Pratt Institute, known mostly for its art and design students, is actually more than just oil paints and canvas. There are also majors in architecture, fashion and writing; a new cultural studies major is in the works. And students can take anything from book-making to yoga. The Institute has two campuses in the New York City area and satellite affiliations with Munson Williams Institute in upstate New York.
The beauty of Pratt is its size, with all classes capping off at around 20-25 students. Everyone's guaranteed individual attention--and serious training (don't expect to splash some paint on a wall and call it a day). Pratt's foundation art and architectural programs are among the most rigorous available.
Extracurricular activities and parties are plentiful too. Pratt's student council coordinates with fraternities and sororities to host everything from poetry slams to "80s nights." Students are also fairly active in community service, coordinating blood drives and food and clothing drops.
Pratt's close proximity to Manhattan and the general open-mindedness of students and faculty are genuine benefits. And with a high ratio of international and transfer students, it's never too late to join in.
author: Karell Roxas graduated: 2003 major: Writing for performance, publication and media fields of interest: writing, reading from: Ontario, CA, USA native language: English, Tagalog
