<p>You do have great choices. My understanding is that Pratt does not have an illustration major – more specifically, it’s part of their associate’s degree and although there are courses in illustration, not an emphasis. You’ll have to confirm this. Same with SAIC and illustration – although SAIC is open to your creating courses with enough student interest and faculty support. I don’t have personal experience at the schools, but know a freshman at MICA who is painting/drawing, etc. and loves it there. She plans to double major in that and writing (she was a top student in her high school – very top!). Is Tyler part of Temple U.? You might run into a similar problem with Tyler that you found with Wash U. Did they ask for a portfolio? Many art departments within larger universities don’t – if you can look at the senior portfolios at the schools (many post them on their websites or have actual books – I know the time is limited here!) – it will give you a very good idea of the quality of the student work and what the school is ultimately producing. Although MICA and Pratt are both urban, they are in very different types of urban than SAIC, for example. Close but not in the heart of the city. Just saying. Look, again, at the actual courses in each department that you will be taking. Read the descriptions. Compare the first-year curriculum at each school.</p>