School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Date: Mar 11 2012
Major: Art & Design Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I attended SAIC for only one semester. I've decided to go somewhere else because I want to switch my major. I also had mixed feelings about my experience there.

Most of my professors were great, very friendly, and knew what they were talking about. However, a few did not, That is to be expected from any college, but I still feel the reasons I disliked a few of my professors are unique to SAIC. They seemed very absorbed in themselves and their own work, and if you didn't "communicate" enough in class with them, they felt personally hurt.

I really disliked the first year program there. Freshman are forced to take a class called "Core Studio," which doesn't focus on any particular type of art. It is meant to give students a new understanding of the creative process and introduce them to new techniques, but to be honest, I didn't learn much of anything. Most students BS their way through that class, and their work shows for it.

My classes which weren't part of the first year program were great. I learned a great amount of information I never knew, and I feel I grew as an artist in those classes. I suggest going somewhere else first, and then transferring to SAIC so you don't have to deal with "Core Studio."

For people saying it's hard to make friends or get a boyfriend, it isn't. However, a lot of the friends you make will be based on what kind of drugs/partying you're in to. Make no mistake about it, artists know how to party.