Future So Bright: Insider Tips for Art College Scholarship Negotiation

Discover the keys 🔑 to navigating the complexities of maximizing your art college scholarship with this guide, "Future So Bright." 🎓 Packed with insider tips, strategies, and practical insights for aspiring art college students, their parents, and art teachers, this guide helps you negotiate scholarships 💰, master effective negotiation communications 🗣️, and maximize your scholarship package. The dream of attending a top art college is within reach 🌟. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools from "Future So Bright" to make the art education journey more accessible and financially sustainable 🎨. The bright future you deserve awaits! 🚀

Who IS this guide for?

• Thoughtful parents/guardians who want to provide their students with every opportunity to achieve their greatest potential without burdening the student or the household financially.
• Savvy students who refuse to let the cost of admission stand in the way of realizing their highest aspirations.
• Resolute visual arts teachers who aim to improve their ability to support students and families during the most challenging phase of the art college admission process.

This guide is NOT for...

• Adult students seeking a graduate degree or students planning to transfer from one college to another. These processes differ significantly from first-time college admissions, which is my area of expertise. (For aspiring grad students.)
• Students planning to attend 2-year associate degree programs. While these programs may offer scholarships, their approach is often more formulaic and offers fewer opportunities for negotiation.
• Students who have only received acceptances to traditional liberal arts colleges and universities, even if planning to study art. My experience is primarily with VISUAL ARTS COLLEGES, so this guide may not be the best resource for those attending other types of institutions.
• Families with household incomes exceeding $200,000 annually. Colleges may offer some scholarship to recognize students' achievements, but they often expect families in this income bracket to cover the remaining costs and are less likely to negotiate funds.
• Students planning to attend for-profit arts colleges (e.g., Art Institutes or Full Sail). I have limited knowledge of their scholarship funding models and strongly recommend researching for-profit art college outcomes before enrolling.
• Anyone who requires a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The outcome of your scholarship negotiation depends on numerous external factors beyond my control, such as the quality of the student's artwork, academic performance, the overall applicant pool, the college's budget, and enrollment goals.
• Students and families who need more than $20,000 in additional awards to attend their top school. This amount tends to be the ceiling for most additional awarding, and although it's not impossible to receive more, it is very rare.
• Families who are unwilling or unable to accept financial aid in the form of Federal student loans if they qualify. While this guide aims to give you strategies to reduce the total loan amount necessary, some student loan debt is often required to attend most colleges.
• Applicants to schools that explicitly state "NO NEGOTIATIONS" regarding scholarships. If they say it, they mean it. However, if this hasn't been communicated, your chances of negotiation are higher.

About the Author

Jordan Sanford, a seasoned art education and college admission professional, has a wealth of experience guiding students and families through the complexities of the application process. From 2011 to 2019, Jordan served as an admission counselor and later as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission & Coordinator of Baltimore City Diversity Initiatives at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). During his tenure, Jordan conducted between 8,000 to 10,000 portfolio reviews and supported around 400 students and their families through the admission process annually.

Following MICA, Jordan became the Director of Artistic Advancement at The Art Effect in Poughkeepsie, New York, a nonprofit focused on youth arts and media education. Currently, Jordan is the Director of Search Operations & Community at Tom O'Connor Consulting Group, assisting arts administrators in advancing their careers.

As a MICA alum from a blue-collar, working-class background, Jordan understands the challenges students and families face when deciding on the next step in their education. With a passion for helping aspiring artists succeed, Jordan's expertise is invaluable for those navigating the art college journey.

Need a Discount?

I am committed to ensuring that this information is accessible to those who need it most. At the beginning of each quarter I will offer this guide to 50 visual arts teachers and 50 families on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale. For consideration, please complete this form.