Pre-Registration Day and ARTBASH

Saturday, April 5, 2025
9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
(check-in begins at 9:00 a.m.)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago 
280 S. Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60603

View the in-person program and agenda

We invite you to join us on campus for the opportunity to pre-register for classes, view the work of current first-year students in our annual ARTBASH exhibition, tour the campus and our residence halls, get all of your questions answered, and more!

We’ll also have special programming and representatives available from Admissions, Student Financial Services, Residence Life, Campus Life, and our Career and Professional Experience office to help answer all of your questions. Details will be coming to you via mail and email.

Pre-Registering for Fall 2025 Classes?

• Appointments are available on a first come, first served basis (pending availability). 
• Check out our course listings and prepare a list of classes you're interested in!
• Appointments last approximately 30 minutes.
• Counselors will explain requirements and sign you up for classes.

*Make Your Enrollment Deposit
In order to hold your space in your selected courses, we require that admitted students pay a non-refundable $450 enrollment deposit. You may make your deposit as soon as you are committed to SAIC, but no later than May 1, 2025. The deposit is not an extra fee, and will be applied toward your tuition charges. Learn more

Saturday ARTBASH Tours
On Saturday, we'll offer several tours that will cover different areas of our downtown Chicago campus. You can choose which tour to join based on your area of interest - no advance registration required!

🟥 Red Tour: MacLean Center (Technology)
Art & Technology
Film, Video, New Media, Animation
Sound
Writing

🟦 Blue Tour: Sharp and Sullivan Buildings (Design)
Visual Communication Design
Fiber & Material Studies
Fashion Design
Architecture, Interior Architecture & Designed Objects

🟨 Yellow Tour: 280 Building (Fine Arts)
Ceramics
Painting & Drawing
Photography
Printmedia
Sculpture
Performance

🟩 Green Tour: 162 State St. (Residence Hall)
Get an inside look at one of our residence halls.

Coming Early?
We will be hosting campus and residence hall tours on Friday. RSVP.
Please note that we will also host tours during the ARTBASH event on Saturday.

Also, check out our 23rd Annual Spring Art Sale on campus!
Friday, April 4, 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. CT
SAIC Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL. 

Virtual Artbash

April 6, 2025

Watch Recordings

6:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. CT: Welcome and First-Year Student Info, Asia Mitchell, Executive Director, Admissions at SAIC
Watch Recording
Learn more about the incredible community you will be joining, and the next steps to make your transition to SAIC a smooth one. You’ll find out more about our student programming, facilities and resources, your first-year curriculum, important dates and deadlines, and more.

7:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. CT: Financial Aid Next Steps, Kevin Brown, Student Financial Services
Watch Recording
Our Student Financial Services experts will discuss all things related to financing an SAIC education. In addition, we will provide a step-by-step review of the things that are next on your to-do list in order to join us in the fall — from filing your FAFSA to making your deposit and tuition payments.

8:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. CT: Residence Life at SAIC, Maryann Schaefer, Executive Director, Admissions Communication & Operations and Kevin Banks, Current Student 
Watch Recording
Learn what it's like to live on campus in one of our residence halls, how to apply for housing, and more.

9:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. CT: Virtual Campus Tour
Watch Recording
Take a live virtual tour of our departments and facilities led by current students, and get an insider’s glimpse into life on campus. 


Curriculum and Academic Resources
Watch Recording
Faculty members from Contemporary Practices, Liberal Arts and Art History delve into what makes an SAIC education distinct – from our interdisciplinary curriculum to critique-based assessment and integrated advising.  We’ll talk about what the first year looks like for students and give you a peek at our exciting departments and areas of study.

What Can I Do with an SAIC Degree? Careers and Alumni
Watch Recording
We mean it when we say that life after art school begins when you first join us on campus.  We’ll share the many resources that our Career and Professional Services offices (CAPX) offers, as well as discuss our internship program – the oldest and most successful one of its kind in the U.S. We’ll also showcase our alums – to give you an idea of the possibilities open to you with an SAIC degree.

Living in Chicago
Watch Recording
Learn about the amazing city of Chicago and why artists, designers and cultural producers consider it one of the most important and accessible U.S. cities from which to launch a creative career. We’ll introduce you to our campus, the city’s amazing venues and discuss campus safety.

Financial Aid Next Steps
Watch Recording
Our Student Financial Services experts discuss all things related to financing an SAIC education. In addition, we will provide a step-by-step review of the things that are next on your to-do list in order to join us in the fall — from filing your FAFSA to making your deposit and tuition payments.

Virtual Campus Tour
Watch Recording
Take a live virtual tour of our departments and facilities led by current students, and get an insider’s glimpse into life on campus.