RISD vs Pratt vs Tyler (Temple) vs Skidmore

I don’t think you are ready to make a decision OR head off to any of these institutions in the Fall.

Do not attend RISD or Pratt unless you are passionate about the fine arts, can’t see yourself studying anything else, and are prepared to spend most of your time in the studio. These programs aren’t like a summer camp where you can dabble or drift in and out of the arts. They are professional training grounds for professional artists, and yes, along with the contacts and the serious study, they will be stressful. There will always be someone more talented than you, always someone who works harder than you. This stress will make you a better artist-- but only if you let it.

I think Skidmore and Tyler give you more flexibility since you seem ambivalent about an exclusive arts education… but again, there are trade-offs and both programs require more confidence in the path than you seem to exhibit right now.

Why not ask each of these if you can defer for a year? And hold your current spot as well while you figure things out? But if a semester at Haverford burnt you out, perhaps that door should close behind you? The work gets more intense, not less, regardless of your discipline.

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