The MICA Experience: An Inside Look

Want to know what it's really like to go to MICA? Watch as our students give you a behind the scenes look at our classes, studios and all things Maryland Institute College of Art. Questions? Visit www.mica.edu/admission

[@knownaigm]

What the guy was trying to say at about 4:30 is that MICA doesn't teach you art or how to be an artist, because that really isn't possible, but rather what they DO teach you is how to figure it out yourself... which is far more important. My biggest piece of advice for new students is that you get out of it what you put in. I watched so many freshmen struggle because they didn't like projects they were given in Elements of Visual Thinking and other classes. I can't tell you how many times I heard someone say "the assignment is "shoe"... I don't want to paint a shoe" not realizing the professor never said you just have to paint a shoe, you can do whatever you want with that. I always made it a habit to ask myself WHY a professor would be giving us a certain assignment, especially if it seemed crazy or open ended or boring.... the answer was always to see what we could do with it. The key to success at MICA is to push yourself and your comfort zones as far as you can. When you get an assignment like "make an argument" or "shoe" or "layers" etc..... take that concept as far as it can go.

[@Purellbeardie21]

Im attending MICA in the fall, and im soooo glad that I read this advice. This enlightened me a little more, do you mind if i share this with the incoming freshman class?

[@knownaigm]

Please do! I was lucky and was prepared because my high school art teacher always tried to push us to think outside our comfort zones and come up with creative solutions to the problems of image making. Don't go into it hoping to do what you already do but better. Instead, open yourself up to finding completely new ways of drawing, painting, thinking and creating. You will be amazed at your evolution. Also, keep in mind, your assignments are almost never literal. One assignment I had in Drawing II was just a list of 30 words that we had to draw. next week everyone came in with 30 little drawings. I came in with one piece on a huge canvas that incorporated all 30 objects from the list into one composition. To put it mildly, the professor's critique was strongly in my favor.

[@Puffypufferfish]

I know I'm gonna go to mica now . It's settled .

[@davidcherelin722]

That was 5 years ago. Update?

[@unitymomentum]

I've heard this school is very nice to PCCA kids in Florida and very recommended, I like it ^^

[@illusionofartYT]

if i dont get into pratt i defiantly want to go to mica

[@thebatbag]

I can't wait to go! :D It sounds like a wonderful place to be

[@danmac3999]

Wow the art universities in United States are so AWESOME! MICA, CALARTS, OTIS, PARSONS... Here, in Mexico only we have two art universities :c

[@florafsun1384]

Cool! Just received an offer from MICA

[@kaalabrooks5958]

This seems like a really nice school

[@unitymomentum]

I'm coming here this August! whoo

[@makeupgoddess8232]

i wanna go i wanna go i wanna go

[@helloitsme1815]

I just got invited omg

[@MrGuitarJockey]

I might go here, but I don’t know if I like that atmosphere.

[@jureigeeksoutoccasionally]

Yup, this is the one

[@bananaorangeguy5277]

how I miss MICA

[@TechCarnivore1]

I think shaving your head as being part of the MICA experience is rather... out of place...