StudentsReview :: The Ringling School of Art and Design
[Home][Faq][Members]
> Search for University
 
-or-
Look for Schools
 

or within distance of city

Similar Schools
School of the Art Institute of Chicago -- Chicago, IL
Savannah College of Art and Design -- Savannah, GA
Art Center College of Design -- Pasadena, CA
 Summary 
 Information 
 Sports 
 Undergrad (20) 
 Grad (1) 
 Life at RSAD (Comments) 
 Life after RSAD (13) 
 Getting Into RSAD (15) 
 Student Groups 
The Ringling School of Art and Design
Request Brochures
 
Compare RSAD
 
Save School
 
RSAD Minibook
 
- Survey RSAD -
Critique RSAD
    Undergraduate
    Graduate
    Alumni
    Professors
Casual Comment
   
Featured
Admissions Essay Help
My Chances?
$5000 for School
Loan Consolidation
 
Summer
HS Summer Programs
Internship Post
 

Advertisement
Link me!
Forward me!

There are 19 Comments
 

View
Snapshot - Student Ratings
Education Quality   B+
Collaboration/Competitive   B+

color key: 

Sort By: [Date] [Major] [Rating]
Bright
While Ringling boasts the best Computer Animation program in the country, that doesn't mean all of the other majors are useless. There are plenty of successful grads from all of the majors.

That said, I'm highly enjoying my time at Ringling. I think the best part about the school is the large amount of recruiters that come to the campus to look at portfolios for jobs (especially for Computer Animators, Illustrators and Graphic Designers). I'm talking about high-end, well-known companies: Hallmark, Disney, Dreamworks, EA Games, ILM... the list goes on.

Many people tend to complain that the campus is centered in an unsafe part of town. You'll see some shady people once in a while, but it is by no means in a dilapidated ghetto. The condition of the area has vastly improved ever since the school bought out and tore down the dilapidated, crime-riddled Shell station near the school. I've walked around campus at night plenty of times and never felt like I was in danger. There have been some bicycle thefts, however. I recommend you keep your bike in your room if you live on-campus. Just use common sense and don't wander off-campus at night.

The student body is very friendly, but a little off-beat and quirky. I've only met one or two snobby idiots so far, and one of them transferred elsewhere. However, I think you need to possess a bit of a "nerdy" love for movies and video games to really get into the social life here. The gaming club is very active here and kids here would rather eat pizza and watch a movie than get drunk off of their behinds. This is ABSOLUTELY NOT a party school. Parties--especially of the frat, beer-chugging sort--are extremely rare. Most students are too busy to party hard. If that is the sort of atmosphere you are looking for... go elsewhere.

The faculty are also very helpful and nice. There has only been one professor that I felt was very elitist and rude since I came here. Some push you more than others. You just need to ask around to find out who is the best.

My main gripe about Ringling is the fact that they are looking forward to this vast expansion conquest. They're building two new buildings and accepting more students, yet they aren't going to build additional parking (although I believe they were planning on building a parking garage). Parking here is hellish. If you don't need a car, don't bring it. Also, on-campus housing is VERY competitive after the first year. If you want to stay in the nicest apartments on-campus, you have to be lucky and get picked in the lottery. A lot of students are left in the dust without any means of housing and have to find somewhere to live off-campus. Sarasota isn't the cheapest place to live, so most people have to find an apartment 5-15 minutes from campus.

To add insult to injury, they over-accept Computer Animation majors, so they can grab money from those who are going to flunk out their first year. My first year, they told us that if not enough drop out, they would have to evaluate our animations and kick out the worst ones. That, my friends, is incredibly greedy and messed-up.

