Pratt Institute is just outside New York City in Brooklyn. From lower Manhattan, it took us about ten minutes to get their by cab. What’s nice about Pratt is that it’s a campus with a defined boundary, and plenty of public spaces both inside and out for community building. In fact, the spaces for learning are enticing, full of natural light with high ceilings and an easy going creative energy.
The Pratt Institute Tour was run by students and they were impressive in their knowledge of Pratt as well as for their enthusiasm for their school. Not everyone lived on campus as off campus housing is nearby and much less expensive.
The overall vibe that we got from the campus is that it is brimming with creative talent and nice, happy people. (One negative we’ve heard about RISD from my daughter’s friends who visited there is that the people can be off putting). It’s a beautiful campus with buildings specific to majors. The student work that we saw on exhibit was impressive.
Overall, we all liked Pratt and it’s on my daughter’s college list to apply to. I think she would be very happy here!
Pratt Institute Tour
Pratt Foundation Year: Freshman Year
What Foundation Year is like at Pratt.
Pratt Library
Really cool things about Pratt Library.
p.s. More about Art Colleges from our college tours:
Visiting School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
Visiting California College of the Arts
Visiting Emily Carr Art + Design University in Canada
Visiting California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
Applying to Art School: School of Visual Arts
Visiting West Coast Art Schools & Foodie Stops Nearby
Applying to RISD: Advice from Antonio Peters in Admissions
Tips for National Portfolio Day
Xtreme Week at Mass College of Art
and some fun stuff …
If you are visiting New York City, here are our cheap foodie finds.
45 Art Gifts for Seriously Arty Kids (by my arty daughter)
Art Competitions for Kids and Teens
Our Art Gift Kits for Arty Kids
10 Inspirational Art Books for Arty Kids
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I’m always partial to Pratt – it’s a school family and friends have gone to and loved. Also Brooklyn is a happening art place right now.
Hi Alex,
We really loved Pratt. I can see my daughter there having a wonderful experience. She is definitely applying there.
Spent many a day at Pratt for my daughter’s indoor track competitions. Unfortunately, never got a complete tour of the campus, though I know of many art students who have prospered there. The neighborhood has really turned around; it is a vibrant place with easy access to Manhattan.
Hi Barbara,
I love visiting colleges through athletic events. It gives a nice flavor of the school and you get to see the facilities and the area. I was surprised by how close it was to lower Manhattan!
I love that park bench! It sounds like a neat place.
Hi MaryAnne,
I loved their sculpture garden. They move the sculptures around at random times in the middle of the night so it’s always fresh to the viewer.
So happy that your daughter had such a positive experience. NYC would be a creative place to live. Enjoying your journey!
Thanks so much Pat! She likes NYC a lot!