Any used educational consultant to advise on US Uni applications?

[QGMum]

I'm looking for some advice. Dc is interested in applying to US for an art degree. We have no idea on how to support preparation, where to apply, the process, chances of success, or how to apply for scholarships to reduce the eye watering cost. I have heard of educational consultants that will provide advice. Has anyone used such a service? Would you recommend the service? What did they provide? How much did it cost?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations, tips and advice.

[ZZTopGuitarSolo]

@QGMum

Thanks to *@mathanxiety* I attended a webinar from the Fulbright Commission. It was really informative and signposted so much information that I think we can apply to the US, if my dd wants to go down that route, without a consultant and just support from her school and us.

Thanks to the posters who have signposted us to the great options available to her here in the UK too.

I've shepherded two daughters through the college admissions process - happy to try to answer any questions. mathanxiety is v v knowledgeable.

My experience is that US admissions are very proactive in answering questions and offering very informatve tours. I think it really important to visit in person as soon as possible.

[QGMum]

Thanks to @mathanxiety I attended a webinar from the Fulbright Commission. It was really informative and signposted so much information that I think we can apply to the US, if my dd wants to go down that route, without a consultant and just support from her school and us.

Thanks to the posters who have signposted us to the great options available to her here in the UK too.

[mathanxiety]

ncees.org/records/international-registry/

Working abroad as an American professional engineer.

[mathanxiety]

The dual degree is not an engineering degree. The examples included in the dual Brown/ RISD degree quote upthread show various unusual combinations chosen by individual students of the dual programme, with Furniture Design and Mechanical Engineering being one.

The engineering profession is also highly regulated in the US, on a state level.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principles_and_Practice_of_Engineering_Examination

There is nothing second rate about US engineering qualifications or professional accreditation.

[PresentingPercy]

You might need to be aware that the degree mentioned from Brown would absolutely not qualify a studfent to be a graduate engineer here. Of any engineering discipline. You must do a qualifying degree and they are MEng in order to become a Chartered engineer. Do be careful about believing everything you read. It might not be quite what you think without years of further study - and that qualifying degree will be a "must" for certain professions.

[mathanxiety]

If you decide to use an advisor, please, please do your own thorough research too, and very importantly, do all your own admissions writing, proofing, and editing. Do it several times, and with time lapses between each version. Get a few good eyes to look it over.

Everyone involved in the advising business leaves 'fingerprints' that can be spotted by experienced college admissions staff.

[Wbeezer]

Its the MA Fine Art (5 year programme).

[QGMum]

@Wbeezer Thanks Wbeezer for the tip about Edinburgh. We will look into this.

@mathanxiety yes it is the broader nature of the education available in the US that is one of the reasons for our interest in this. We think this would suit dd very well.

[Wbeezer]

Edinburgh University does a dual discipline degree with Edinburgh College of Art which combines academic studies with studio based practice, not many people know about it and the number of places is very limited, less than ten a year I think. I told a friend's daughter about it as she hadn't heard of it and I thought it would suit her interests and she got in and loves it. It used to be 5 years long in my day with the last year solely studio based but I'm not 100% sure what it is currently. Very good option for people who are struggling to decide between an academic degree and fine art practice.

[mathanxiety]

Yes, the USA is fun and has great art colleges too but Ivy League is not where most art students go freom the UK, for very obvious reasons.

But the Ivy League and a few others are the places that offer great financial aid to international students, and you can graduate with a major in fine arts from many of them.

Plus, some do dual degrees - Brown/Rhode Island School of Design; Tufts/New England Conservatory, Harvard/NEC (5 year BA+MM)

www.risd.edu/academics/risd-brown-programs-and-opportunities

The Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD) offers a rigorous course of study for highly capable and self-motivated students to integrate diverse spheres of academic work, earning both a Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree from Brown and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from RISD simultaneously. The program provides access to a broader range of faculty and resources than is available in pursuing a degree at either one or the other institution.

Established in 2007, the BRDD is the first of its kind in the country to build on the different but complementary strengths of two world-class institutions. RISD provides specialized education in the fine arts, visual media, architecture, design and the liberal arts. Brown offers comprehensive concentrations in the physical and biological sciences, social sciences, mathematics and the humanities.

BRDD candidates have pursued majors in such disciplines as Apparel Design and Environmental Studies, Furniture Design and Mechanical Engineering, Printmaking and International Relations, and Film/Animation/Video and Physics, among many other interesting combinations. Prospective students must apply and be accepted to both institutions, and then be approved for admission to the BRDD.

American education at third level is far less characterised by strict lines of demarcation than British third level education is. A student with a major in Chinese studies is now a plastic surgeon; a student who likes both maths and art gets a major in Econ and a minor in Fine Arts;

[QGMum]

@nonetooshoddy thank you for the recommendation. I will take a look.

[nonetooshoddy]

If you are looking for a university consultant I can highly recommend: www.theuniversityguys.com/

David Hawkins is amazing. We used him for our oldest DC and he was absolutely fantastic. DC was not applying to USA but he would be equally good for US applications, honestly his knowledge extensive on universities in literally every country you can imagine.

