<p>My second S sees the world differently like many creative kids. He knows he wants to design. He thinks he wants to design houses. He gets turned on by some (art) classes and completely turned off by others. He’s had a sketch pad and a camera since he was knee high and he really uses both. He understands sustainability and is intrigued by wierd things like mud built houses and any construction that isn’t conventionally built. Really fascinated by the guy that designs the “tiny homes”. He has very strong tastes in what appeals to him and what doesn’t design wise. He sees design in everything. We get a kick out of him because if we bring anything home that he doesn’t “like” from an article of clothing to a trinket to a chair a shadow will pass over his face. He’s already redesigned our home with the assumption that he will be the kid that ends up with it which my H and I think is hysterical. My h is involved in the construction industry and perhaps his facination with houses lies in some of the things he’s seen, but he can get just as jazzed when he visits the designers at my office and they might be designing a widget. His room is a sight to behold, every inch of wall space is a tear from a magazine or some art he has done, or something wierd he has found. Where do you send this kid? He beats to a different drummer. I can’t imagine him in a totally theoretical program he’ll turn off so fast. Are there any schools with somewhat out there programs or do I just let him find his own way? Fortunately or unfortunately the average public school in small town middle America has no idea what to tell a kid who is interested in design and architecture so he’ll need help I think, but I don’t know if I can help him like I helped his more conventional brothers. I can’t imagine him ending up in NY or even Chicago for any length of time. I can imagine him in some remote place on his back looking at cloud formations. Do you just let a kid like this find his own path? Ironically he’s a pretty good student as he doesn’t like to fail - he’ll turn off and dislike the teacher but he won’t allow himself to fail. He handles criticism well and if he doesn’t like something he’s drawn or designed he can let go and generally knows why what he did was not successful i.e., color was too muddy, he went too far with the design, was too heavy handed…those types of obvious things, he’s not “sensitive” or outwardly different or emotional or quirky or feels the need to “look different” - looks like the average all American kid, just sees the world differently than most. He’s just a sophmore but he weighs heavy on my mind and his older brother is all set with his college choice so S2 is next.</p>
<p>I know Auburn has a well known design-build program at the grad level, so their undergrad might be worth checking out to see if any of that sensibility has seeped into it. Their ‘rural studio’ program is very well respected.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech is one other school I know of that appreciates small spaces, and regularly participates in the Solar Decathalon. Actually, a good way of finding schools in general may be to check out the Solar Decathalon website and see which schools regularly put forward undergraduate teams.</p>
<p>here’s Rural Studio: <a href=“http://www.cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/[/url]”>http://www.cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/</a></p>
<p>momofthree, Are you thinking that your son will most likely start with an architecture or design program from day one or would he go for a liberal arts education (e.g. an art studio, art history or architectural studies major) and then go on for a masters?</p>
<p>If the former, then he might want to take a look at Cornell for a rural environment, RISD for a very creative one. For liberal arts with a focus on art (not design) I’d suggest Skidmore, Weslyean, Williams, Vassar.</p>
<p>I thought about RISD several times as I have friends who have taught there. A liberal arts degree is a possibility as son #1 is going that direction with my full blessing (my BA is from an LAC). The creative one is so clearly headed in one direction I wonder what the benefit would be of a rounded curriculum as opposed to him going straight into an architecture or design based program, my gut says he’ll be happier going straight into a design based program. I’ll just keep reading and researching and something will jump out to at least get the ball rollling, thankfully S has lots of time to think about all this stuff.</p>
<p>Rural Studio looks very interesting, many thanks for the link.</p>
<p>It’s important to visit RISD to check out the social scene.</p>
<p>To me, nonwithstanding the ‘rural’ component, your son sounds like a natural candidate for Cooper Union–where the empasis is on the theory of design and the nature of materials. Cooper grads end up in all kinds of weird and wonderful careers.</p>
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<p>I’m not sure any other school in the US incorporates as much art into architecture. He might consider the school of design at Syracuse or Michigan.</p>
<p>Also, given the high prices for glass and the blend of art and craft and scuplture, he might also consider Pilchuck. <a href=“http://www.pilchuck.com/about/about_main.htm[/url]”>http://www.pilchuck.com/about/about_main.htm</a></p>
<p>Ah Cooper, to me the pinacle…he might be good enough - friends of mine from Art Center that should know think he is, me, I’m the mom and only peripherially involved in design and really don’t know. But yes, you’re right, he is a quintessential Cooper person albeit he would be in the city. But he doesn’t know cities really he’s just a kid… just don’t know if he has the horsepower, but I’ll put it on his list. He’ll have to research and decide if he wants to apply. Knowing him, he’d probably dig the test. We’re in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest so I don’t know how his portfolio will stack up against all those east coast fine tuned applicants. Raw it will be I’m sure. The list is building it will be fascinating to watch and see which ones hit his hot button. I might be really surprised which would be fun. Thanks to all for launching me, I’m sure I’ll be back repeatedly over the next year. It was a heck of alot easier with son #1 whose only requirement was that the school be located within 1/2 hour of ski slopes, have a sociology major and that the campus have no roads through the middle. Took me less than a week to come up with a list of 15 that fit that criteria and from there it was son’s responsibility. I think S2 will require alittle more parental help. Defintely RISD, Cooper Union, Auburn, probably Art Center in Pasadena, just because I have friends there and my sister lives in Pasadena, Cincinnati 'cause it’s closer to home, U of M because it’s in-state and I’ll find a few more to toss into his mix, then he can start the research.</p>