MCAD

Introduction
If you want to study art, MCAD is the place. But it's not your stereotypical art school, with easy classes and a light workload. Be prepared to put in the time and effort to make the most of your talents and schooling.

Campus Life and Social Life
There are very few clubs, and of the ones that exist, none are non-art-related. So, a little variation would be nice. But the party scene is great if you just put yourself out there and get to know people. If you'd rather have peace and quiet, excessive noise/disruption in the on-campus apartments is never a problem.
The campus is small, but nice. The best thing is that it's directly behind the Minneapolis Institue of Art and the Children's Theater Company, two great resources for any art student. Academics
There are two main programs at MCAD -- Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science. The BFA program is very extensive, with almost any concentration you can think of. All the courses are highly hands-on and experience-based. The workload can be pretty intense, but it's all worth it.
The BS program is often over-looked. It combines art with business, management, marketing, and other career-based majors. In it, you can really choose your own path and make it work for what YOU want to do. Plus, BS students tend to get higher-placed jobs out of college and more options in their career paths.

Student Body
There is no "typical" MCAD student. Everything goes -- tatoos, piercings, colored hair. No one judges anyone else on their appearance, whether you're "normal" or not. What matters is how devoted you are to your work and just being open to new people and new ideas. There are around 700 students in the entire school, so it's very much a community atmosphere.

In Closing...
Really, if you are interested in art of any sort, MCAD should be on your list. Just visit and check out the studios, the professors, the general atmosphere of the place, and see for yourself. Don't be scared off by the workload or the pressure of exhibitions and projects. As one orientation leader said this year, "You're going to die. You're going to die, but you'll be having so much fun, you won't even notice."