How to choose art schools for studying abroad? What major and school should I choose? How can we really understand a college? How can we determine whether a college is really suitable for us? Where should I go after graduation? Teachers, facilities, strong majors, curriculum, employment support, school or major rankings, admission criteria What should be considered? It is difficult at the beginning. The first step of studying abroad: choosing a school must be a headache for many students. How to choose the best school for yourself and start a perfect life of studying abroad? About school selection, we talked with Jennifer, a Rhode Island admissions consultant, about how to use the six steps to determine the most suitable college.

Step 1

Research into the different things

that you may possibility like doing as a career

The first step is to try to study different design possibilities, which may become your future career. At present, most of the students we want to apply for are senior high school students. These students do not have much hands-on experience. They may have their own obsession. At this time, they can deeply study the parts they are interested in, and then find out what they really want to do. Maybe it will become a career you can develop in the future.

In high school, you may have a lot of Art and Design It's very vague, for example, what is graphic design, what is pottery, and what is clothing design? What are you studying in these majors? What does real graphic design include?

So when you don't understand the true meaning of these majors, it's better to make a list first, write down all the things you are interested in on paper, and then look for some ways to turn the possibility into reality. Let's try it first, and then slowly refine the direction you want to develop in the future.

For example, when we talk about fashion design, we may first think of some big brands, such as Chanel, Dior, or some women's clothing brands. But there is a big division in clothing design, such as sportswear design, men's clothing design, underwear design, children's clothing design, and some pregnant women's design.

Another example is architectural design. We live in the city every day. We might as well pay attention to the surrounding buildings. These designs are very good and exquisite. If you look hard, you will be in awe of these designs, which may also become your inspiration.

also Studied abroad in film animation production Film and television production related majors. Movies are not only limited to the large-scale production of some films. Now because of the growing number of online social platforms, the general trend leads us to need a large number of talents to invest in video production. Many big brands are also launching their own video platforms to display their own brand culture and brand concept, so the demand in this field will be growing.

Graphic design is actually a big system, which includes many things, such as UX UI, just like the visual design of some apps and websites we usually use. The huge demand for graphic and interaction designers can be seen on many recruitment apps.

Exhibition of student works of natural light

There are some more common design majors, such as glass design, ceramic manufacturing, fabric design, etc. We may often feel that if I study this major, what will I do after graduation?

In fact, many graduates of these majors are employed by big brands, and the demand is also very large. You don't need to know what major I want to study today. First, you need to lay the foundation and prepare a good collection of works to apply for the college you want to go to. Before you apply, you just need to know what kind of school you want to apply for. If you move forward, you need to know what kind of design you want to study.

Don't feel pressured at this stage and wonder what I will do in the future. It's better to think from your own interests first, so now you need to read a lot of magazines, read a lot of online journals and so on. As a design or professional student, you need to see a lot of materials with a strong sense of design. These pictures have the strongest visual impact.

Now there are many vlogs on the Internet, and many people are doing vlogs. These things can give you a lot of information. If you click on relevant hyperlinks constantly, you will find a lot of inspiration and beautiful things. This process is actually a process of self discovery.

Now many designers will publish some daily vlogs to introduce their life and work. When you look at the daily life of these designers, you can understand what the work of designers is like. At the same time, you can also ask yourself whether this is suitable for you.

When you keep researching, you can also keep asking yourself whether I can do such a job for 5-10 years. A person's life is long, but the university life is four years. If you continue to study as a graduate student, the total is six years. You have been studying for 6 years, and you will have to work in the future. If you work, you should think carefully about whether I want to continue this major. If you are tired of it, you might as well try something else. Stop wasting time.

What I want to remind you most here is to remember to build your car behind closed doors, and not to think about it in your own room all the time. You must try. It's also a good experience if you try and find that you don't like the inappropriate. There are many professions in art, so it is very important to try more different things in order to understand yourself better.

Step 2

Hands on experience with design

The second step is to experience the design. You can take some very short-term courses, even workshops with only one weekend. I have had many experiences from hating to falling in love with something, which is actually a creative process. This may be the process from exploration to obtaining effective results, and the results may also amaze you.

If you don't like studying in class, you can also find some tutorials on the website and do some projects yourself. In fact, this is also a process of collecting experience and understanding yourself.

Student works of natural light

Step 3

Never be afraid to ask lots of questions

The third step is not to be afraid to ask questions.

In addition to the above two points, there is a better way: to practice in a company. In fact, as students, there are few opportunities to talk and chat with real designers, so we might as well change our minds and work with them as designers' assistants.

When working with the designer day and night, he can answer the questions you ask at any time, and can teach you a lot of work skills. You can write down your own questions first, don't be afraid to ask questions, don't care.

