The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The University of the Arts was created when two amazing schools came together: the Philadelphia College of Art and the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts. It is the nexus of all things art. There you can study it all, dance, music, theater, design, crafts, creative writing, fine arts, or media. Actually, that or should be and, because there is nothing there stopping you from doing it all.
UArts is home to about 1800 students with a student faculty ratio of about 8:1 which is what you want in an art school. An average class is about 15 students, and while women outnumber men here, about 44% of students identify as non-white. For a school this size, it is extremely well resourced. There are 16 different places students can exhibit their work, 11 professional performance venues on campus which includes a nearly 2,000 seat theater. And, for those that thrive in an urban area, UArts is in the heart of downtown Philly.
One of the unique aspects of UArts’ curriculum is that they want you to study your field and work collaboratively with others in different disciplines. You can major in over 20 different areas from 30 fields in everything from wood furniture to jewelry and metals, from ceramics to screenwriting, from musical theater to glass, from film to dance. At the same time, there are 23 minors as well for you to choose from, so those of you who are interested in majoring in animation can also explore game art. Art historians can explore typography. Creative writers can be illustrators as well. And actors can dance, paint, or sing in the same way that a musician can compose, draw, or work in art therapy. And anyone can enjoy the three principles at UArts: community, connection, collaboration
At UArts the motto is “We are more because you are more.” Nowhere is this seen better than in their Critical Studies curriculum. As people, we are never one thing, the belief is that art is not one thing either. Critical Studies asks you to delve deeper into the aspects of our world that surround art and make us human. They include courses like “Envisioning Nature,” “Personality and Creativity,” “Death and Ritual,” “Love, Power, and Justice,” “Theories of Gender and Sexuality,” and “Observing Humans.” Critical Studies ask you to learn about the history of your discipline, engage in dialogue, write effectively, and explore science as well. Art is best made by people who are engaged in their world and in their lives. Critical Studies ensures you are.
There are four residence halls for students to live in on campus. The rooms all have private baths so there is no sharing except with roommates (which is awfully sweet!). Rooms either have kitchenettes (no stove) or kitchens, and all residences have access to a kitchen should you need one. The rooms are spacious in comparison to most dorms in most places. The dining hall also has a wide selection of vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and non-dairy options. Have a food request? They will accommodate you.
Because UArts is unbelievably creative and cutting edge, their student activities page is a series of tiles you can choose from that will connect you with what’s happening in and around campus. Oh and there is also an app for that. Because why wouldn’t there be when that’s something you can do there. There is so much to do there beside your art that it is almost overwhelming. You can join clubs that meet almost any need you have, from astrology and baking to NAACP and Salsa dancing. Get involved with virtual reality, become socially conscious with Social Justice Leadership, join Subversive Cinema, engage in Curated Conversations and learn about gallery work, or go to paint night. Or henna night. Or game night. Or open mic night. Or ice skating night. There are channels for everyone from Black students and Latinx students to Neurodiverse students and LGBTQIA+, not to mention the UArtistries which will teach you to do all kinds of things including how to cook and even how to care for your plants.
Admissions is rolling at UArts and only takes a short amount of time to complete. You can apply at any time so you don’t have to wait until the fall to apply. There is an online application form to complete and it takes about 15 minutes to complete it. They require a personal statement which is like a college application essay but is more focused on what you hope to get out of an arts education. In about 250-500 words it should cover these three issues:
UArts is private and the tuition reflects that. However they do provide financial aid and scholarships. All students who apply are automatically considered for merit scholarships and no separate application or materials are needed to be considered. Financial aid is determined by FAFSA but remember to be eligible for merit based scholarships you will also need to fill out FAFSA. Remember that FAFSA will determine what the federal government determines you can afford based on your income, not what you think you can afford sadly.
Is UArts for you? It’s a fantastic place for all things creativity. If you want a more interdisciplinary arts education than what you can do at VCU then you should consider it. It is cheaper than Rhode Island School of Design and it offers a similar program which makes it a good choice for those looking for a smaller art program than VCU. It’s a rigorous program in a great place.
Pros:
Cons:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The University of the Arts was created when two amazing schools came together: the Philadelphia College of Art and the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts. It is the nexus of all things art. There you can study it all, dance, music, theater, design, crafts, creative writing, fine arts, or media. Actually, that or should be and, because there is nothing there stopping you from doing it all.
