The Maryland Institute College of Art

Date: Apr 12 2010
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
I am a senior General Fine Arts major in my last semester at MICA. I must be honest in admitting that the school is not entirely what I expected… it is far more. From day one I have been pushed and encouraged to expand my way of thinking and my approach to my work. I have yet to have a single teacher or class that I have not grown tremendously from, even from teachers I didn't like on a personal level. Yes there is a large majority of women and yes many of the men are gay but why would anyone pick their education based on dating options? I am a heterosexual male and yes many of the women at this school are gay as well but there is an ENTIRE city surrounding the school that is FULL of people. Yes there are cliques of people and snobby hipsters and elitism but that is life and will be found at any college. As an adult you should learn to ignore people you dislike and focus on those you do like. Anyway, back to the education… yes the grading can seem lenient at times in the liberal arts classes but that is because the liberal arts classes are grading based on your understanding, NOT your ability to remember facts on a test. Yes the professors WILL NOT hold your hand but they are there for any advice and any HONEST critique you may need. The advice and growth I have gained from this school will be with me for many many years. MICA and its faculty did not teach me how to paint or how to think, they taught me how to think for myself and how to find a way to paint that fits my personal way of thinking. Final note, every single studio professor I have had is an amazing artist who is currently working and proving themself in the artworld so what you are really being given at MICA is not technical skill but rather years and years or experience handed down for you to take as you wish.

Oh and as for employment: I will be honest and tell you that I have no idea what I will be doing in the next year but my plan is to get certified to teach, then teach for a year or so while I apply to grad school to get my masters and become a professor. Though my plans are a bit open ended, three friends of mine already have huge jobs lines up. One is working with the largest design firm in the United States, one just got hired with MTV, and the third has a contract with Pixar. DON'T expect to get an ENORMOUS job like that but know that it is certainly possible. I may not know what I will be doing but MICA has given me an incredible amount of confidence in myself and my work no matter what I may end up doing financially. After MICA, I believe in what I am doing to a point where I will MAKE my way in the art world one way or another.