You can also make more friends with people in this industry. No matter the teachers who work, study or teach, you can learn about this industry as friends. The way of making friends can also be through the social platform, and even give the designer something to like~

You can also attend several lectures and forums related to design. At the beginning, you may feel a lot of pressure, because there will be no outline when you study. Another way is to visit the school's lecture forum activities.

Step 4

Art&Design School vs.Universities

If you go to an art school, you should have 8 hours of classes every day, and you should work hard for a long time. After the 8-hour course, there are 12-16 hours to do homework after class. In such a week, you need to spend 80 hours working in the studio non-stop, which is the real life of students studying art and design.

When you graduate, you will become a design dog from a graduate. You need to spend more time on your design. So when I graduate, I should think about whether this is really the life I want? Before you apply, you should also consider clearly and plan well.

　　Parsons、RISD、SVA New York Institute of Visual Arts All colleges and universities have their own summer schools. Six weeks is enough for you to understand the learning life in the school. If you find that you really don't like this life and profession within six weeks, you don't need to waste four or even six years of college life.

A university is totally different from an art school. There are many subjects here, and there will be different majors, such as history, philosophy and mathematics. In addition to studio assignments and research on art design, you also need to learn some other courses, which is a different workload and choice.

If you want to become a professional designer or artist, then coming out of a comprehensive college will definitely have no advantage over the major of an art school. But one advantage is that your career choices will be more extensive.

What should we consider when we choose a school? It is still necessary to make a list to check the classification of these majors and major departments, and then refine to which colleges and universities have majors you want to study.

Exhibition of works collection of natural light trainees from foreign universities

Step 5

What to look at when researching about the schools

The factors that should be considered when selecting a school are: first, understand the basic year of the school. Because in high school, everyone did not learn basic college courses, so many colleges will focus on helping students consolidate basic courses and tap their expertise in the first year. This is why the school arranges a basic year, because you need to know what you are really good at. Some students may be more sensitive to graphic design, and some may be more sensitive to environmental space. At this time, the school will help you find your strong major. There will be a lot of homework in basic courses, so you can learn your strengths in the process of doing homework.

It is also important to know whether the overall ranking of the school is high, but it is more important to know whether there are transferable credits. Some university courses have no credits and only pass or fail. If you go to a good university, but want to change your major halfway, you can't change it, so you'd better leave some options for yourself. You should consider many factors systematically and carefully. You can't choose a school just because it is famous.

Second, you should see the teaching philosophy of this school. Because the essence of design is to find and solve problems, some schools attach great importance to innovation, creative thinking, and future leadership; In some schools, the educational philosophy attaches great importance to practical ability.

It is also the world's top art school, and its educational philosophy may be completely different. So you need to enter the school and communicate with the students in the school. For example, go to the school forum to make friends, and then you can know which school you really like.

Third, it must depend on the size of the class. Take Rhode Island as an example. There are 10-15 students in a class, which is why Rhode Island is difficult to enter because the class capacity is very small.

Rhode Island adheres to the idea that students should constantly solve problems, which will allow each teacher to allocate more time to each student. There were about 400 students in the first year of Rhode Island University, and only 1500 students in the whole college. Some universities in New York, for example, have about 1500 freshmen. Therefore, Rhode Island will have ten times more space for students and more teachers. Do you want to go to a small city with vast space? Or a big city with very small creative space?

Next, consider the weather. When I went to Rhode Island, it was always dark and cold. But if you go to the west coast, you can enjoy life. But if you want to live on the west coast, you need to be able to drive. Because I can't drive, I can only go to smaller cities.

And you also need to find your own spiritual life, because you will stay there for four years. If you study in Rhode Island, there are about 80 hours a week to do homework. Other schools may not have so many homework. In addition to class time, you can also go shopping, eat and visit the art museum.

Of course, the security of a region should also be considered. If you want to go to some big cities, such as New York and London, you need to pay attention to the security issues. Small cities are safer but there is no other place to play. So you should choose a place that suits you.

Student works of natural light

Step 6

Timeline for research and planning

The sixth step is the preliminary research and planning schedule. The ninth grade period in the United States, which is also called junior three, is very important. Because if you are sure to apply to a foreign university, there will only be three summer vacations.

The time of these three summers is very, very valuable. You need to try comprehensive universities in one summer, art colleges in one summer, and other countries in one summer. So we must study the things we want to try earlier, to actually feel them, and also need to go to the surrounding schools to see more.

In addition to school experience, you should also try internship during the summer, which can enrich your resume and improve your competitiveness. Before applying to the school, students should not only prepare their own collection of works, but also need personal CVs. You'd better have some internship experience on your resume, so that the school will know that you want to study in this industry very seriously.

　　 Question session:

　　 Lu classmate: What materials do you need for application?

The first is the collection of works. If Lu really wants to know the details of the collection of works, he should pay attention to our live broadcast at the same time next Wednesday. The next episode is about the collection of works. We will tell you in an hour.

