StudentsReview :: School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Extra Detail about the Comment
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School of the Art Institute of Chicago

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA- Faculty AccessibilityB
Useful SchoolworkB Excess CompetitionA
Academic SuccessA Creativity/ InnovationA
Individual ValueB University Resource UseB
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA- FriendlinessB
Campus MaintenanceA- Social LifeC+
Surrounding CityA Extra CurricularsD+
SafetyB-
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Approachable

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

Female
ACT:25
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Bright
Lowest Rating
Extra Curriculars
D+
Highest Rating
Excess Competition
A
She cares more about Extra Curriculars than the average student.
Date: Aug 03 2015
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
This is not a school for people looking to refine their techniques and gaining mastery of a medium. If anything it is the opposite, where dabbling in everything and anything is encouraged. I don't come from an affluent background at all, quite the opposite, I come from an immigrant family and going to SAIC was a huge financial burden. I went to community college for two years then transferred in, with a help of merit scholarships and some grants. I still had to borrow a lot of money tho. I knew what I was getting into from the get go, and now I am paying for it.

A lot of skills I had to learn on my own, and you have to be willing to put in extra time doing research. I think what I got the most out of my time here was learning how to THINK. (yes, you can do this pretty much anywhere, or on your own )SAIC worked for me despite everything. I almost wished I had been here all 4 years, but frankly if I had come in as a freshman I probably would have dropped out because I had no idea what the fuck i was doing.

Being a transfer student was different, since I had a stronger academic background (academic classes here are a joke, just take all the Gen Ed requirements elsewhere and save yourself 50K). I really appreciate the resources though. Being here, allowed me to build a framework for myself and my practice, and met amazing people who took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me everyday.

There have been 4-5 faculty members that have honestly changed my life, but it was not always the case in all the classes. Some were mediocre, some where life changing. It is definitely up to the student what they receive from this education. There are no grades, it is a pass/fail system, so you need to be self-aware to know what your benchmark for success. If you're one to get competitive about coursework this is not the place for you—cooperation and collaboration is encouraged.

I'm grateful for my experience here, but it's not for everyone.

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School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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