My D it into similar scholarships at both schools. She is not sure what she wants to do in fine arts. She also got into Carnegie Mellon, SVA, Ringling, Pratt. All but Carnegie gave scholarships. We only visited Carnegie, MICA and SAIC.
Any advise?
I was in the same position and ultimately chose MICA. It’s a smaller school and the interactions I had with everyone there cannot be beat. Along with that I felt that Baltimore is really a good city to be in. While yes, Chicago is Chicago, outside of that it’s the Midwest. Baltimore is right on the coast and very close to other major cities with lively art scenes.
I can’t really offer too much, as I pretty much knew I wanted to go to MICA the moment I got to campus.
Both SAIC and MICA are very strong in fine arts. What did she think of each program? Both allow for lots of open electives. MICA has more of a real campus and the first year dorms (apartments) are wonderful. What are her talents?
I love both schools but I’m the mom LOL. My D opted for the structure of Pratt which she preferred over both MICA and SAIC (she got into MICA with scholarships, opted not to apply to SAIC after visiting).
SAIC is kind of in the basement of the Art Institute. Disadvantage (the basement) and advantage (the Art Institute - one of the premier art museums in the world). Baltimore has the Walters which we toured and really enjoyed and the BMA which we didn’t but which has the wonderful Cone exhibit of impressionist art. MICA is also a train-ride away from Washington DC and the Smithsonian museums.
SAIC has a pretty high attrition rate - the grad. rate after four years of school is about 45%. MICA is about 67% so definitely higher (RISD which is the “gold standard” on this stat. is about 72%). When you are committing to a college you want to be assured that your student will graduate in four years (of course art/design students are notorious for transferring to other colleges which accounts for some of the attrition . . . ). I can’t recall the statistics so you’ll have to look them up but I get the impression that MICA has a higher freshman retention rate.
Of course CMU beats out both schools on things like 4 year grad. rate and retention rate! 
Things are a bit unstable in Baltimore now due to the looting and rioting. However, I’ve been monitoring the situation at MICA via its FB page and the communication and safety procedures put in place appear to be quite good. And Chicago is no stranger to crime these days.
Both great schools. I do want to point out, however, that my D has never had a class in the basement of the Art Institute at SAIC. They do actually have many great spaces where most studios and classes are taught. The museum is a great resource, and it’s pretty nice to go next door with your Art History class to look at something you just learned about.
If your D is undecided, she is free to explore at SAIC. The foundation year exposes the students to all disciplines, and they are free to choose their paths.
The part of Chicago where SAIC is located is very lively, and although you should always be aware in any big city, it seems relatively safe. My D has spent many a late night in the studio and felt safe walking back to her dorm, although security will gladly escort you home at night, if you ask.
Any plans to visit Ringling? How does your financial aid add up between all the schools?
@GrtMtnMom I wish we had had you give our tour! You probably knew where the really great studios were. We were definitely down underneath the Art institute for a good part of our visit. However the new wing is beautiful and the Art Institute itself is amazing. I really liked SAIC and would have been delighted if my D opted to apply. We visit Chicago frequently and it’s easy to get back and forth to MN. It wasn’t the school for her, however.
Good luck to you, @countdowntime33!
Thanks for the info…
No plans to visit anymore schools since decision is needed May 1st.
We have family in Chgo so that is a plus.
My husband and I were born and raised there so my D is very familiar with Chgo.
There is much to do in Chgo, which Is a plus and a negative. I worry about her getting distracted.
She loved the exciting things she could try say SAIC, but she loved how she felt at MICA. She liked the feel of the campus, loved the dorms and met great people. I worry about her safety and lack of things to do outside campus at Mica. I’ve heard it referred to as the “mica bubble”
We won’t be applying for financial aid.
I worry about the lack of structure without choosing a major at SAIC. Can you be there for 4 years and know a little bit about many areas, but not competent in any. I worry about finding a job if you don’t have a concentration.
Her interests are Using multi media… Possible installations, using her feeling about politics to inspire her art work. She also likes animation and illustration. She is Very unsure about what she wants to pursue.
