<p>So I got accepted to my state’s Governor’s School for Visual Arts and also Carnegie Mellon’s Art & Design program with a full scholarship through Summer Programs for Diversity.</p>
<p>I am at a loss as to which one to take…</p>
<p>Pros of Gov. School are:
Very good reputation
Looks good to colleges
Prestigious at a state level
A lot of my friends are going
Cons:
the faculty was replaced with Radford faculty last year so they’re a little new at the program
not much portfolio work, consists of pointless classes like metalsmithing and jewelry making…</p>
<p>Not to mention that my art teacher and my school faculty and counselor expect me to go to Gov. School to represent my school in the art department (I was the only one accepted for art)</p>
<p>Pros of CMU Art & Design:
Prestigious at a national level
CMU is my dream school and might raise the chances of me getting in
classes consist of animation, industrial design, etc… which Gov. School seems to lack.
an in depth critique on portfolios during the last week of school
Cons:
I’m not sure how I got my scholarship. You normally have to show them your portfolio but I didn’t show them anything at all. It might be because I applied through the Diversity program & my essay was good.
I didn’t work as hard on my application…</p>
<p>To be honest, Gov. school took an essay, recs, all this preparation and support from teachers, an portfolio audition and an interview, whereas CMU just took a transcript, essay, and some recs without viewing any of my artwork.</p>
<p>Originally CMU was going to be my back up in case I didn’t get into Gov. School… (imagine if I hadn’t gotten into both. oh geez)</p>
<p>Well, my first thought was “go to CMU”. But,</p>
<p>
That shouldn’t be a factor at all. It’s about the benefit to YOUR development/experience–not with the college application process.</p>
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You’ll have to meet new people some time or other!</p>
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This could be the deal breaker for me … but ultimately, it’s your experience. Have you talked to them yet? They will understand.</p>
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Nope.</p>
<p>
At this point, I’m like, “Do it for the industrial design” 'cos that’s all the rage these days.</p>
<p>
Yep, it was probably via the Summer Programs for Diversity. But, so what?–if you got the scholarship, that’s what counts at this point.</p>
<p>
So?</p>
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</p>
<p>Look at how much the CMU program usually costs. It’s partially a way for them to make money over the summer, so it’s not particularly selective, although that’s not to say everyone who applies is accepted.</p>
<p>I’m guessing (based on the Radford mention) that your governor’s school is Virginia’s? You should make your decision based on which program you think will benefit you most–for example, if you want to go into industrial design, then obviously CMU will offer you more on that subject.</p>
<p>haha thanks chaseholl, you always seem to answer my questions in this forum when no one else does.</p>
<p>Yes, Virginia Gov. School. You’re right, in terms of benefiting more, CMU would be best.
But Radford hasn’t released what we’ll be doing and what courses are offered for art… so I don’t know what to compare CMU to.</p>
<p>I’m going to talk to some more school faculty tomorrow about this, including my art teachers and gov. school alumni if I’m able to find him.</p>