Meet SAIC Undergraduate

Transfer Day

Saturday, May 30, 2026
10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT
RSVP

We are hosting an on-campus event to help you navigate the transfer process. Highlights of the day include:
• Portfolio advice for admission and merit scholarship
• Transfer credit policy deep dive
• Academic resources and next steps review
• Campus and residence hall tours

We'll also host a special Transfer Student Reception for admitted students where you can learn more about our renowned, interdisciplinary programming, cutting-edge facilities, and life in Chicago—one of the nation’s most culturally diverse and artistically welcoming cities. We’ll be starting out with a brief presentation, but have set aside much time for you to ask your questions and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, meet with your future classmates.

Art School 101 – A Special Event for Rising Seniors 

Saturday, July 25, 2026
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT
Check-in begins at 10:00 a.m.

RSVP

We invite you to join us on campus for an engaging and informative day that includes:

• Art School 101 - a presentation covering everything you need to know about applying to and attending an art and design school
• One-on-one conversations with faculty and admissions counselors, including personalized portfolio feedback
• A guided tour of our state-of-the-art campus and loft-style residence halls
• A Chicago-style lunch for you and your guests

We’re excited to welcome you to campus and share this experience as you begin exploring your college options.
 

SAIC Days are special three-hour events that take place in select cities from September to November. These events are a perfect opportunity to get one-on-one feedback on your portfolio, meet with SAIC faculty and staff, and learn more about our interdisciplinary curriculum.           

One-on-one meetings give you individual time with an admissions counselor to get feedback on your portfolio, or just ask any questions you may have!

2025 Events:

National Portfolio Days (NPDs) take place throughout the year, and SAIC participates in all of them. Representatives from SAIC are ALWAYS available to provide 10–15 minute portfolio reviews of prospective students' work, give you valuable feedback and guidance on your portfolio before you submit it as part of your application, and to speak about SAIC's curriculum.

2025-2026 Events

After Hours Live Chat with SAIC: International Parent & Family Q & A Session

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
7:00–9:00 AM CT (Chicago time)
India: 5:30–7:30 PM 
China/Singapore: 8:00–10:00 PM
Korea/Japan: 9:00–11:00 PM
RSVP

Join the Director of International Undergraduate Admissions for a dinnertime live chat. Drop in any time during the event hours, no presentations, just the chance to talk with key Admission staff and get one-on-one assistance with any questions you may have before the May 1 decision deadline. 

View more virtual events for admitted students at saic.edu/ugnext!

Sign up for a virtual one-on-one portfolio review session. 

During these 20–30 minute virtual sessions, faculty, alums, and admissions counselors will provide valuable feedback on your work for both admission and merit scholarship consideration. Have sketchbooks, finished pieces, and your questions prepared.

You will present images of your work live via screen-share. You can also share links with the reviewer utilizing the Zoom chat box. You don't need to upload anything in advance.

All appointments are in central time, please schedule accordingly.

Virtual National Portfolio Days

Representatives from SAIC are available to provide 10-15 minute portfolio reviews of prospective students' work, give you valuable feedback and guidance on your portfolio before you submit it as part of your application, and to speak about SAIC's curriculum.

Take a live tour of our campus and residence halls with our current students and ask any questions you have! Virtual tours take place on Wednesdays at 5:00 pm CT.

•  Schedule a live virtual tour 
• Check out our self-guided virtual tour

• Take an on-demand tour of our residence halls

  Please note: You may need to disable your browser's ad blocker to allow the tour to load correctly.

Canada

China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

Colombia

India

Indonesia

Japan

Mexico

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

Singapore

Thailand

Türkiye

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Vietnam

International SAIC DAY and Q & A

Friday, January 9, 2026, 11:00 p.m. CT
RSVP 

Join the International Admissions Team for an overview on understanding the benefits of attending an art school over a traditional college and a live Q & A session. 

Take a live tour of our campus and residence halls with our current students and ask any questions you have!

In-Person 

Tours take place daily, Monday through Friday and select Saturdays. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes in advance for check-in. A maximum of three people are allowed per party, including the prospective student. Advance registration is required.

Schedule an In-Person Tour

We offer you the opportunity to meet with an admission counselor before or after our on-campus tours to have your portfolio reviewed or just get more information about SAIC. Reservations are required due to a strict capacity limit. 

Tour guests should arrive at the LeRoy Neiman Center at 37 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL, 60603, 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled tour time. Tours typically last 90 minutes.  

