<p>One thing that jumped out at me about her list is all are upstate NY locations, with the warm exception of Eckerd in Florida. You have Syracuse, Rochester, New Paltz, Alfred. My personal thought is that none of these locations is a great art magnet (like a NYC, Chicago, LA…) so each location merits equal consideration, then a careful look at the program itself.</p>
<p>Eckerd sounds just lovely all winter in Florida, produces an exhibit, is planning to build a larger studio soon, and has only one professor in Ceramics. Think seriously about this: only one Ceramics professor over a four-year period. Perhaps she can save Florida for Spring Break? </p>
<p>You have the old industrial cities of Syracuse and Rochester, with lively universities and midsized museums in art and science for more inspiration. She’d need to measure the size and dynamism of each art department by metrics such as how many profs, courses, facilities, studio space, etc. </p>
<p>New Paltz is a hip, progressive small rural/suburban town, energized and dominated by the university SUNY campus. It has many small arts galleries, a very good theater offering, so it could fuel her creative juices if not directly in Ceramics. </p>
<p>Alfred University’s well developed program in Ceramics – with a choice there of Engineering or Fine Arts emphasis – might impress her when she visits. If so, she might put up with the isolated location. I think their Engineering option in Ceramics is worth serious thought if she’d like more employment options after graduation than strict Fine Arts.</p>
<p>Alfred has 5 faculty members in Ceramics, plus several technical personnel staffing the studios. They require a major senior project under faculty supervision. There’s an important museum collection in Ceramics to inspire students throughout the year. </p>
<p>Alfred is isolated but in a beautiful, unspoiled rural Allegany County, NY. Would she find the natural beauty inspiring, or perhaps share other students’ perception of “nuthin to do here but drink”? If she’s got some imagination and access to a car, she can make some nice daytrips on weekends: Niagara Falls, the Albright Knox Museum and new Birchfield Penney Museums in Buffalo, Corning Glass Museum. Three hours away is Toronto, a great weekend overnight trip for students, especially art students.</p>