Today, let's briefly talk about the three main parts of the collection. The first part is your basic skills; The second part is your creativity; The third part is the ability to solve problems.

It's better to prepare from the third day of junior high, enrich your experience first, and the earlier you prepare for your internship experience, the better. A student asked me what to do in the summer vacation of the last year, but he has no time, so it's really best to prepare in advance!

　　 Classmate Qin: Do you really have to go to such famous schools as Rhode Island and SVA to study art?

The most important thing in choosing a school is to know what you are suitable for and good at. The ranking of schools is also very important, because when you are in a good school, the people around you and the seniors and sisters will help you a lot. Some companies will directly hire excellent students in the school. There are many good opportunities and good interpersonal networks. For example, Rhode Island has the help of career planning to provide students with positions.

In fact, every famous school will have a special career planning department to help students, which can really be said to be once and for all. When you are 80 years old and you want to find a job, the school will still help you, because you are their graduate, so this is the important reason why we want to go to a good school. Education is very important, and so is help after graduation.

School is also a brand of your whole life. When you graduate, your graduate school represents what kind of person you are.

　　 Zhang: How to apply for the dual degree of Rhode Island and Brown early?

The admission percentage is very low, because you have to apply to two schools at the same time, and tell both schools that you are applying at the same time, and then you need to be admitted to two schools at the same time to get a double degree. Except for the major of architecture, other majors take four years. It takes six years to get a double degree in architecture, and five years for other majors.

　　 Classmate Fan: What are Rhode Island's preferences for collections of works? Is it better to do what you are interested in?

Rhode Island School of Design's portfolio requirements will be more difficult than other schools, and it should be the most difficult to be admitted now, because it is the only art school among the top 100 global schools. If you talk about it in general, a few words will be enough. In short, you must show your basic skills, use different media and skills, and have a strong hand painting ability. Some product 3D designers and architectural designers can only use computers to draw pictures. Such people cannot be admitted to Rhode Island, which accounts for one third.

Your portfolio should contain rich media, such as ink and wash, science and technology, oil painting, installation, etc., and can not be finished by a sketch. A collection of works is to give the admissions officer a chance to get to know you. You should let the admissions officer know that you can solve problems in many ways. You can't be particularly good at every skill, but you should let him see that you are willing to try new things. There are 20 works in one portfolio, and at least 8 media and methods are required.

The other third is to show that you have the ability to solve problems, and the remaining third is the application of design. You need to mix concepts, practicality, etc.

Each of the 20 works in a work collection takes about 20 hours, so it takes 400 hours to calculate a work collection, so you must start preparing earlier, so it will be more comfortable and do not delay.

　　 Wang: What does the project research need to show?

　　 Collection of American Art Studied Abroad Of the 20 collections, 3 can show the process, and you need to show what the concept is.

It is very important that the whole page of each collection appears on the computer screen of the admissions officer, so if there are too many pictures, the admissions officer will not be able to zoom in and focus on your details. So put about three pictures on one page so that the admissions officer can see your work at a glance.

The focus is on different abilities. Different skills should be displayed on one thumbnail. One or two of the same styles can be used. Remember not to create series with the same style.

　　 Nico: How can I plan my own collection of works when I apply for graduate students at the end of this year?

Because the class size in Rhode Island is very small, Rhode Island pays more attention to the creativity of students, as well as one's educational background and work experience.

So if you are applying for graduate school, you should focus on your work to show how your work experience is related to your study in graduate school, and how your previous major will help you in your future major.

-Jennifer Chung-

RISD Admissions representative

Rhode Island Admissions Advisor

Jennifer Chung grew up in Paris, Hong Kong, the United States and Canada, and received a bachelor's degree (honors) from Rhode Island School Of Design in 2007. Later, he continued to study in Parsons Paris Campus. After graduation, he served as designers for Dior, J Maskrey, Versace and Van Cleef&Arpels in Paris, held international activities for the brand in the Asia Pacific region, and guided the design and market planning of the brand direction; In 2013, he set up his own studio and was the founder of The Popsy Room, the first multi sensory exhibition hall in Asia, and was rated as "Asia's first art food pairing expert" by Time magazine. In 2015, it won the "40 under 40 design" award selected by Perspective magazine and was internationally recognized.

Jennifer Chung focuses on luxury brand activities. Her clients include Cartier, Van Cleef&Arpels, YSL, Hennessy, IWC, Nesspresso, SKII and many other well-known brands. At the same time, she is also a designer and curator. She is a partner of artists such as Takashi Murakami and Kaws The German consulate and the French consulate in Hong Kong jointly planned the exhibition and cooperated with K11 Foundation to carry out several projects. The art kitchen and exhibition space have been invited to appear in Art Basel, Elle, Lifestyle Asia, London WallPapers and other publications, and have been selected as the representative of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Tourism Bureau, becoming the featured figure of Discovery Chanel.

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