Our tours include the following:

• A brief presentation providing an overview of SAIC’s campus and curriculum
• A look inside our campus buildings (2) and facilities, including our Contemporary Practices department
• Visiting one of our residence halls
• Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago museum
• Introduction to our downtown campus—wear comfortable shoes!  
   

Virtual

Thursday, April 23, 2026
Watch Recording

Join us for an online info session about transferring to SAIC. You'll learn more about transferring credits, our renowned interdisciplinary programming, applying for scholarships and financial aid, and more! We’ll be starting with a brief presentation, but have set aside much time for you to ask your questions.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Watch Recording

Representatives from SAIC's Student Financial Services department will discuss SAIC award packages, completing the budgeting worksheet, and outside scholarships. There will be time during and after the presentation to ask questions.

January 9, 2026
Watch Recording

Join the International Admissions Team for an overview on understanding the benefits of attending an art school over a traditional college and a live Q & A session. 

Thursday, January 8, 2026
Watch Recording

Join the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) admissions team for an engaging overview of SAIC. You’ll learn what makes an art school experience unique, how our interdisciplinary curriculum supports creative exploration, and what life at SAIC looks like—from studios and facilities to the vibrant campus community. This session will help you better understand how SAIC can shape your future as an artist or designer.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Watch Recording

You and your family are invited to join SAIC faculty, staff, and students online to learn more about the incredible community you will be joining, and the next steps to make your transition to SAIC a smooth one. This is a great way to find out more about our student programming, residence halls, facilities and resources, living in Chicago, important dates and more. You'll also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have live.

Thursday, December 4, 2025
Watch Recording

This online information session will cover filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), applying for scholarships and identifying other sources of funding, and understanding your award. There will be time after the presentation to ask any questions you may have.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Watch Recording

SAIC Admissions is here to help with any questions you have leading up to our Early Action deadline on November 15. Don't panic: we're hosting this live Q+A session to help you hit the "Submit" button with confidence.

Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Watch Recording

How do you know what different schools are looking for in a portfolio? Is it the same for every degree program? Join us to learn how to research and follow portfolio requirements. We will review specific requirements for SAIC's 5 different degree programs.

Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Watch Recording

This online information session will provide details about our Art Education, Art History, Writing, and Visual and Critical Studies Programs. Departments will present details about the programs' curricula, admissions, and portfolio requirements.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Watch Recording

Have you run into a case of writer's block? You've made some awesome artwork, but how do you write about it? Join us to learn everything you need to know about constructing an artist statement. We will explain the purpose of an artist statement and offer tips for getting started and editing your statement.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday: How to Apply & Submit Your Portfolio

Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Watch Recording

You've created artwork, documented it, and made your final selections. Now, it's time to apply! We'll show you how to access the Common Application and walk you through the steps to complete and submit your application and SlideRoom portfolio.

Portfolio Tip Tuesday #5: Back by Popular Demand: What is a Portfolio & Where to Start?
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Watch Recording

Applying to art school usually means providing images of your artwork in the form of a portfolio. But how do you get started? How do you know what to include and what to leave out? And how do artists use this important tool in their professional lives? Join us on Tuesday to find out!

Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Watch Recording

Taking great photos of your work is just as important as making it! In this hour long workshop, SAIC faculty will walk you through how to capture and edit high quality photos for your application. We'll also cover tips for using household materials and a smartphone in this process.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Watch Recording

Are you currently contemplating the age-old question of "Is it okay to submit anime, fan art, or comics in a portfolio for art school?" We'll do a deep dive exploring the topics of authorship, originality, and appropriation in art to help you decide how to move forward if you have an interest in this style of work.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Watch Recording

Sketchbooks and journals are essential companions for artists. Together, we'll look at interesting ways to use them and how they can help you build a strong portfolio.

Saturday, August 17, 2024
Watch Recording

Join the International Admissions Team for an overview of the benefits of attending an art school over a traditional college, and how to curate your portfolio for SAIC.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023    
Watch Recording

How can you go beyond what's expected when working on an assignment? How have artists previously incorporated assignments and prompts into their creative practices? SAIC Admissions counselors give you the inside scoop on how to approach assignment-based work so you can include it in your portfolio.

June 9, 2022
Watch Recording

Faculty representatives will discuss SAIC's interdisciplinary curriculum and how it informs the creative process as they practice it and as they teach it.