The Maryland Institute College of Art

Date: Oct 26 2009
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
MICA did not turn out to be at all what I expected. Don't believe their hype about being an "academic" art school - the liberal arts classes are extremely easy. The studio courses are hit or miss; some require a lot of work and thought, others are busywork, or require no work at all. I can't tell you how many class sessions I've sat through where we merely listened to the teacher talk, or had group discussions about "concept" and "what is art?" I began to feel like MICA is more TALK than it is ACTION. My teachers rarely give me any meaningful critique. The majority of the instructors I've had are extremely easy on their students. I've had more valuable input from my fellow classmates than any of the instructors. The grading system is ridiculous as well; it often feels arbitrary and not reflective of the quality of your work or effort exerted. I'll have classmates get the same grades as I do even if they attended class less, or vice versa. It benefits one to get very buddy-buddy with the professors and department chairs. I think students who came into MICA with mediocre work improve a lot, but having entered the school with an already high skill level, I typically get passed over in critique because the professors assume "I know what I'm doing" and don't need specific attention.

If you are very independently driven and work hard on your art that means a lot to YOU, you will progress. But my thought on that is, if you're developing on your own, why pay so much to go to art school? If you DO come to MICA, make SURE to seek out the few professors with notoriously rigorous classes and frank advice, because otherwise you'll find it easy to coast through this school and accomplish little. But I'm still unconvinced it's worth the 35 thousand dollar price tag.

As a side not, Baltimore is a truly amazing city. Don't be put off by the crime or endless ugly rowhouses. There are some beautiful neighborhoods and fascinating places outside of the typical downtown scene, such as Fells Point and Hampden and Highlandtown. The music scene here can't be beat.