Maryland Institute College of Art Top Questions

The advice I would give to parents and students about finding the right college for them is, do not be worried about what the college can provide you with, reputation, or direction, but about what reputation, direction, and facilitation you can give to yourself. In the words of Robert Henri in his "The Art Spirit", "Let the student enter the school with this advice: No matter how good the school is, his education is in his own hands. All education must be self-education... The school is a thing of the period. It has the faults and virtues of the period. It is up to the student whether he becomes a school-made man or a whether he uses the school as a place of experience... A school should be an offering of opportunity, not a direction, and the student should know that the school will be good for him only to the degree that he makes it good." (Robert Henri 1923) With the most sincerity, it is true; it is not so much the school that one is in, but the ability of the student and the drive of the individual to make the most of their experience there.

Cost should not be a determining factor. If a school is right for your child, then they will get a good job out of it, and be able to pay off loans. Cost is secondary to the value that education can bring to a person. Make sure to visit every college that you applied to; a campus visit can make or break a scholarly decison. Make the most out of college by, when you're ready, being involved. I have made so many new friends with people I hadn't even seen before I got involved. It's the best way to come out of your shell, and out of any cliques that may form while being at school. Finally, I truly believe that if you do all of the above, as well as much research on what schools you're interested in, you will find the college that is right for you, and you will be happy and successful during your stay there, as well as prepared to enter the career world.

To parents/ new college students, The years following a basic high school degree, are by far the most important years of a student's life. It is the pinnacle of opportunities to submerse oneself within an envirmonment of your choosing in which you will ultimately influence your surrounding as much as it will influences you. Colleges, Universities, and Institutes are sanctuaries of personal development, in which professors, peers, cities, books, etc. all contribute, or offer unlimited possibilities towards the profession of you/or your child's liking. Few individuals are certain about the adult they dream of one day becoming, but allowing several years for an undeveloped mind to explore the world and its potentials assists in finding ones passion and place within the scheme of things. And there is an abundance of schools, locations, educational standards, tuitions, and personalities that will suit the needs of any student who wishes for a better education. We are so fortunate to live in a country that allows those who dream of becoming something more or changing the world, the resources and support to do so... attending a college is not a burden, but the opportunity to do what you love most!

I would say spend as much time looking at everything that goes with the school, as well as the school itself. Typically, when you visit a college, the admissions department is very good at telling you everything you need to know about the school itself. The classes, the instructors, the facilities, the successful alumni, etc. After you visit, you might have a pretty good idea what the school is all about. My advice however, is in addition learning about the school, make sure you find out about student life. Is there a lot to do around here? Are there lots of clubs? Does this city/town seem like the type of place i'd like to spend 4 years in? Are there good places to eat around here? is the cafeteria really good...or a typical cafeteria? These are the types of questions that prospective students should be asking themselves as they are visiting a school. I feel these are important because many students find themselve in a situation where they like school, but are very unhappy with their surroundings. I think overall, when picking a school, really vizualize yourself being there. Ask, do i see myself here?

Don't settle just because it could be a cheaper school, you could regret never going to the school of your dreams. Make it happen.

The key to an enjoyable college experience is 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} what you are learning and doing, and 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} the environment (location, people, aesthetics, climate). WHEN CHOOSING A COLLEGE ASK YOURSELF . . . How do you feel when you arrive on Campus? Think back to when you first drove/walked into the parking lot. Where you overwhelmed, under-whelmed, excited, nervous? How did you feel when you left? Did your first impression remain, or did you gain a different understanding within the campus? Good or bad? How do you feel while you sit on a bench on campus? I would encourage a perspective student to take a moment after all of the tours and the info sessions to find a place within the campus and sit. Actually immerse yourself within the school and image what it may be like to attend this school. People watch, but don?t judge. Are you looking for something that is new and unlike home? Or a place that feels and looks like home? WHILE ENROLLED IN COLLEGE . . . Fight to get into the classes you are passionate about. Your performance will be greater when you enjoy what you are learning. Talk to upperclassmen about their favorite classes.

All the catalogues in the world don't compare to actually spending a few nights at a school and if possible, attending some of the classes. I wasn't at all sure about college, but some of my friends went to MICA and I started spending time with them in their dorms, even going so far as to do their homework with them. Meet with some professors, look at the average workload, eat the food. When you start at college, it may become tempting to get sucked into the social aspect, especially if you are anxious to meet a group of friends. There is plenty of time for this on the weekends! Be responsible, remember you are there not as a chore but because you choose to be there, and it will be one of the best experiences of your life. Some of the closest friends are made during collaborative projects or discussions, not just at the campus pub or house party. With that in mind, if you lean the other way, make sure you haven't isolated yourself and become a total work-aholic. Have SOME fun! It really is all about balance.

Follow your true aspirations and aim for the best school where you can see yourself growing the most, is the advice I would give to a fellow student or parent. However, it is important for the prospective student to have a plan in choosing a career. If they are unsure about their desired or intended major in general, I would highly recommend that this student would first attend a community college to explore general liberal arts until they discover what work or studies they would like to achieve in their life. Finding the right school can be hard at first, but you will know when it is the right choice or not. Education is seldomly inexpensive so make your school worth it by selecting a place where you feel you will be comfortable environmentally, institutionally, and socially. Once you make your choice, make the best out of your college experience by motivativating and allowing yourself to become passionately involved in your studies. College is a personal investment in enhancing your knowlege, appreciate the time you will have. Live a good social life by developing many friendships, but always take your education seriously and do your best.

When I chose a college, I picked based on academic excellence and availability of my desired major in a complicated and research-intensive way. Conversely, my younger brother's only criteria was proximity to a good surfing beach, and he accepted the first offer he received within a day. It seems like one of us made the "right" choice, and the other was irresponsible at best. As it turns out, we're both on track for excellent careers, and are equally happy with collegiate life. The best advice I can give to a student about choosing and enjoying a school would be to remember that everyone is an individual. I'm a methodical, detail oriented person and my college life and application process reflected that -- I had to choose wisely since I'm more picky about the results. My brother, on the other hand, is very laid back and knows his passion isn't academic, so no matter where he went, if a beach were nearby, he'd make it work. The lesson is that there's no "right" way to go about it; if you understand your personality and what you want out of life, you'll be fine.

Be excited about the college experience, be happy and comfortable in the enviornment of the school and its community. Visit schools before making a decision, a school can look and sound good in a brochure, but students should have a good feeling about the campus and people that will make their community. Visiting with faculty and current students will help answer questions not covered in the schools decription, and will help make both the perspective student and parents comfortable and excited about the college. Once deciding on the right school working hard to achieve grades and recognition that the student is proud of will only help push the learning experience to its height. However, the student should be sure to balance his or her work load with relaxing time alone, and with friends both in and outside of his or her major. It can be such a wonderful experience!