Julia
Should I apply to a school that barely offers scholarship? Even if I have a decent change of getting in?
Rhode Island School of Design is one of my top schools that I'd like to attend. However, as they are a top art school of the country, they don't offer merit scholarships at all, only financial ones. Should I still apply anyway? I feel like I have a good chance of getting in, just not sure if I could attend because the tuition and board and everything is so expensive... #art-school #application #tuition
2 answers
Jonathan Sutherland
Jonathan’s Answer
TL;DR if you plan to go to RISD and it's going to lead to a high paying job, you should apply. If you plan on going there and have no clear path towards paying back those heavy loans, you need to consider how much that is going to financially burden you for the next twenty years.
A few thoughts:
What are your career goals after college?
What is the average salary for that career goal?
Does that avaerage salary enable you to pay back your loans in a reasonable amount of time?
Something I feel personally strong about as someone who runs a creative team is that I don't care about how/where you gained your skills, I care that you have them. The school you are looking at is incredible and could lead to some amazing positions in the future, but that isn't the only way you can grow as a creative professional. There is something special about being around other amazingly talented people that pushes you to be the best you, but unless you are willing to push yourself to the next level no amount of schooling is going to matter.
Please let me know if this was helpful and if you have follow up thoughts that I might be able to work through with you.
Jonathan recommends the following next steps:
Kate Donalson
Kate’s Answer
This is a link to a scholarship search that could be helpful to you. Good luck!
https://www.aie.org/resources/scholarship-search/