Artistic applications

Art students work to apply to the right college

by robyn busch <reporter>

Senior Carley Mostar knows the debate all too well.

Art schools versus liberal arts colleges.

After spending part of this summer at the Chicago Art Institute studying drawing, Mostar said she was sold on pursuing a degree at an arts-centered college.

“I didn’t get burnt out (while I was there,)” Mostar said. “I saw a lot of people around me getting sick of drawing naked people nine hours a day, but I still looked forward to every class.”

Months later, Mostar has stopped concentrating on applications for Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and Maryland Institute College of Art and begun visiting schools like Washington University in St. Louis.

“Although I had the time of my life (in Chicago,) and I couldn’t see myself being as excited about anything but art, I don’t really feel like I’ve built the right foundation yet,” Mostar said.

Advanced Placement art teacher Sally Jones says she often sees students in Mostar’s position.

“For the student with strong academics who loves art but doesn’t want to be committed to such a narrow field, it can be a tough decision,” Jones said.

Local artist and 1997 Kansas City Art Institute alum Hector Casanova said he knew he wanted to study art but wasn’t sold on an arts college when he graduated high school. Casanova, a graphic artist and cartoonist for The Kansas City Star, attended Vermont’s Bennington College for two years and then transferred to KCAI  when he says he felt he had exhausted the arts program available at the liberal arts school.

“I’m really glad that I did both,” Casanova said. “I think I had a much more well rounded education because of it.”

Some students with transcripts that aren’t up to par with their artistic talents sometimes opt for the art school route under the misconception their chances of admission will be better than at a liberal arts school. Jones explained that that might not be completely true.

“With art they want your life 24 hours a day, if you haven’t shown that everyday discipline, you’re shot,” Jones said.

Similar to what most college representatives will tell you, Jones suggests visiting schools rather than just focusing on printed publicity materials.

“It’s important to talk to students, talk to teachers,” Casanova said. “Don’t just talk to the ‘cheerleader’ for the school.”

Mostar, currently in the application process, insists nothing is as imperative to the art or liberal arts college search as your own personal investigating.

“Art schools are just like any other type of schools, they have good departments and bad departments, strengths and weaknesses” Mostar said.“You really have to do your research and figure out what you want.”