UArts is home to about 1800 students with a student faculty ratio of about 8:1 which is what you want in an art school. An average class is about 15 students, and while women outnumber men here, about 44% of students identify as non-white. For a school this size, it is extremely well resourced. There are 16 different places students can exhibit their work, 11 professional performance venues on campus which includes a nearly 2,000 seat theater. And, for those that thrive in an urban area, UArts is in the heart of downtown Philly.
One of the unique aspects of UArts’ curriculum is that they want you to study your field and work collaboratively with others in different disciplines. You can major in over 20 different areas from 30 fields in everything from wood furniture to jewelry and metals, from ceramics to screenwriting, from musical theater to glass, from film to dance. At the same time, there are 23 minors as well for you to choose from, so those of you who are interested in majoring in animation can also explore game art. Art historians can explore typography. Creative writers can be illustrators as well. And actors can dance, paint, or sing in the same way that a musician can compose, draw, or work in art therapy. And anyone can enjoy the three principles at UArts: community, connection, collaboration
At UArts the motto is “We are more because you are more.” Nowhere is this seen better than in their Critical Studies curriculum. As people, we are never one thing, the belief is that art is not one thing either. Critical Studies asks you to delve deeper into the aspects of our world that surround art and make us human. They include courses like “Envisioning Nature,” “Personality and Creativity,” “Death and Ritual,” “Love, Power, and Justice,” “Theories of Gender and Sexuality,” and “Observing Humans.” Critical Studies ask you to learn about the history of your discipline, engage in dialogue, write effectively, and explore science as well. Art is best made by people who are engaged in their world and in their lives. Critical Studies ensures you are.
There are four residence halls for students to live in on campus. The rooms all have private baths so there is no sharing except with roommates (which is awfully sweet!). Rooms either have kitchenettes (no stove) or kitchens, and all residences have access to a kitchen should you need one. The rooms are spacious in comparison to most dorms in most places. The dining hall also has a wide selection of vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and non-dairy options. Have a food request? They will accommodate you.
Because UArts is unbelievably creative and cutting edge, their student activities page is a series of tiles you can choose from that will connect you with what’s happening in and around campus. Oh and there is also an app for that. Because why wouldn’t there be when that’s something you can do there. There is so much to do there beside your art that it is almost overwhelming. You can join clubs that meet almost any need you have, from astrology and baking to NAACP and Salsa dancing. Get involved with virtual reality, become socially conscious with Social Justice Leadership, join Subversive Cinema, engage in Curated Conversations and learn about gallery work, or go to paint night. Or henna night. Or game night. Or open mic night. Or ice skating night. There are channels for everyone from Black students and Latinx students to Neurodiverse students and LGBTQIA+, not to mention the UArtistries which will teach you to do all kinds of things including how to cook and even how to care for your plants.
Admissions is rolling at UArts and only takes a short amount of time to complete. You can apply at any time so you don’t have to wait until the fall to apply. There is an online application form to complete and it takes about 15 minutes to complete it. They require a personal statement which is like a college application essay but is more focused on what you hope to get out of an arts education. In about 250-500 words it should cover these three issues:
- When and how did you realize you wanted to be an artist?
- How will the University of the Arts help you achieve your creative and professional goals?
- How do you want your creativity to affect the future?
UArts is private and the tuition reflects that. However they do provide financial aid and scholarships. All students who apply are automatically considered for merit scholarships and no separate application or materials are needed to be considered. Financial aid is determined by FAFSA but remember to be eligible for merit based scholarships you will also need to fill out FAFSA. Remember that FAFSA will determine what the federal government determines you can afford based on your income, not what you think you can afford sadly.
Is UArts for you? It’s a fantastic place for all things creativity. If you want a more interdisciplinary arts education than what you can do at VCU then you should consider it. It is cheaper than Rhode Island School of Design and it offers a similar program which makes it a good choice for those looking for a smaller art program than VCU. It’s a rigorous program in a great place.
Pros:
- Interdisciplinary arts
- Heart of a very creative city
- Lots of options for showing work and performing
Cons:
- Private (cost)
- Housing is first come first served
- Selective