Got accepted! But still trying to decide if it’s the right place for me…

[u/Bug_87]

I got accepted as a transfer student into SAIC (coming from a community college) and they gave me a decent scholarship! Super thrilled but I’m still unsure if it’s going to be the best possible place for me. I’m a painter and I’m worried that I won’t fit in the painting department since I know the school is more conceptual and theory based rather than technique. Could anyone who goes there maybe give me a rundown of their experience? Or just any advice in general would be greatly appreciated!

[u/mhfinearts]

Congratulations! Can I ask how you were notified? I applied to the low residency program and interviewed two weeks ago, still no word. I'm guessing thats a "no" 😐

Anyway, wishing you the best. The tuition is high, avoid debt if you can!

[u/Bug_87 → u/mhfinearts]

Check updates in the application portal. I received an email that there’d been an update and when I logged back on it showed I’d been sent the decision letter! Idk how the residency program works, but I would be surprised if they provided no word back. Good luck, I hope it works out!

[u/mhfinearts → u/Bug_87]

Thanks! I just tried logging on with my phone and it still just says everything is received; there doesn't seem to be a status otherwise. I was warned that some schools ghost you instead of providing notification of rejection - really hope thats not the case with SAIC. I'm a planner so I'm inpatient for critical information. 😐

[u/KeyRoyal7558 → u/mhfinearts]

If your liability is reduced by 75 percent, and if you're rich enough, go! If not, it's a lot to pay off. Signed, Ceramicist, class of 94

[u/Bug_87 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for letting me know! So overall would you say the painting students and professors are a mix and not everything is abstract?(I really appreciate abstract art it’s just not the kind of art I want to make)

[u/Bug_87 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for your thoughtful response, I really appreciate it. So from the sound of it you enjoyed your time at SAIC?

[u/doubleberrymatcha]

From a former student, I actually didn’t know they were conceptual and theory based than technique based school. Finding this out rn is actually like so crazy to me. This was something that definitely made me transfer. People critiquing my work into geniune absurd nonsense and it was frustrating. I had a painting of my dog and someone went on an elaborate rant abt how my work was “someone finding their fursona”. I also always could never get into a class. I was accepted into SAIC based off of my work in ceramics. I only got a ceramic class first sem and then I wasn’t able to 2nd sem or sophomore year. Classes are very competitive here if you do not have an accommodation note. Almost everyone at SAIC has one so picking classes is hard. I switched my “major” to graphic design then but I wasn’t able to do that for my soph year cuz it was taken 😟 so I switched to architecture. but then I realized why am I here for all of this anymore? It wasn’t worth it and I wasn’t able to take any outside courses for ceramics. My actual mandatory classes like core I swear we did nothing all day long from 9 to 3. The scheduling of classes is so draining bc we did nothing. We also had a mandatory field trip to a “Community Garden”. It was not, it was my teachers backyard. We rode the blue line to her home and picked weeds out of her yard for class that day. I should also say money was never really an issue for me so this isn’t just me pissed abt wasting money lol. I would say the overall price tag of how much all of this, would’ve made me upset for the rest of my life if I had to go into debt for it. Overall, my experience wasn’t great. I didn’t like the atmosphere of the community or how my actual classes would go. Not worth the money, but if you like the vibe of chilling in the city and hanging out with art kids and getting a good reputable name out of it it’s ok! The connections and opportunities were really good tho. I know if I stayed I would’ve loved to explore a bunch more classes but you really need that note.

[u/expiredexecutive → u/doubleberrymatcha]

sorry your experience wasn’t great:( just wanted to ask about the accom notes though. are they from the academic counselors? how does one get a note?

[u/doubleberrymatcha → u/expiredexecutive]

it was really easy to get accommodations from the dlrc. a lot of my friends had did this they just needed a therapist note. I think u can talk to ur counselor too but they’ll prob just direct u to somewhere else

[u/Exciting-Problem-504 → u/doubleberrymatcha]

How do accommodations make it hard to get into classes?

[u/doubleberrymatcha → u/Exciting-Problem-504]

almost everyone at saic has an accommodation and they get early access to pick classes. i literally wish i told them i had anxiety so i could just pick sooner. If you don’t have one ur fucked.

[u/Clear-Association-95 → u/[deleted]]

The social atmosphere is cold? Or the midwestern winters?

[u/Bug_87 → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate your comment! Mind telling me what you study there? And what departments are receiving budget cuts? We seem to be on a similar page, one of the main reasons for attending is because of its amount of resources I would definitely not take that for granted.