Cooper Union Applicants

[inmygucci]

I realized that Cooper Union isn't really mentioned in any of the threads. So I decided to start one to find out how many of you are actually applying/applied/go there and share some thoughts and possibly post your home test & portfolio that you've submitted. I am applying early decision for next fall and will use this forum to update my process. I hope you all find this helpful

[Chief]

Interesting! True, Cooper isn't mentioned a lot. I was going to apply, especially considering the phenomenal scholarships offered, but I began to get a feeling it was too fine art/abstract oriented. How do you feel about this? I'd be really interested to hear about the home test and see what you did with it though. Good luck on getting in!!

[inmygucci]

Interesting! True, Cooper isn't mentioned a lot. I was going to apply, especially considering the phenomenal scholarships offered, but I began to get a feeling it was too fine art/abstract oriented. How do you feel about this? I'd be really interested to hear about the home test and see what you did with it though. Good luck on getting in!!

Thanks! I completely agree with you about it being too fine arts. I have thought about that but you know what? I think it's also more about the whole thrill of applying there and see if you fit their standards. I will definitely keep updating and post my home test solutions h

[Maxine Schacker]

"Fine art" is too vague. Does Cooper Union stress traditional representational fine art skills? If so, it will be a valuable education and will help you to become a concept artist. You'll need more, but without these skills you are nowhere.

[Chief]

Well, I heard that one of their instructor's claim to fame was coating a rubber duck in molten lead. Not to say that this isn't an admirable feat... but it's definitely not very traditional.

[kitehiGh]

I filled out the application and mailed in my transcripts. oooo rah. mmm. It's a lottery ticket sort of deal. ahaha.

[Graydon]

As a veteran, I studied at the New York Academy that was around the corner from Cooper Union. We shared models between the two schools. Often, the models would arrive at our school with a smirk on their faces, or completely laughing at the assignments given by Cooper Union teachers. One, I remember well. The students were instructed to draw the feeling of the model, emanating from her negative space, with popsicle sticks dipped in paint. It seems to me that they couldn't use their hands, but had to draw with elbows, knees or their mouth. Anyway, it was odd, much in line with the lead-coated rooster.

I am glad things are changing, albeit slowly. In the early 90's there weren't great sites like Concept Art or schools like the various ateliers. Many had to suffer Cooper Union.

[Maxine Schacker]

Graydon, your post makes me very sad.

[wclayto]

whattever. most people know Cooper Union is incredibly conceptual and contemporary and therefor shouldn't pass harsh judgments on it because it's not what you're into. it probably prides itself on breaking the conceptual borders of what it means to make art. students and teachers who are not concerned about making money and doing representation, traditional art might thrive in their practice which might not be as full of shit as people like it think. trust me, i have the exact same problems with my school (Concordia University in Montreal), but I recognize that it's the schools intentions and I'm the one who made the mistake of not totally doing my research first (and not knowing exactly what I wanted). my point is just because these schools are not for you doesn't mean that their philosophy is completely a load of BS..some might benefit from learning a little about contemporary art and it might make their illustrations richer than just drawing pretty fairies and dragons and monsters...just don't waist 4 years in a contemporary school if that's not what you want..duh..

[cheerleader]

i attended an open house for cooper the other day, i recommend it for anyone who wants to apply. if anyone has any questions just shoot.

[Psypomp]

I am applying.. I was actually about to start a thread on it when I decided to use the search.. glad I did.
So basically, did I just waste $50+ on that application fee? Graydon, your post indeed makes me very sad. I was all excited about applying and sent my stuff in, but are you sure they're that dead-set on conceptual art?
I'm attending the Portfolio Day on Dec. 7 (at MICA), they'll be there.

[Psypomp]

.. Also, I would like to know how much they weigh grades.. GPA, class rank, etc.
And what exactly does the hometest entail?

[Blacksunne]

FIT is very affordable. Professors like William Low, Peter Emmerich, Vincent Di Fate, Kam Mak, Karen Santry,
Eric Velasquez, Sal Catalano, etc., teach at FIT. One of the best illustration departments around. Just another option if you plan on attending college in NYC.

[cheerleader]

"grades=1/3"

[inmygucci]

the hometest will be coming in the mail soon! i will have my solutions scanned one by one.

[Psypomp]

I went to see Cooper at MICA's portfolio review today.. the woman who saw me was a bit of an ice queen; she didn't give me much advice & I was really disappointed that I got her. The other reviewers looked nice. She liked my stuff but gave no feedback, basically, which is pretty useless.
inmygucci, I thought the hometest came in late January.. hardly soon enough! Or I could be wrong...

