BFA/BMA, BS, BA should you choose one over another? What’s the impact of each degree? What’s the difference? Knowing what a college offers integral to making an informed decision about your education.

During our RIT campus tour, we explored why art students are drawn to tech schools and delved into the College of Art and Design, as well as the School of Film and Animation. Notably, RIT's support for deaf and hard of hearing students, including those with auditory processing challenges, is impressive, offering generous scholarships to those who qualify.

Cornell University features two schools for creatives: the College of Architecture, Art and Planning and the College of Human Ecology. As part of the land grant program, three schools, including the College of Human Ecology enable New York state residents to qualify for in-state tuition.

Ithaca College houses two premier schools for creatives: the Park School of Communication with an outstanding film, tv and radio program, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance a conservatory program housed within a university giving you also all the advantages that setting allows.

Syracuse University is an R1 research university but for creative students it is the home of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and the School of Architecture.

There are many reasons to attend a College of Art and Design and there are many reasons to attend an art school within a university. There’s no right or wrong, it’s all about you and what you want. Read about the differences in this blog.

You want to study theater in college, it’s a long worthwhile road, here’s how to prepare your applications. 

Concept Design, 2D Animation, 3D Animation are different but related majors. Read this blog to learn about the differences and see which might be right for you.

There’s a wide range of architecture degrees, BArch, BFA, BS, and BA. Read which might be right for you.

BFA applications start with the Common Application, but then there are many more requirements… essays, artist statement, descriptions of artwork, writing samples, creative samples. Read how you can be prepared to answer all the prompts.

DePaul University is a great option for students who want a liberal arts university in a fun, less hectic city environment of Lincoln Park but would also like to study film, performing arts, animation and other creative areas in a downtown city environment of the Loop Campus.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is one of the few truly multidisciplinary art schools in the US. Students do not select a major rather they select coursework, with the guidance of an advisor, in one of about 20 “areas of study” and pursue individualized courses of study. It is also specifically tied programmatically to one of the largest museums in the country, the Art Institute of Chicago, to which students are encouraged to visit often.

Columbia College Chicago is has a full range of majors and minors at both the BFA and BA/BS level to study everything from Animation to Film to Sound Design to Writing for Television, all while you are immersed in Chicago’s artistic community.

University of Miami offers all that you’d expect at a large school, but it is a gem for creative students as it houses the Frost School of Music, majors and minors in the Department of Cinematic Arts, and BArch degree from the School of Architecture. Worth considering if you’re looking for a school in a lively, international city.

Ringling College has a top five Computer Animation program but do you know about some of their other programs? They’re pretty spectacular too.

RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) is the school for you if you love to eat, drink and sleep art. It is a school for an aspiring fine artist.

Are you hoping to apply to film school? There are some great programs at USC School of Cinematic Arts, Chapman Dodge College, Emerson College, and UCLA. There are also programs at traditional art conservatories such as Rhode Island School of Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Pratt. Starting early in high school is key to being prepared to submit great applications.

If you have decided to pursue performing arts in college, you likely have the added stress of perfecting your repertoire and preparing for possible prescreens and impending auditions.