The Museum has 84,000 objects in the collections and is used by students, faculty and classes daily.  Right now, there are several great exhibitions, offering insights for all but especially for students in several disciplines.  Printmaking students are learning more about engraving from The Brilliant Line, co-curated by faculty member Andrew Raftery; you should check out the interactive feature for this show.  Photography lovers are enjoying the recent work of Joe Deal and students from Ceramics and other 3-D disciplines have Inner City, an installation by Arne Zimmerman to inspire their efforts.

All RISD students are full members of the Museum and have their chance to absorb, absorb, absorb as they build and develop their own work.

Ed Newhall, Director of Admissions, contact me at enewhall@risd.edu

The admissions committee made a few changes to the application requirements for freshman and transfer students.  The changes are as follows:

The three required drawings

For the third drawing, we ask applicants to consider something (anything you wish) from three different perspectives.  The three different perspectives should relate to each other on the page.

The other two drawings are the same as last year - a bicycle, and a drawing of any subject matter that uses both the front and back of the page.

Each drawing should be done on 16″ x 20″ paper, in graphite.

The two writing samples

For the first, discuss your interest in/preparation for an education at RISD.

For the second, write about one of the following:

-What do you find most compelling in the world right now?
-What is the greatest risk you’ve taken, and what was the outcome?
-You can eliminate one thing from the world.  What is it/what effect would its absence have?

Each writing sample should be 200 - 400 words.

Sketchbook submission

You may submit reproductions of two or three pages from a sketchbook/journal as part of your portfolio.

You can find a full list of the application requirements for freshman students here and transfer students here

If you got started early and have already completed the three drawings based on last year’s assignments, fear not.  In a year where we change over, we still accept drawings based on the requirements from the previous year.

Good luck and happy drawing, designing and constructing to anyone working on their application!

Meryn Hall
RISD Admissions officer
Questions or Comments?  Email me at mhall@risd.edu

The A Better World by Design conference is almost here!  This annual event was founded by an interdisciplinary group of RISD and Brown students to enhance our understanding of design, technology, and sustainability on a local and global scale.  This year’s itinerary features eighteen notable speakers including RISD’s president, John Maeda.  Also, there are several thought provoking panels planned, which will be discussing topics such as architecture in developing worlds and clean energy, as well as a whole slew of workshops and events!
The conference is being held at several locations throughout downtown Providence and the Brown and RISD campuses. It begins on October 2nd and goes through October 4th.  For more information and to register for the event, click here.

Convocation: (Latin ’calling together’) is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.

Every year RISD starts anew with Convocation where sights are set on the coming year and there is a reaffirmation of our collective goals. Many of the new freshmen were in attendance along with the rest of the returning community of undergrads, grads, faculty, and staff.  

There is energy in the air (along with a hint of Fall) as the many members of the RISD family return on Providence to pick up their brushes, charcoal, wood planers, light pens, and mice. This energy was carried into the doors of the packed RISD auditorium. The day’s events had many highlights including a poetry reading that was written by our Liberal Arts faculty as well as inspirational narratives spoken by members of the RISD community.

The Convocation also included an honored tradition: an awards ceremony for our Freshman Foundation students who excelled in their first years. They were highlighted not just for their technical and conceptual abilities; but their dedication, perseverance, and leadership. They are great examples of students who had the drive and ambition to apply to RISD and carry that drive throughout the application process and beyond. They were not so different than you are right now- if you have the drive and set the goal- then maybe you too can join us at next year’s convocation. 

 you can see more images of Convocation here.

want to know more? Ask me!

Leon Paul Hovanesian II

Admissions Officer

lhovanes@risd.edu

Even if your family won’t be able to get to Providence to join the fun, plan to dive in yourself.   One event of special note is the Alumni Cafe taking place on Saturday from 5 to 7 in The Met.  You’ll get a chance to meet some alums, recent and less recent, hear various unusual stories about RISD and Providence and make some connections that may serve you well as you move along the RISD path and beyond.  Some alums will bring examples of their work to share, so you can also.  The RISD “family” has strong bonds, so why not add this event to your list of networking things-to-do.

Ed Newhall, Director of Admissions,  contact me at enewhall@risd.edu

Not long ago he e-mailed me asking me why we didn’t have a RISD fan page on facebook.  I e-mailed our Director of Interactive Media, Eric Meyer, and suggested it to him.  3 days later the page appeared.  It now has over 3,000 members, and is a great source of information about things happening at RISD, and what our alumni and students are up to.

If you happen to be on facebook, check it out.

Contact me:

Lucy King

Assistant Director of Admissions

lking@risd.edu

Summertime on the RISD campus means that the Pre-College Program must be here as well. The RISD Pre-College Program is designed to give high school students an introduction to the college art school experience. For six weeks, you follow a college-like studio curriculum, and live in RISD residence halls. The course of study is focused, serious, challenging, and a lot of fun. Basically it’s a chance to be a RISD student for six weeks, see if you like our campus, and make some great artwork.

This program can provide an excellent way to prepare a strong works of art that can later be used as a competitive portfolio for applications to schools like RISD. You can learn more about out Pre-College program here.

A special opportunity for Pre-College students is a chance for a portfolio review here in the Admissions Office. In general we are not able to provide reviews of portfolios in the Admissions Office due to the our limited staff and travel obligations. This provides an opportunity for feedback that can help Pre-College students look at their artwork from the summer and get the Admissions perspective. This option is available to students who arrange an appointment with us during the weeks they are here in the Pre-College program.

If you are a rising high school sophomore or Junior, keep this mind if you find your way to the Pre-College program next summer. It’s a great way to get a little leap on your RISD application plans.

Want to know? Contact Me!

Leon Paul Hovanesian II
Admissions Officer
lhovanes@risd.edu

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