@Mamelot Haha. Yes, I guess it really depends on whom you get as a tour guide. Our planned 1 hour tour stretched to about 3 hours with our guide. He was really excellent and showed us, well, everything. Since my D was interested in their fashion department, we spent a lot of time in the Sullivan building, which is about two blocks from the museum. The foundation studio and research courses are mainly in the Sharp building, which is also about two blocks from the museum. I hope your daughter enjoys Pratt. My D went their for a pre-college program the summer before her senior year.
@countdowntime33 We also have family in Chicago, and that was a big plus for my D, too. I think that although my D has explored much more widely than I ever did as a college student (public transportation is awesome there), the work is so consuming that when she’s busy, she’s really busy, and the city can wait. Also, some of her classes have used Chicago as part of the curriculum, so her classes have ventured out together. As far as the interdisciplinary nature of SAIC, the students are required to meet with their advisors at least twice a year the first couple of years to help them shape their education. You really have to know what your interests are after a couple of years, I think, or you’d just be taking intro classes. Also, a sophomore seminar is required, and the student chooses a mentor at that point. Here’s the description about it: “The main goal of sophomore seminar is to make sure that all BFA-studio and BFA-AH students are making a body of work that is congruent with their conceptual interests, career aspirations, and chosen media.” Anyway, as I said, two great choices! Congratulations, I’m sure your D will do well at either school.
Bah, @GrnMntMom we didn’t tour the other buildings at SAIC. It was the visit day right before National Portfolio Day and so a LOT of Jr’s and Sr’s there with parents . . . I think if my D had been interested in seeing more we would have done so - SAIC has been very encouraging and accessible and it’s only about 7 hours away from us by car (we also have relatives that we stay with in Chicago).
@countdowntime33, some additional observations, for what they are worth:
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I actually think it’s a GOOD thing to have lots of electives at the BFA level. I’m not an artist, but I did spend 4 years at an LAC and took LOTS of classes outside my Economics major, including philosophy, art history, chemistry, and a senior literature seminar in addition to my senior economics thesis. I loved the freedom to explore intellectually and I think it helped me become a better thinker. I went on to specialize in finance and accounting once I hit grad school several years later. When your daughter gets a job she’ll probably be doing something specific but I’ve seen plenty of examples where the newly minted Bachelor-Industrial Design went on to do sculpture, or the fine arts major got a job in graphic design. It all depends on the student and her interest level, the appeal of the professional job, whether the prospective employer likes her work, etc. The world is increasingly visual - there should be plenty of opportunities for someone coming out of a top ranked art/design school. The flexibility at SAIC, from everything I’ve researched, gives students freedom to choose their own level of depth and breadth. That environment is not for everyone - it is definitely NOT for my D - but if it’s the environment that your D likes then lack of a required major shouldn’t be a problem. The competency at SAIC is the education itself. Finally, the lines between majors are definitely blurring (for example, graphic designers may use web or film or photography in their work . . . ) and that trend seems to favor a set of skills over a “major”.
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I also know of several examples where students were so sure of what they wanted to do when applying to art college only to change their minds once they experienced Foundation Year or took a certain elective. This can be a problem at RISD or Pratt once you are in sophomore year - but not at SAIC or MICA. We recently participated in a webinar at MICA that included an alum who changed his major SENIOR YEAR with the help of his advisor. He’s employed, by the way. And SAIC is even more flexible. Remember - you want to get your student out of there in four years, not five.
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Having relatives in the area will help A LOT. She probably won’t have time to see them much once she settles in but in the event of a family emergency or similar you’ll have someone there to fetch her quick. They can also give some perspective about smart city living, provide a last minute ride to the airport (or a ride from late at night), or even be a home to visit during breaks or holidays. My D plans on spending her Thanksgiving and other breaks at my in-laws who live about an hour away from Pratt by train. She will NOT be coming home (so she thinks. She’ll miss us - or at least the cat - after a while I think).
