There are 36 Comments   Break down by Major (count)Unknown ( 1 )Art & Design Department ( 17 )Design Arts - Industria ( 2 )Education ( 1 )Fine Arts - Painting/Sc ( 14 )Undecided ( 1 ) View ALL Positive Comments (14)ALL Negative Comments (5)ALL Neutral Comments (15)ALL Advice Comments (2)Contact OKInvalidated Data (0)

Snapshot - Student Ratings Education Quality   C+ Collaboration/Competitive   C+ View Ratings→

color key:   Positive Negative Neutral Advice

Sort By: [Date] [Major] [Rating] Art & Design Department  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Bright I'm in my second year here and I have to say that I am very disappointed in my experience at MICA. In fact, I'm on this site to research a transfer school. I had to take out a lot of financing to go here since there's not a lot of financial aid offered. It's a pricy school, about $37k a year in tuition with all the fees and additional expenses, not including living expenses. My parents contribute $10k per year, and I got some scholarships and aid, but even still I have major loans. I have to work, which immediately makes me an outcast, since most people here seem like "trust funders" who come from wealthy backgrounds. The students here self-segregate into clicks almost immediately. The gossip and the judgement makes it feel a LOT like high school. As a heterosexual female student, it must be noted that the odds of dating here at school are nearly zilch. There aren't many male students, and most are gay. If you're an untatooed non-smoker, expect to be left alone while people go outside to talk about you. I've visited friends at other schools and comparatively, the social scene at MICA is quiet and decidedly non-inclusive. The quality of the education is disappointing given how the school is normally so highly ranked. The art faciilities are very good, but the teachers tend to be self-important people who don't have much interaction with the real world. I know that art is subjective, but I feel that people are often graded on how they're "perceived" rather than on their actual output. It's weirdly competitive, but not to do better work, but to be shocking and "cool" and thus be perceived as great. The faculty have their "darlings" and then there are the rest of us. The school revolves around a handful of gay male and tattoed/pierced angry female "genius" students. It's very hard to get motivated when you feel that you're working really hard and doing great work, but you can't get the recognition. Outside of art, the offerings are surprinsgly limited and sometimes you have to often go off campus, even for what would normally be core humanities classes. It's art school but I hoped for a more well-rounded education. I took a writing class at a community college during the summer back home in Illinois that was WAY better than the ones that I've taken at MICA. I also regret that I did not spend more time in Baltimore or research it before moving here. The area around the school is pretty seedy. My apartment has been broken into twice. Overall, the city doesn't feel very safe for a 19-year-old girl. When I went through admissions, they kept talking about how they could place art students all over the place through their connections. But the reality is that they do get great leads -- and everyone applies for them. So the majority of grads leave here without jobs or just go to graduate school because they don't want to leave the womb of art school. I am now looking into a liberal arts college, a big university with a decent art program. I'm now feeling that I'd like to double major in something other than art, especially given the economy. I'm leaving knowing that I've accrued nearly $22k in debt for two years for what I think was an OK education. Innovation: B, Perceived Campus Safety: F Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Feb 22 2009 2nd Year Female -- Class 2011    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=57952&uid=629'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Art & Design Department  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Bright My main criticism about MICA is the student body. You'll find yourself surrounded by people who are very close-minded. By that I mean if you are not a hipster, gay or talkative you will not have many friends within the school. The student body estimation consists of 70% female, 30% male and out of that 30% male 50% are gay. Not that I have any problems with gay people, but if you are the kind of guy who is open minded and engaging you will find it difficult to keep your spirits up, especially if you are older and serious about your career as an artist. There are always parties and places to get crazy and it's easy to get sucked into that decadent life style and not get any work done. There are very few professors here in the painting department, who really have something to offer and not just empty words. The reputation is built mainly on the history of the school and not in its actual programs. One of the worst part is the city and you really have to keep your wits about you, and there isn't much to do aside from house parties, and a few bars. The local Museum is quite small and you will grow tire of it eventually. I personally would choose Chicago, RISD and Calarts over this place any day. Don't expect to make friends UNLESS you are willing to 'fit in'. Social Life: A+, Campus Aesthetics: F Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Dec 09 2008 2nd Year Male -- Class 2010    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=56178&uid=629'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment If you are a transfer student I would seriously consider not going to MICA (that is, unless you like being completely isolated) The school takes more freshmen each year and there is little dorm space for anyone else. I was told a month before school that I would have to find my own apartment in the surrounding area, and Baltimore is sketchy to say the least. Students form cliques very quickly, and the amount of drama was astounding. Although MICA has a reputation for great artists I found that many of the students were simply not very good, but they were extremely pretentious. Competition amoung students is fierce; in my second week there people were already talking about who may get a Fulbright grant. Overall, not the creative, open, and challenging atmosphere I hoped MICA to be. Preparedness: -, Reputation: - Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Jul 18 2007 Male -- Class 2000   Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=40259&uid=629'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Art & Design Department  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Quite Bright when you compare the $$ spent to the actual success of students that complete mica... you will soon find out that MICA is not a good value.. I challenge any prospective student to go cut through the glitzy website and book and actually talk to a students. Find one that is close to graduation and ask what they are going to do. You will find that most have no clue, some are going to grad school/have no clue, and others are just accepting the fact that they are going to be working in a dead end job. I know a few students that are graphic designers that are doing alright. If you are worried about getting a job I suggest the MAT program. They say that is the best thing since sliced bread, and if you want to get a job it is! But I believe that it only prepares you for teaching small children and not high school+ students. Many students say that it is a difficult program, but it really isnt, just a lot of busy work. If you are not worried about money, some people at mica are not, and you do not have to worry about making a career out of art... then mica is for you.. its very fun and not a ton of work (even to get good grades and produce work). Just beware of the crappy city that surrounds you and carry pepper spray!! Social Life: A+, Education Quality: F Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Dec 06 2004 3rd Year Male -- Class 2005    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='http://www.studentsreview.com/active/shared/sr_comment.js?sckey=13681&uid=629'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save      Prev    Select Page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7 ... 8    Next

Write your own Review of MICA

 

If you wish to further your education, consider one of the many options available through online degrees. Browse a wide range of online college and university programs and find the perfect degree for you.