Feel free to message me if you would like more info. I promise I am not affiliated to the company in any way!

[ChimneyPot]

I think Brown is test optional so SAT would not be required.

This year the application had essays and a short video. There were about 47k applicants for 1600 places so it is very competitive.

My DD was accepted to Brown this year. She didn’t use a college counsellor, just researched online and watched a lot of YouTube.
But I do think a counsellor would be helpful. If someone had recommended a good one to me we probably would have used one. If nothing else it would be helpful at this stage when DD is trying to chose between colleges that have accepted her.

[Wbeezer]

I know about art schools mainly Scottish and London ones. My experience is its not that important where you go for undergrad a long as it reasonably ranked and has good depts in the areas you are interested in. What counts is where you do a Masters, you want to aim for the Royal College of Art or one of the top London Colleges, possibly a college abroad depending on cost.but London is good for contacts and visibility.
Also lots of people find art school very disappointing, you can be unlucky and not find your thing quickly, or not find that special teacher you click with, it's very intense and hard work and you're in the building all day everyday. I personally would not risk the money on a very expensive undergrad experience. (DS3 is aiming to follow in his parents', grannie's, auntie's footsteps and go to art school)

[PresentingPercy]

If she needs SATs you need an honest appraisal as to whether that’s realistic for her and what the advantages are. Is she likely to get a massive scholarship? Does money matter to you or is it the experience she wants? What might she do afterwards? Is this course better than anything on offer here? Could the money be spent more wisely supporting her career after university?

[Needmoresleep]

Worth a look?

www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/degrees/study-abroad#exchange-programme

I don't know if others (Glasgow say) also offer the chance to study abroad.

[QGMum]

Thanks for the responses on this thread. There is definitely a question around whether a US art school is worth the money given what is available here. I know very little about art schools anywhere, however.

Dd is particularly interested in the dual degree offered by Brown University/RISD, so yes it would be Ivy League, and she would need SATs for this. There is of course no guarantee she would be offered a place.

@Magda16 If you can recommend any educational consultants I would be very grateful.

[hidingmystatus]

As I said above, I was coming from a music perspective, which is not an Ivy League perspective either.
But the analysis is the same: are you going to go to a college which is worth the money for the level of your DC's ability and the future prospects they have? The UK has many world-class institutions, so you have to be very sure that the US would be noticeably better for your DC's circumstances.
Sounds like for art, that's absolutely not the case.

[PresentingPercy]

DD changed her mind about the course she actually wanted! So for her, yes. She did a fashion course. I’m not convinced spending £1/4 million was the best way to go. She did work experience (As part of her course) in NY so she benefitted from that. It’s definitely horses for courses but lots of arty students are just not Ivy League students. DD is building up her fashion business and it’s getting noticed in magazines so no negatives really. UAL doesn’t hand hold though and definitely has some lecturers from industry who are great and others who are not.

[Needmoresleep]

Percy, in retrospect was UAL a good choice in comparison with Parsons?

[PresentingPercy]

We are talking about an Art degree. That is what the OP said. This is not Harvard or MIT territory - with the best will in the world. The institutions I mentioned in the UK are world class. Yes, the USA is fun and has great art colleges too but Ivy League is not where most art students go freom the UK, for very obvious reasons. We are not talking about technology and sciences etc where choices would be different.

[hidingmystatus]

We had the debate at home about the US. The conclusion was: DD would only go to the US if she got into one of the top 5 schools there, which coincide with top 10 in the world. Otherwise it wasn't worth it.
However, she is looking to a career where the US schools are the best respected in the world, too.

There is no point paying the US fees if you aren't going to get into somewhere that is at least as good as, and as internationally respected in the field you want to enter, everywhere in the UK. It's far too expensive for mediocrity. Sometimes that's going to mean some very hard discussions - it's really difficult to have a conversation that says, effectively:
"You are 16-17-18 and you're about to find out if you actually have any talent."

Obviously you put it more tactfully than that, but that's what it comes down to. Is DC talented enough to go to one of the best institutions in the world? If not, the US is not worth the cost.

[PresentingPercy]

The problem for art students is they may not get into Ivy League as there are very different hoops to go through. Sats for a start. It’s normal to have a portfolio for art. Not necessarily high Sats scores. I’m not sure how many DC in the uk would look at Ivy League for art? Artists would not consider themselves Ivy League students. I think Ivy League is a very different experience and not one artists would really consider.

[Needmoresleep]

Unless money is no object, there are strong US links, or unless someone is absurdly talented, there is probably no harm in studying the UK first and then leaving a top US school until postgraduate.

We have known two who have done this, both to Parsons. One received a Fulbright, and the other may also have received funding.

If you are planning to work in the UK, there is no harm in building UK networks first.

[mathanxiety]

I agree that the best UK art schools are excellent, @PresentingPercy.

But an Ivy League degree will open doors all over the world and the Ivies offer financial aid to international students.