Campus Life/Dorm Life of MICA, SAIC and Pratt

Can anyone give feedback on the dorms and campus life of each? I have a student who’s looking for good dorms and campus culture (students interacting with each other and not so much commuting or living off campus).

My daughter just started at SAIC last week. The dorms are fantastic and huge . They each have a galley kitchen and private bathroom. . Everyone is so nice and friendly. There’s tons to do in Chicago. The school welcomes parents at many events. We couldn’t be happier and my d loves it so far .

Also 85% of Freshman and Sophmores live in one of 3 dorms as many upperclassmen too.

Thank you so much! Very helpful info.

one of the best dorm experiences is at VCUARTS. one of the options is to live in the artist colony. great old hotel that has been converted to dorms (huge rooms-at least d had a huge room) 3-4 floors of all art students live together and work together etc… They have colonies for several of the top majors. D absolutely enjoyed it.

Pratt has its freshman dorms right on the dedicated, 25-acre campus. And the campus is beautiful. My D15 chose it for those reasons because she wanted a definite community. It’s unusual for an art school to have a dedicated campus and Pratt is the only one in NYC to have this. The School of Architecture is 2 blocks to the south but everything else in the Schools of Art and Design should be right on campus. They brag that their students carry their artwork across campus, not across town. My D was involved in a few things during fresh. year, including being on the Quidditch team (they’d get their butts kicked by NYU). She’s never had an issue with lack of friends or community but then again she’s usually pretty busy with her schoolwork and projects.

From what we saw on tour a few years ago, MICA does a pretty good job at creating a “campus-like” feel but the buildings are still a bit spread out throughout Bolton Hill. The freshman dorm is a huge plus there.