Thanks for your thoughts, and I’m glad to see there is another kid out there with diverse interests like my daughter!
She isn’t worried about the size issue that most people say can be a problem at UCLA and UMich because the art programs are so small. Stamps has a freshman class of 150, and UCLA is even smaller. Both tout the tight knit culture of the major. UCLA also shares graduate level professors with undergrad courses. I think she will find her people in her art major no matter the size of the overall university. She also got into USC which also makes some of these ranking lists, but unfortunately without merit so she put that one in the “no” bucket.
She was really disappointed when she toured the art department at UMD because my frugal child is all about not spending money unnecessarily, even if it is coming from her parents’ bank account. It is against her grain to walk away from anything free, but we have to look at the big picture and which program will set her up for the best chance of success. Yes she is looking at fine art rather than graphic design or animation. Of course like any college kid, she could change her mind when she gets there, but her awards to date have been in painting and sculpture.
Best wishes to your daughter in her upcoming search! If you are looking for colleges that give merit, you might also want to add RIT to her list. My daughter was accepted there too and really liked the program, just not Rochester.