As anyone who has heard of Ringling College of Art and Design will know, Ringling is one of the top colleges in the WORLD for artists and designers. Everyone at the school begins with the same curriculum-- basic studio classes such as drawing and 3D are required (however, next year the curriculum is changing, and many core classes will not be required anymore e.g. Film majors won't need to take drawing). These basic classes start everyone off at the same page. If you're someone like me, who hasn't had any formal art education before Ringling, you'll definitely be brought up to speed by professors who are high-quality, well-known professionals in their own fields. If you're a bit more experienced, there are plenty of school competitions and opportunities for you to stretch your creative muscle as well.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
The atmosphere at this school is great! There's the warm and sunny Florida atmosphere most months of the year, the gorgeous campus, and most of all the diverse and creative student body. The beach is not far away at all, Downtown Sarasota is beautiful, and the cultured city of Tampa is only 45 minutes away. The student body is very small, and everyone seems to know each other. If people don't know you, they will definitely come up to you and say hello! There are plenty of fun events on campus, especially those run by the Resident Assistants of each floor in the dorms. Resident Assistants are extremely helpful and will make the dorm experience as fun as possible. In addition, the cafeteria has vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous options for the widest range of student diet. You'll meet friendly people from the other side of the globe here, and you'll be so inspired by the brilliant artists that call this school home 8 months of the year.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
This school definitely has some of the highest quality technology for every major, great food and facilities, an extensive library, LEED certified buildings, and highly qualified staff. The one downside to all of this is that all of the money you spend to go to this wonderful school is used to improve the technology and facilities for future students, but little financial aid is provided. However, for prospective artists (ESPECIALLY Computer Animation majors) the name of this school on your resume will get you further than nearly any other art school in the United States. Well-known creative companies such as Pixar, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Dreamworks, Hallmark, and even the CIA come to Ringling to hire graduates straight out of college, with the likelihood of a pretty hefty paycheck, because they know and expect that Ringling College students are the best of the best.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships. It is imperative that you apply for any and every scholarship you can. You will have to scour the Internet and spend hours applying, or you will likely never be able to afford this school. The price we all pay for having the highest-quality education in the world is the enormous cost of tuition and fees. And although paying back loans after college for 20 years seems like a horrid idea to you, it will be well worth it when you get hired and have money in your pocket. Going to lower-quality art schools will not save you money because you will NOT be making any money when you graduate.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
If you are open-minded, off the wall, friendly, and like video games, you will definitely be welcomed here. Actually, nearly any type of person is accepted by students at Ringling College of Art and Design. However, if you tend to create drama, talk behind people's backs, or don't try your best in class, students will definitely have a problem with you. You don't need to be Da Vinci to be accepted at this school, but you MUST try your best, fail, learn, and try again until you achieve the success that is inevitable at Ringling College.
As anyone who has heard of Ringling College of Art and Design will know, Ringling is one of the top colleges in the WORLD for artists and designers. Everyone at the school begins with the same curriculum-- basic studio classes such as drawing and 3D are required (however, next year the curriculum is changing, and many core classes will not be required anymore e.g. Film majors won't need to take drawing). These basic classes start everyone off at the same page. If you're someone like me, who hasn't had any formal art education before Ringling, you'll definitely be brought up to speed by professors who are high-quality, well-known professionals in their own fields. If you're a bit more experienced, there are plenty of school competitions and opportunities for you to stretch your creative muscle as well.
The atmosphere at this school is great! There's the warm and sunny Florida atmosphere most months of the year, the gorgeous campus, and most of all the diverse and creative student body. The beach is not far away at all, Downtown Sarasota is beautiful, and the cultured city of Tampa is only 45 minutes away. The student body is very small, and everyone seems to know each other. If people don't know you, they will definitely come up to you and say hello! There are plenty of fun events on campus, especially those run by the Resident Assistants of each floor in the dorms. Resident Assistants are extremely helpful and will make the dorm experience as fun as possible. In addition, the cafeteria has vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous options for the widest range of student diet. You'll meet friendly people from the other side of the globe here, and you'll be so inspired by the brilliant artists that call this school home 8 months of the year.
This school definitely has some of the highest quality technology for every major, great food and facilities, an extensive library, LEED certified buildings, and highly qualified staff. The one downside to all of this is that all of the money you spend to go to this wonderful school is used to improve the technology and facilities for future students, but little financial aid is provided. However, for prospective artists (ESPECIALLY Computer Animation majors) the name of this school on your resume will get you further than nearly any other art school in the United States. Well-known creative companies such as Pixar, Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Dreamworks, Hallmark, and even the CIA come to Ringling to hire graduates straight out of college, with the likelihood of a pretty hefty paycheck, because they know and expect that Ringling College students are the best of the best.
Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships. It is imperative that you apply for any and every scholarship you can. You will have to scour the Internet and spend hours applying, or you will likely never be able to afford this school. The price we all pay for having the highest-quality education in the world is the enormous cost of tuition and fees. And although paying back loans after college for 20 years seems like a horrid idea to you, it will be well worth it when you get hired and have money in your pocket. Going to lower-quality art schools will not save you money because you will NOT be making any money when you graduate.
If you are open-minded, off the wall, friendly, and like video games, you will definitely be welcomed here. Actually, nearly any type of person is accepted by students at Ringling College of Art and Design. However, if you tend to create drama, talk behind people's backs, or don't try your best in class, students will definitely have a problem with you. You don't need to be Da Vinci to be accepted at this school, but you MUST try your best, fail, learn, and try again until you achieve the success that is inevitable at Ringling College.