools particularly outstanding in studio art? Are there any that I should eliminate from my list for any reason including lack of a quality studio art program? Is transfer admission into any of these schools virtually impossible? I'd like to get my list of 10 schools down to about 6 or 7. Thanks for your help.
Amherst
Bates
Boston College
Bowdoin
Colgate
Middlebury
Mount Holyoke
Smith
Swarthmore
Tufts

dunkswfur

Traditionally, Colgate does not have the same level of studio art as many of the other schools on your list. There is not a strong arts culture at Colgate IMHO, and you would probably be better served by focusing your efforts towards other schools.

markham

Please let all of us know on what basis you are making this judgment?

Opinions are one thing but they might as well be grounded in something if they are intended to be useful and helpful.

dunkswfur

Sure! I am a Colgate student, pretty evolved on campus- BAC, Dancefest, Greek Life, Journalism, Tour Guide, and a few other activities.

I remember when I toured some of those other schools (Tufts and Middleburry on my own, Smith with my sister) and remember thinking that the schools had a definite artsy vibe. During my visit I found Colgate students to be a little more mainstream and thought it to be a better fit for me, a feeling confirmed after I enrolled.

I also have to good friends who are active in the arts and have remarked to me more than once about things such as being frustrated by a low attended performances and how the campus as a whole does not seem to have a large interest in the arts.

My post was certainly not meant to knock Colgate, can't imagine myself going somewhere else, and I wanted to offer an informed opinion so she can be as happy with wherever she chooses as I am. But I think you would have a hard time arguing that studio art, and the arts overall, is as strong at Colgate as it is at some of the other schools on her list. There just isn't the same level of interest.