Ok this is probably one of the most honest crits of this school you are going to find out there.
AHEM... this school is ridiculously easy to get into. I got many scholarships and financial aid (This happens if they like your portfolio and value you as a prospective student) Since this school is easy to get into a LOT of people that are not serious about this school come here. This is my first year I have been here a very short time and many people have been kicked out or have dropped out already. You completely plan out your education. It is really up to you which is amazing and terrible. For example I am going to be a painting major but through the foundation courses I have realized that Illustration is of interest to me. When I decided this my professor told me that Illustration is bullshit. Also the school does not offer a major in that. At times I feel that the school is designed to make you a starving artist not really to put you in a job. But Im biased on that one I mean look at the graduates (georgia okeefe) Anyways this school is great if youre self motivated and you have to be if your going to succeed here.
Flaws on flaws... Ok so you cant graduate from saic if you take all the credits you can in four years. YOu must take summer courses or winter courses and you must go abroad. Which is awesome but you gotta kno that. Another thing. THERE IS NO NIGHT LIFE
Chicago is awesome ok bbbuuuut everything in downtown chicago CLOSES AT 9 wtf!
So be ready for lots of hipster house hopping on the weekends.
Another thing I come from a big city but seriously people seem to get mugged/ stabbed/shot and hit by cars all the time. crazy fucking shit.
If you are a girl---- there are no straight boys and dont bother looking at other schools (university of illinois boys are boring as fuck, Columbia boys hate you because they are jealous that they dont go to a real art school, and northwestern boys are hot but they are an hour commute and its a sketchy sketchy commute) so my darlings become lesbians jk but seriously keep this in mind if one more girl here complains about the lack of boys im going to jump off the sears tower.
And boys----- The girls here are desperate so new girl every night for you. but dont expect many close guy friends it just doesnt seem to happen here im sorry.
Also if you shop at urban outfitters like every other person in the world (i still love it) EVERYONE WILL HATE YOU
people can be real assholes so prepare yourselves. and there are a ton of arrogant people.. AND COME ON SO MUCH BULLSHIT ART LIKE MASTURBATION AND SHIT
WE GET IT YOUR EDGY CUS YOU LIKE TO HAVE SEX AND TELL PEOPLE
boo hoo
Well here are the pros I kno this sounds negative but if you want the honest truth here it is and i was pretty generous with some of the ratings because lets face it the school is pretty sweet its just not the typical experience that most of you want im sure...
The joan flash artist book collection is brilliant!! you can go into it with washed hands of course and touch artwork actually pick up and hold handmade pieces by your favorite artists and read them. so incredible. The resources here are the shit. THE MUSEUM if you are an art geek this is the place for you. When your professors want to teach you a lil something about art history they bring you to the museum (you get in for free of course all the time) unlike other schools where they make you sit and look a boring slides you get to walk up to a de kooning piece and discuss every lil brush stroke. It cant get beettter than that.
the dorms are sweet and big and having your own kitchen is really nice.
I mean I was scared of not having a meal plan but its so worth it because you dont have to pay for bad cafeteria food instead you can spend the extra money on what you want to eat and sticky buns are awesome.
Ok i have one more piece of advice for all of you... you cant transfer out of here its almost impossible your "pass" will pass over to other schools as a C no matter what your work is like. Thats the worst part of the pass/fail system so be sure you wanna come here when you come here. Well I hope this is helpful to some of you
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