Besides these gripes, however, I really am loving Ringling. I dunno how the school is going to turn out in a few years, because I think the administration is getting a little greedy and power-hungry. If you want to be a Computer Animation major, this is THE place to be... but the other programs are great, too!
Collaboration/Competitive: A+, Extracurricular Activities: D+
Have a Question?
 More → 
Aug 16 2008 2nd Year Female -- Class 2011  
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
 
Super Brilliant
Ringling is undergoing an expansion in many aspects. Student body, brand recognition, campus size, majors, etc. This is bringing the college some negative reaction. After talking to many individuals in the art and design community and considering their opinions on the matter, I chose to enroll and see it from my own perspective. This is what I recommend to anyone considering this school but taken back by the backlash against it's current changes. See things for yourself and realize if it's for you. There's no denying that this school offers much to the developing professional artist, and that's what matters.
Individual Value: A, Social Life: C
Have a Question?
 More → 
Aug 06 2008 1st Year Male -- Class 2011  
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
 
Bright
I transfered to this school from a community college and I have to say it was an excellent choice. A lot of students here are from other states besides FL so its easy to relate being far away from home. Ringling is now officially Ringling College of Art and Design and they have a whole new brand identity/logo and some are less pleased about it than others. You have to see for it yourself and make your own opinion. Campus aesthetics are getting better, I think, the campus is bigger now with a huge student center that is impossible to miss and there is a "deck" where students hang out and the new Outtakes coffee shop...a bit of a ripoff but convenient when you don't want to risk your life crossing the street to get to Big E's. I think some people should give more credit to Career Serives though, yes they are small and it is mainly 2 people running it but they are in a new building now (a lot of the campus has changed now from 3 or 4 years ago). And they do TRY. Mainly I think it's that students don't bother to go over there and check them out. You can't miss the job postings all over the place on campus bulliten boards and they also put them online for you to read so they make it really easy on you. Also recruiters come here every year some of them from really huge companies and while you are not guaranteed a job (no one is) it is still cool to come check them out and maybe you will get an interview. Career Services helps you somewhat but they also expect you to help yourself at the same time, they are not going to bottle feed you. And after you graduate you can still use them.
As far as safety, I have heard stories but as long as you have common sense you will be okay. I have seen campus security give people rides back to their apartments after dark, but I have walked from the labs at 2 in the morning without a problem. Last year there were campus robberies in the Bayou but people need to lock their doors. A lot art schools and other colleges are in "urban areas." Sarasota can't be as bad as some other cities it's a lot of retired people here mostly (its FL!) A lot of people will agree that the social scene is lax. Sarasota is a small city and yes a lot of retired folks. Only one good nightclub (that I know of) here. Downtown is okay, mostly resaurants, galleries (most know that Sarasota is a big art community) and expensive shops for the wealthier crowd. If you ever get the chance, the beaches here are nice. Many of the students here are cool, a few of them seem to be quiet but it is not hard to make friends if you just get to know people. I am majoring in Illustration here and I don't think Ringling ignores other majors, some are just bigger than others, one of the factors being student interest. CA has been the most profitable major to Ringling and it is their "known" major but every school has one. I saw a presentation from Dreamworks a while back and I thought that was cool, "wow Dreamworks coming to Ringling?" Illustration is still the largest major here though and it is far from ignored I think. Ringling is adding new majors too, one of the new ones being Digital Film. All in all the college is worth checking out.
Individual Value: A+, Social Life: C
Have a Question?
 More → 
Mar 06 2008 3rd Year Female -- Class 2009  
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
 
Bright
no job placement at all.
Social Life: A+, Education Quality: F
Have a Question?
 More → 
Nov 28 2007 1st Year Female -- Class 2007  
 Forward 
Blog it!
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
  Mark Invalid   Discuss Comment  
   
 Prev   Select Page:
 1  2  3  4
  Next 

Write your own Review of RSAD
 

If you wish to further your education, consider one of the many options available through online degrees. Browse a wide range of online college and university programs and find the perfect degree for you.
Want to Learn More?
Powered by CampusExplorer.com
 

  Additional Resources
CampusExplorer.com: The Ringling School of Art and Design

 

 

 
 
 
About Us | Advertise! | Press
Send Comments/Suggestions to: sradmin@studentsreview.com.

Copyright © 2000-2008. Students Review, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 
   

All Universities in FL

College Search

College Rankings