Master Post : Ringling College of Art and Design FAQ 

Ok so sometimes I get asked about Ringling College of Art and Design so I thought it might be helpful to my followers if I made a master post you can check to see what past people have asked? 

If you still have a question please feel free to ask. If I haven’t answered it I will add it to this post for future reference. :)

Anyways, here are the asks I’ve had so far:

anonymous asks: How’s Ringling? I’m thinking of going there, since it’ll be easier for me. (Floridian.) But I’m having a lot of trouble deciding. Is it really expensive?

Mmmm well.. there are a lot of great things about Ringling. Your peers are awesome, it’s a small school so it’s more intimate than some places like SCAD, the teachers are fantastic, curriculum is great, the campus its self is beautiful, they even give you a Mac laptop to use for free while you are attending college there which is fantastic. 

The big downside is the cost of course so it’s important that you look into lots of scholarships, grants, and financial aid. Loans should be the absolute last thing you look into if you can help it! (I learned this all the hard way..) the other thing is that the school sometimes doesn’t really seem to care for the students. Honestly it’s a business for them and they treat it like that. Parties for celebs in buildings we use for classes during the school week which we are told to use the side or back doors to get to classes WE pay for is one of those big pet peeves I have. If it was once or twice in the year I wouldn’t mind but it happened several times so…. yeah. 

Also yes sometimes these things are held for contributors to the school and I understand that but hey. As students we also pay an arm and a leg just to be there so it should be addressed. 

If you have the money or would not have a hard time getting a loan for any extra money you may need I would say yes go for it. 

You learn a lot at this college, you are immersed in art and surrounded by many talented peers, a degree from Ringling is like an open door to jobs in the art community, and I think (don’t quote me on this) the employment rate after graduating is really good too. Look into it because I just remember seeing it in passing and thinking it was pretty sweet. 

So here is the school website: http://www.ringling.edu/

And if you make it to Ringling please let me know! I’m going in as a Junior this year and then next year will be my final year as a Senior. If I am still around when you get in I’d be happy to show you around and help you out. 

The coolest thing is.. almost everyone there would be just as happy to show you around too. Your peers are a great asset at this school and lots of fun to be around. (Like Shelby!) :D

andouilles asks: Hi. UH, I’M GOING TO BE ANOTHER PERSON ASKING YOU ABOUT RINGLING LOL. I actually live on the other coast of Florida right now (SPACE COAST REPRESENT) so uhm, visiting the school wouldn’t be that bad for me. I’m not too worried about my portfolio either (well, I’m worried - but not catastrophically stressed) I’m coming up with some really great gesture drawings/overall artwork for that. I’m a going to be a highschool senior this year so this is kind of the last stretch!

But HOLY. FUCKING. SHIT. The tuition. I come from a lower-middle class family and I don’t think I’d ever be able to pay that! So, I was wondering, are they good about helping financially? I know they offer scholarships - but I mean - do they really HELP or do they provide very minimal to no help? I thought it would be cool to ask a current student this stuff (I’m guessing this is also the best way to get a BLATANTLY HONEST opinion)! I’d love to go to Ringling (dream school, SERIOUSLY) but like wow THAT MONEY. I mean, will I even MAKE that much money when I get out of school? Seriously! 

So yeah, I feel really awkward asking for advice but I’d totally appreciate it if you had any input!

Oh don’t feel bad! It’s totally fine and I am very happy to help as much as I can. 

Hmm well financial aid will do it’s best when it comes to helping you get whatever grants and government loans you are eligible for and they do have a webpage set up on Ringling’s website for some scholarships but ultimately they won’t help you beyond that.

I know, because I have been going through this exact process and I am also lower middle class so I feel you. ):

Best BEST thing to do, as I told the person before you as well, is to jump on as many scholarships as you possibly can. The great thing is that there are A LOT of scholarships out there for people just coming out of highschool! (Stuff I wish I could qualify for! Alas, I am an old lady pfft)

Also remember to look into any ethnic or special scholarships. For instance I have Crohn’s Disease and they offer a one time scholarship of 10,000 dollars which I am going to be trying for next year. They even have really ridiculous ones like for left handed people who are twins or whatever. CRAZY SCHOLARSHIPS.

So I suggest that you start looking right now! Big companies almost always offer them too, people like Coca Cola and Bill Gates offers several different ones too.

The very last resort are private loans. If you do go after private loans hopefully it will be a very small amount you are asking for and I highly recommend you look into your loan company and their reputation with a fine tooth comb.

Unfortunately for me the only loan company that would even consider me at our credit rate (thanks to all my hospital bills/previous Ringling semester I never finished) is Sallie Mae. Avoid them if you can. 

Mmm.. not much else I can say? If you have any friends or family involved in a job dealing with financial aid you should talk with them. They will have a lot of ideas and advice!

I wish you the best of luck and I hope to see you on campus while I still attend! :D  

oh~so~very~adorkable asks: What’s it like being an…. ~Illustration Major~? :o RCAD is my dream college, and I want to be an Illustration major too!