SAIC or MICA for illustration?

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>Hi, I am now a freshman who is preparing to go study in an art school.
I am thinking of majoring in illustration and have SAIC and MICA on the top of my college list.
I know both schools offer a quite flexible courses, esp. SAIC.
However, I want to know which school suits the best in the program of illustration.. </p>

<p>Please feel free to share your experiences, if any, about SAIC and MICA in terms of the school life, campus and the education in illustration!</p>

2

<p>SAIC is not known for Illustration. I’m not at all into the subject of illustration nor go there but I spoke to a girl who goes there and she said that is one thing that is really bad there- the illustration “dept”. Go elsewhere- MICA would definitely be better than SAIC for that.</p>

3

<p>My D is an illustration major, and found SAIC too conceptual for her. After visiting the school, she did not even consider applying there. I agree that between the two, MICA would be a better choice.</p>

4

<p>@redbug119, thank you for sharing your D’s experience. So, where did your D end up going to? </p>

<p>@werwandert,Does illustration department include drawing & painting? Do you know specifically how bad it is? i.e. teacher, curriculum. Thanks!</p>

5

<p>No- drawing and painting department is fine to my knowledge. I know someone who studies painting who is incredible at it. Here’s his site:[Jake</a> Vogds](<a href=“http://cargocollective.com/jakevogds]Jake”>Vogds) . When I refer to illustration I think about it more in the stylistic sense, uhm, something more like <a href=“http://25.media.■■■■■■■■■■/tumblr_m43flbcFVW1r5cc2yo1_500.jpg[/url]”>http://25.media.■■■■■■■■■■/tumblr_m43flbcFVW1r5cc2yo1_500.jpg&lt;/a&gt; (found on PNCA illustration tumblr- they’ve apparently got a decent program, so check that out). Hope that helps!</p>

6

<p>@werwandert, </p>

<p>Oh I see, that made it clearer…(:
Are you a student of SAIC? Do you know how the department is structure or what type of style SAIC prefers for the study in illust deprt?</p>

7

<p>I also agree that SAIC is very conceptual and also seems to be a great school for graduate studies but more difficult for undergrads. MICA has a very strong illustration department.</p>

8

<p>No I am not, I just know a lot about the program. I live near Chicago and take high school commuter classes there. I really don’t know that specific of information; I really can only tell you that it is not the place to go for illustration. MICA would be much much better. Is location an issue?</p>

9

<p>The above poster is right on. I got my portfolio reviewed at an SAIC event and while my reviewer accepted my portfolio he gave me the advice to not go there for illustration. MICA’s illustration program is strong. If you want to do illustration and you are choosing between these two, go there.</p>

10

<p>Recently I did heard something about the location around MICA being dangerous and having sketchy neighborhood…etc. But on the other hand the school has good illustration program. I was looking forward to go to SAIC as I can take ranges of courses, such as printmaking and textile design. Anyways, thanks for the information, it really answered my question (:</p>

11

<p>The campus area around MICA is ok. It is true it is not the best part of town, but there is security and one just needs to be street savvy. I did not feel that my dd would have been in an unsafe situation had she chosen to go to MICA.</p>

12

<p>@phillyartmom, </p>

<p>Thanks for sharing your view! (:</p>

13

<p>SAIC is definitely a conceptual art oriented school. It sounds as if your interests, even the printmaking, would make MICA a much better choice. I think you would find most of the coursework very focused on the concept of “art” and not the process. An illustrator/printmaking would, to my mind, be a lot more process oriented.</p>

14

<p>I heard MICA is also an interdisciplinary school. How much freedom does the school offer?</p>

15

<p>@ Artschoolmun - my D is a junior at MCAD in Minneapolis. I knew of one girl who went to MICA for a short time, and I don’t think her mom was concerned about the area.</p>

16

<p>@ redbug119, well thats a relief! I guess I am not as much concerned to go to baltimore as I did before… (: </p>

<p>thanks!</p>

17

<p>It’s a big city like any other. You need to be street aware (don’t walk alone, leave your headphones out so you can hear, etc). My D said the other day at MCAD, there were shots fired a block over from the school, so they opted to go inside! There are thefts from time to time, mostly from cars and occasionally she will be approached by a homeless person looking for bus money. When we looked for an apt for her, we rejected the one that was 3 blocks away, as she works long hours into the night and didn’t want her walking past the neighborhood park at 3 am when she was done working in her studio. We did get the one directly across the street from the school. At no time did we NOT consider the school because of the neighborhood. There are wackos wherever you go.</p>

18

<p>@Artschoolmun - My D is a sophomore in Illustration at MICA and loves it. We visited SAIC but the lack of a campus made her feel uneasy. Both schools are conceptual. MICA has the kind of program and campus my D was looking for. As for campus safety, any city is going to have risks. D is by no means citywise and gets along fine. Her Illustration classes have been her favorites and one of the best things she likes about the school is the quality of the teachers.</p>

19

<p>Well if it was that of dangetous in baltimore I would be fine. I was thinking more on the setious side… </p>

<p>Thank you for sharing D’s experience!!</p>