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From what I’ve read, the MICA bubble seems to be a bit of an outdated description. Yes, Baltimore has “sketchy” sections (so does Brooklyn, Chicago, Providence, Milwaukee . . . ). I’d get online and look at the safety stats which schools are required to report. MICA’s were very good last time I looked (better than RISD/Brown, I recall, and a lot better than Stanford! Can’t remember CMU’s but my impression was they were pretty good. Someone I know very well is an academic and he told me that everyone knows CMU is safe and Stanford far less so). Anyway, what’s great about MICA for those who are drawn to this is that they are VERY involved with bringing art into the community. Their outreach is really commendable and they have had great partnerships with various community service organizations and with the local police for a few years now. (There is a great book called Art Schooled about MICA and it’s definitely worth a read if your student is considering the school). Plus, my D noticed that MICA in particular tends to attract students who want to give voice to important political and social events through their art which may be a good fit. I’m not 100% sure; however, my impression is that SAIC is very much like that too. Urban environments - warts and all - are a great “muse” for those types of artists. But back to the MICA bubble . . . you’ll be interested to know that the school has been attempting to push into the “sketchy” areas for a few years now, in order to help the artists “seed” the area and turn it around. Where the artists are, the yuppies tend to follow (because it’s cool to live in the artsy part of town) and then businesses move in and rents go up, and the artists move on to the next area. This is actively going on in Brooklyn but I saw some of it in Baltimore as well. MICA just moved it’s graduate film school into an old historic theater in the Station North district, and has new graduate facilities located in the area as well. Lots of good possibilities in that area (and I noticed new building going on as well - always a good sign of revitalization). Station North is known as one of the best communities for artists. South of MICA is Mt Vernon which is fine safety-wise and has terrific restaurants, night spots such as the Owl Bar at the Belvedere, Peabody, the oldest Basilica in America, etc. While these areas aren’t right outside your door, they are but a short walk or ride on the LR. So there’s plenty to do - and lots of students around town - from JHU, Loyola, University of Baltimore, UMD, Goucher, etc. - doing it!
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Public transportation in Chicago - unbeatable (except maybe NYC or Boston). Baltimore - excellent but not as good as Chicago. However, I would have been very comfortable with my D riding the LR or the free Circulator during the day or evening and either ubering back to her res. hall at night or calling for security to come pick her up. Like any large urban area your student will want to use common sense, travel with a group at night, etc. For the most part she’s going to be pretty busy her foundation year and probably won’t become as adventurous till she’s a bit older and a bit more used to the area.
Hope this helps!
Thx, that’s really helpful, didn’t know much about sophomore seminar. Is your D still at SAIC?
Thx! Didn’t know about community outreach at MICA. How does your D like Pratt
@countdowntime33 she starts foundation year this fall. We were like you - trying to figure out the best school, etc. and she only came to a final decision last week. D liked RISD and Pratt best but didn’t get into RISD. Pratt has the right combination of rigor and definite structure that she feels she needs. It’s very much like RISD that way (at least in my view).
MICA liked her and she had a wonderful relationship with her admissions counsellor who has been gracious and generous with advice and guidance. I remain very impressed with MICA’s professionalism, intellectual focus, student talent, facilities, residence halls, etc. It would have been a fine choice for my D but in the end she just felt it wasn’t the best fit. With Pratt there was the right amount of mutual interest, and that’s a hugely important aspect to choosing a college.
@countdowntime33 Yes, my D is a freshman this year. She went through all this agony and stress last April, so I totally know what you’re going through. She has not yet had sophomore seminar, obviously, but she has found at least 2 teachers with whom she has really connected, and they have been very helpful to her, wrt scholarship opportunities and summer internships. Her adviser has also been helpful and responsive to her.
I agree with Mamelot, that we found the right amount of mutual interest between SAIC and my D, the right fit. SAIC was not D’s first choice until we visited after acceptances and financial offers came in. She was also deciding between RISD and Pratt. But everything just clicked for her on the April visit and afterwards in her correspondence with them.
Hang in there. Only a couple of days left! Good luck.
I’m bumbled we didn’t get a chance to visit Pratt. Seems like a great school. Thx for comments,
Thanks again for your input… My D decided on SAIC… We are thrilled that she will be near family and an awesome school!!! Again, thank you for your time
Congrats to your daughter on her decision! Bet she’s looking forward to this next phase. Now the real fun begins . . .
Congratulations, @countdowntime33 ! I hope your D is as happy as my D is there!