Anyone familiar with UT Dallas Art and Technology Program? Or other programs like it?

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>My DD is a sophomore in her first year (out of 3) of a pre-engineering program at her vo-tech. She likes the program and robotics club and is really into math and science and technology, but she doesn’t think that engineering is where she wants to go. She’s a straight A honors student with a 27 on her ACT as a sophomore, without any prep. She is also a talented artist. I’ve discouraged her from making art a career, because I want it to remain fun for her, but I’m beginning to think I may be wrong and that we need to find something that incorporates all of her strengths. She’s considered switching to graphic design at vo-tech, but I’m afraid it’s not a college bound curriculum, but more of a certificate type program. </p>

<p>The last few months we’ve found ourselves at several of the new 3D movies…Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, and How to Train Your Dragon, and at each one her eyes have lit up and she’s been saying, “I could do that!” This looks like something that uses a lot of technology and art. Where a scientific mind might be an asset and fit with her wicked sense of humor and bizarre sense of style. Where geek chic and purple hair won’t be a liability to getting taken seriously. Where robotics and biology and art might mix somehow? </p>

<p>We live in Oklahoma and there is only one animation program in OK and it is in a little town in the middle of nowhere and it’s only a two year AAS degree. (North Oklahoma College, Tonkawa, OK) I’ve lived in OK nearly my whole life, and I’ve never heard of it. I think she needs to get at least a bachelor’s if not a master’s degree. This comes from someone who had nothing to fall back when I decided that I might want to do something different and all I had was an AAS in Veterinary Technology. When I went back and got my BS I had many more options. I’m still a vet tech, but I could do something different now, where before I couldn’t. </p>

<p>We don’t have much saved for college, so cost is a major consideration. She qualifies for Oklahoma Promise, which pays her tuition anywhere in state. Out of state tuition is going to rack her up some serious student loan debt. </p>

<p>Today I ran across UT Dallas’ Art and Technology degree. It’s a collaboration between their art and engineering and computer science departments with 33 hours open for multidisciplinary courses, so she could take biology and ecology, anatomy & physiology, physics, calculus and Japanese. (yeah, she’s got a lot of diverse interests). AND… UT Dallas gives OK residents in state tuition (+$40/hr) so it wouldn’t be outrageously expensive. Yeah, it’s not free, like if she stayed in state, but she could do her basics at OU (within commuting distance of home) for free and then transfer. Or if her ACT scores go up a few points when she takes it again her senior year she could probably get some good scholarships. </p>

<p>I can’t find anything on this website, or others as far as reviews of the program, but it sounds like it is right up her alley. I was wondering if anyone was familiar with it? Pros? Cons?</p>

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<p>you are the first person I know who is from Oklahoma after Mickey Mantle.
If your D can kick up ACT to >33 with some high high SAT IIs, she would be a doll in any selective Northeast - Midatlantic schools.</p>

<p>I think it is good to do some pre college - art, communication, game design, anything that techie.
Sometimes free science programs are offered in school like Columbia for really really poor local kid. If I see anything that takes OOS kid, I will post.
Do you have any idea how much of advantage you are in, from underrepresented state, being girl, smart, educated but not rich parent. Wow.</p>

<p>see this anyway, every artschools and good universities have some summer classes for her to test water.
I am so sure they offered scholarship in the past but no more?
maybe there is different kind that done in CMU?
[Design</a> Course Description - Pre College - Carnegie Mellon](<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college/design-course-desc.html]Design”>http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college/design-course-desc.html)</p>

<p>If science only, there are selective but totally free summer programs. Lots of info in the summer programs forum, done in usually Junior-senior summer. I know you are asking about actual colleges but these programs are usually done in college campus using its resources, good way to know anything you want to know.</p>

