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The Maryland Institute College of Art

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityB Faculty AccessibilityA-
Useful SchoolworkA- Excess CompetitionB
Academic SuccessD Creativity/ InnovationB
Individual ValueA University Resource UseC
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyC- FriendlinessB-
Campus MaintenanceC Social LifeA
Surrounding CityA- Extra CurricularsA
SafetyB-
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Arrogant, Broken Spirit, Snooty, Closeminded

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful, Arrogant, Self Absorbed

Female
SAT1980
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Academic Success
D
Highest Rating
Individual Value
A
She cares more about Academic Success than the average student.
Date: Jan 26 2015
Major: Design Arts - Industrial Design/Graphic Design/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
Here are my thoughts about MICA, bottom line and point blank. MICA is and does deserve to be considered one of the top art schools. We do have great, caring, considerate faculty and I am amazed at some of the work and drive of many students. MICA will not make you a great or successful artist, but MICA will give you the resources to become a better artist. It is all about how you use the system to create the work that you want to create. Yes, some students are easily caught up within the pretension of the school - students who value conceptual theory, their parent's money, and their own problems - and yes, they can feel like the majority. However, there are many great, humble, and down to earth students at MICA. I would not go to MICA if you seek to be in a more commercially oriented art field - instead I would go somewhere like Parsons. It's easy to get caught up with the pretension and arrogance art school can breed, but like I said MICA does offer you the resources to further your work. And perhaps the greatest resource that MICA can offer you is the access and degree of competition - which hopefully you can either choose to view as a plus, advantage, and motivating factor. But that is YOUR choice to take it. MICA will give you access and exposure to the art world, despite being located in isolated Baltimore.

My advice to those going to art school is to keep an open mind, be willing to change your preconceived notions about what art is - but always keep precious what art means to you. Because if you lose sight of that you will give up.

Baltimore has its up and down sides to it. The upside is that because it is in an isolated community, (yes there is a definite MICA bubble) there's an ability to be more focused on your work. Also, you can become closer with your peers at this school - which can sometimes be a downside as there isn't a lot of diversity in personalities - but an upside when it comes to making connections and valued friendships. Also, Baltimore has a great music scene and there is a quiet buzz beneath the city.

For the person complaining that a teacher told them their Graphic Design work was too visually oriented, I hope you take to the time to understand that graphic design is very much based in ideas - and in that field ideas are often more valued.

Whether or not you choose to go to art school, this is really a time in your life where you can grow and develop as a person. Sometimes that requires you to be open and willing to do that. Also, the art world is a competitive and cut throat place getting cluttered and flittered with many people. Will MICA hand over everything to you? No. Will going to a well regarded art school offer you success? No. And yes, this school can be very easy to coast by - but honestly, I think you would have to be willing to take the easy route if you want to do that. However, if you are a self motivated person and can overcome the squabbles of youthful idealism and face the reality of what the art world is - you have a school with great resources.

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The Maryland Institute College of Art
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