[alicedanding]

every reviewer other seems nicer after you get a bad review

for example i had a reviewer once for a program and he looked like the meanest reviewer there was and yeah i ended up getting him and i got rejected from the program and the next year i got in and he was my teacher and it turned out he was pretty nice idk

oh and the early decision hometest comes in dec and the regular comes in jan, they have slightly different prompts

[Catula!!!]

I went to see Cooper at MICA's portfolio review today.. the woman who saw me was a bit of an ice queen; she didn't give me much advice & I was really disappointed that I got her. The other reviewers looked nice. She liked my stuff but gave no feedback, basically, which is pretty useless.
inmygucci, I thought the hometest came in late January.. hardly soon enough! Or I could be wrong...

which one did you get? the woman in the far corner from the entrance of the room? sorta near the two guys with glasses near the windows? cos i had her. i do photo and she seemed sorta dismissive of the fact that photo is an art too. like, she looked through them, said i was obviously talented at photo and then wanted to see my drawings, which i know are quite bad and not cooper standards. I was kinda hoping to get a super harsh review of my photos so that i could grow from that, rather than get told things i already knew about my drawings

[cheerleader]

From what I saw of the evaluations I get the impression that 80% of the people coming to have their work reviewed bring about the same thing. That artsy self portrait, the "abstract" painting/sculpture thing, the book full of "artistic" sketches, maybe some funky photos, etc... I bet the teachers get pretty tired of it.
I don't think Cooper is the best school out there, in fact i'm not convinced that school is the place to go to get a good art education, but Cooper does set a high standard for it's students. In fact Cooper might not be what a lot of students are looking for in the first place.
I had a really nice guy review me, Doug Ashford(?), he gave me a staff recommended application for early admission ad he was just down to earth. I'd be happy to get in but i'm not sure i'd end up going if I did.

[alicedanding]

i agree with cheerleader that cooper isn't for everyone (just because its free)
if you're interested in animation or illustration or something like that you would be better off at a different school

the lady at an open house came into the hall where everyone was waiting for a review and basically was like yeah i did say that people at cooper do everything but if you want to do animation or illustration.... we don't really do that here not to say that people who graduate from here can't do that (not exact words but yeah)

[inmygucci]

okay so the hometest should be delivered to me soon. Is there anyone out there who already received it would like to share the assignments?

[kedrew]

Hello does anybody have an idea of what cooper union wants to see in portfolios? Would they prefer more artsy mixed media stuff or representational? Thanks.

[inmygucci]

well they only want to see five pieces out of your portfolio. I am planning on including a couple of life drawings and then some solid work that really shows what I'm about. they do want you to have skill and the creative outlook

are you applying early decision?

[kedrew]

hehheh...um actually I dont know when early decision deadline is. I've mostly been hanging around the Ringling thread. So I'm going to check out the website in a bit. So from what I've seen posted Cooper Union is focuses more on abstract art (mixed media,collages,sculpture?) I mostly have observational work and a few digital.

[inmygucci]

Yeah so do I. I am not really into all that artsy abstract stuff.
I am giving it a shot anyway. The schools is absolutely free and I live in the area..

[kedrew]

you've got a good point there lol. Its 50$ for the application right?

[inmygucci]

I remember paying $65. But I'm not sure it should be on the web site.
I think you are still eligible to apply for regular decision.

I just received my early decision home test and the topics are as follows:

1. Compose a drawing from dissections of two distinct household objects drawn from observation.
2. Full-length self portrait
3. A view of an exterior space with an altered peripheral vision
4. A sequence of images in search of a beginning and an end.
5. Activate
6. Design a platform, stage or site for the redress of misdemeanors of public accountability (be specific- individual, corporate, state, media...)


This is what I am going to have to do in the next couple of weeks straight. Wish me luck everyone

[Psypomp]

inmygucci, that's a pretty hardcore list. They have a size limit, too, right?
A girl who graduated last year had to miss school twice just to work on the home test assignments! Now I know why.. they're not difficult, but it takes a good deal of planning out..

[Psypomp]

inmygucci, that's a pretty hardcore list. They have a size limit, too, right?
A girl who graduated last year had to miss school twice just to work on the home test assignments! Now I know why.. they're not difficult, but it takes a good deal of planning out..

[inmygucci]

yeah, the size limit is 12 by 16. but you can also fold your work or include it on a separate disk.