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<p>Hi
I re-read what I wrote and thought, you might never even thought about sendig your D to far from home. Thing is, it isn’t that far if place is in the city that have good airport that fly in and out often. It might be easier than to drive to somewhere next states.
Selective private college has tons of money to give to students just like her, don’t think it is not even an option.
My kid has no stats nor test scores to do any better.
It pains me to see talented smart kid and well meaning parents won’t take advantage of this country’s great great way to compensate hard working bright kids with not much resources.
I took cross country bus trip and went through OK on the way from Colorado to MO. What you got is amazing but there are so so much more out there.
If you don’t think your D is not that kind I won’t push it, but if she is someone I have in mind from reading your post, take her out and look further.
I know nothing about the TX school you are asking about, I am not saying there are better place to go than Dallas ( though I did stop at Dallas and was creeped out a bit, long story) just trying to say, there are so so much more and she got good shot.
Good luck
PS you didn’t say you are dad, well, I smelled dad-ness, if not, sorry</p>

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<p>Nope, I’m the mom. :slight_smile: Dad’s a zookeeper. I’m the zoo vet tech. </p>

<p>BTW… there are approximately 3.5 M people in OK, so I’m not sure about “under-represented”. There maybe even more people in the state than cows. :wink: You might even know of some of them. Mickey Mantle, yes, but also Brad Pitt, Carrie Underwood, Olympian Shannon Miller, Reba McIntire, Gordon Cooper, The Flaming Lips… LOL! I’m sorry, I’m kidding with you. Yes, I know Oklahoma’s not a major metropolis, but I don’t know that being from a small (population wise) state differentiates her from any of the other candidates. </p>

<p>It’s not that we’ve not thought about going away from home, it’s just that since we make (just) under $50K tuition is free in state. So, we looked in state first. Now we are starting to cast our net farther. She’s a bright kid and I think she could go wherever she wanted if she really tried. Right now she’s this awesome without even trying. (Yes, I know I’m her mom, but she is pretty awesome.) Problem is I don’t know if she’s ever going to get motivated!!! Homework’s done before class is out, never studied a day in her life, it’s like pulling teeth to get her to fill out an application for a camp or program or job, but when she does she does well. She is working at the science museum and enjoying it, so that’s something, at least. Colleges are courting her, especially now that she’s done well on her ACT. She’s only a Sophomore in high school, so she has a while to get motivated still. If she’s going to try to go to a prestigious school she’s going to have to want it. I don’t know yet what schools are the “it” schools in what fields…and since she hasn’t really decided what field we don’t even know where to look. And we have to weigh the pros and cons of going to a prestigious school and ending up saddled with 15 years of student loan payments, or finishing school at a pretty good school like OU without a dime of debt, or finding middle ground at somewhere like UT-Dallas that will give us in-state tuition, coupled with some good scholarships. </p>

<p>The thing is, if she does decide on Animation/Special effects she will have to go out of state. So, we will be looking at who has programs like that. We are also open to hearing about other careers that meld art and technology/science. Thanks for the link for CM’s pre-college. Unfortunately she’s about 10 days too young. And it’s very expensive. Our state regents of higher education does have some summer pre-college programs and she will (hopefully) be applying to some of those. </p>

<p>Thanks for your input…keep it coming!!!</p>

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<p>deeszoo,</p>

<p>Two words: Road Trip!</p>

<p>I’d pack up that multi-talented daughter and drive over to OU’s School of Art and take a tour. I didn’t see animation listed on their website but it’s worth asking the questions and seeing what they offer first hand. Then I’d drive down to UT-Dallas and do the same thing.</p>

<p>There are hundreds of wonderful art programs buried inside of our country’s universities and colleges. IMO, many of them don’t get the online attention that they deserve. </p>

<p>The road trip will likely be very motivating for your daughter and it will help you both as you get closer to making your list of application schools.</p>

<p>Best,
Wheaty</p>

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<p>grrrr bow wow zoo family! life of Pi! I am zoo fetish, this must be the fate.
I am sorry I am pop culture moron but I know Brad Pitt and the Olympian at least.
See you around!</p>

<p>Hi there Wheaty, I hope you aren’t mad. I have some bias toward overinvolved parents who post and parade their kids’ stats around, this zoo family doing is different, I hope you can see that.</p>

<p>Yeah, how about UCLA? they got pre college for younger kid, now I looked at map CA is not that far from OK.</p>

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<p>Zoomom, check the RIT thread on the upper page.</p>