Northeast GD Programs

[Barrysboxes]

Figured I'd come to the experts in the field. I am a concerned dad of a junior in high school who is checking out some colleges for their GD programs. She has zeroed in on SVA (NYC), AIB (part of Lesley University in the Boston area), Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY) and FIT (NYC).

Any comments out there regarding these schools ? I'll take good, bad, anecdotes, anything that would help us decide. Thanks !

[Derfie]

I am an alumni of FIT. I was also accepted in to PRATT, but couldn't afford to attend at the time. FIT is an excellent school, but the best part is that it is a NY state school, it has the cheapest tutition of the SUNY schools. They have funding from the State, NYC, and many private investors. The out of state tuition may be more, but it is still cheaper than some of the other schools. Many of my professors also taught at SVA, PRATT, and Parsons. FIT has a safe campus life since the school is majority female, they take security very seriously. The school is pretty much focused in one central location. They also have an EXCELLENT job placement rate, I had a job in the field 2 weeks prior to graduation. FIT was not my first choice intially, because I was really not interested in Fashion, but I am sooo glad I went. The school is about so more than just fashion. They have so many diverse programs and classes.

Good Luck to you and your daughter, I remember how nervous my dad was.:)

[Barrysboxes]

Thanks Derfie. My daughter took a summer class at FIT this past summer and really liked it (she stayed with her brother at Pratt (animation major); took the subway into NYC)

[Broacher]

Barrysboxes,

Just a question out of curiosity: are you working in a design-related profession?

It's a pet theory of mine that most of the children of designers and artists avoid following their parents' choices-- or maybe I know too many struggling pros with children thinking "there's gotta be something better than that".

[Logo-Mechanix]

I actually hope at least one of my boys is artistic and decides to make it a career choice as I do quite well and it's something I love to do.

[Barrysboxes]

Broacher, I am not in the field at all, although I do have a website where I sell handmade jewelry boxes. Check out barrysboxes.com

Both my kids are left brained and one of the greatest gifts a parent can give to a child is to nurture their dreams; who am I to say they can't accomplish their dreams. A parent should be their greatest advocate.

(It's a long way down from this soapbox....)

[Broacher]

I'm not saying a parent should stomp on any kid's dreams--just that they should show them how to realistically explore the range of gifts and interests they might have, and help them find about the career opportunities that match.

By the way, I checked out your boxes... very nice. And I'm jealous of anybody who's made a career using their hands and working with natural materials like you're doing.

The problem with pursuing design as your main creative outlet is that the picture coming in to the profession can be so far removed from the reality once you're in. But, that's not unique in the creative fields.

Still, I've come across far too many young people who have been very disillusioned by the truth as observed in working in the field, as opposed to believing in design school recruitment hype, that I think we do owe it to young people to try and convey the cons as well as the pros of working in design. I don't call that stomping on dreams, just healthy skepticism. And that's a life skill more people need to possess, in my opinion.

Here's my next irrelevant to this thread question: so you've nurtured your children's dreams-- how have you nurtured your own?