<p>OK - I did put words in your mouth but you did say:
“snooty and loaded, so I worry that all RISD wants are wealthy, somewhat artistically knowledgeable candidates instead of poor talented ones who might be better candidates. I hear RISD is terrible in terms of giving out financial aid to the needy”.</p>
<p>Which to me comes across as “us vs them”.
poor, talented, better candidates vs. snooty, loaded, somewhat artistically knowledgable (sounds like another way of saying lame) </p>
<p>Read here for some recent actual experiences: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/1316042-risd-vs-ccad-vs-mica-vs-usc-vs-massart.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/1316042-risd-vs-ccad-vs-mica-vs-usc-vs-massart.html</a></p>
<p>I would put it this way. RISD gives aid based on need, not merit, but you must be a strong candidate (grades/portfolio/recommendations) to be accepted in order to get that aid. You have the need, so if the other things are there, it is worth your time trying.</p>