The Maryland Institute College of Art

Date: Nov 16 2011
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm a sophmore illustration major and I came to MICA last year with high hopes of jumping into intensive study of technical skills, color theory, anatomy, and all of the things that will make you into a great artist with an astounding base for your skills, to work along side conceptuals.I really wanted to disect everything piece by piece to get the best possible use of my time at this great institution. As I'm getting my transcript together to transfer to another school, I am still wondering where those lessons got to. I've had a total of two professors sicnce I've come here, that were really helpful. The rest were standoffish, some of them were suprisingly rude. The amount of work given is not equal to the amount of learning going on. I have learned almost nothing since coming here, but I have sunk too much work into and time into projects that are more like busy work than lessons. If you are from a lower/ lower middle class family, you will get a lot of crap here not just from students, but from professors too, plus you better have a mountain of scholarships or paying tuition will send you to a grim fate; It's expensive. With a meal plan and a room you will be paying around $40,000 a year. Students are generally friendly (and dressed pretty nice), but I have encountered a good number of arrogant people, I'm not sure if they're naturally that way or sleep deprived, which you will be too. One massive problem with MICA is that this school will let anyone in. I have never heard of anybody getting s rejection letter. I'm slightly terrified to say that I have had 2 roommates since last year (both illustration majors) who had the skill level of elementary school students, no that is not because they chose to work that way, they just had very limited artistic ability. Seeing as how this is a "top" art school, that is unacceptable. I came here with a strong drawing portfolio and so far have found my skills slipping due to lack of instruction and challange. Grading is done questionably…I feel like teachers don't put too much thought into it, unless it's an academic class. Ironically the academic classes are not very good. I've done more intense work in highschool, than for these classes. A lot of the programs here are a joke. If you've been attracted to this school with in interest in the animation major, I'm sorry to tell you that "experimental animation" is the punchline. The graphic design department is mediochre, and the illustration is (kind of) decent but I've learned almost nothing so far. The other departments are in contrast, very well put together and If you want to come here for painting or GFA then this would be a pretty good choice for you. The area is a little shifty though, I've never personally gotten into trouble but alot of people get mugged and about once every year or so somebody gets hit by a car on Mt. Royal, walking to class. Baltimore isn't the greatest city. There's stuff to do, but that will only keep you occupied for so long. The campus is in an isolated bubble. If you don't make an effort to explore you are never going to see anything. There are internship oppertunities-but MICA tries to keep you in Baltimore, even after graduation. If you don't like the city, get out while you still can. Over all, lots of rude and unhelpful teachers, work > learning, friendly but moody students, dissappointing classes, shifty area, high cost,& you won't get out of Baltimore. Even If I had a free ride I would not return to this school.