Intro

You know that kooky, artistic kid sitting in the back your English class, doodling away in their notebook with dreams of disappointing their parents by declaring an interest in art school?

Well, that wasn't me. I may be a school that emphasizes the arts, but I'm different. I get my students jobs. My neighbor, the Art Insitute of Chicago, may be more "prestigious," but they also have a reputation for producing the future baristas and retail workers of America, if you know what I mean.

Me, on the other hand?

I have top-ranked programs in graphic and game design. I've also been making a name for myself in journalism and film—so much so that YouTube chose me as the first location to launch their YouTube Creator Institute.

See, I love the arts, but I'm also realistic. Some people would rather coat their body in paint and roll around on a canvas to create something…and that's fine. I'd much rather create beautiful, virtual worlds like Skyrim or help my students become the next Freddie Wong.

Name

The Renegades. Art students that don't play by the starving-artist rules.

Hometown

I live in the heart of one of the greatest cities in the world, the city of big shoulders and even bigger hotdogs, Chicago.

Birthdate

1890

Body Type

I try to maintain a pretty slim figure. With just over 9,600 undergraduate students, about 500 graduate students, and students from 41 different countries. Okay, that may not seem too small compared to some other schools…but really, what's more important? My body or my personality?

Current Living Situation

I'm not gonna lie, I've got some pretty swanky places. If you've got the cash, that is. From my super modern, apartment-style dorms (complete with kitchens and private rooms) to my more traditional, shared-bedroom dorms, I make most other student housing look like prison cells.

If sharing space with a lot of other people isn't your thing, don't worry. Just live off campus. I mean, I'm in Chicago, and the public transit here is amazing. The L (elevated train) will take you anywhere you need to go. You can visit me from any part of the city, from Wicker Park, Bucktown, Wrigleyville, Lakeview, Hyde Park, South Side, Rogers Park, Logan Square…the choices are nearly endless.

Relationship Status

It's…complicated with The Art Institute of Chicago.

We get along, sure, and we share a bunch of the same interests. She's just a little more stuck up…and snooty about art and culture. Like I said, I'm on the business end, and she's a little more of a purist….even though that often means, ahem, giving students degrees that get them nowhere after graduating.

Religion

My church: a movie theater. My pastor: a book. My salvation: freedom of expression. In other words, no, I don't have any specific religious affiliation.

Politics

I'm about as liberal as they come. From hairy-legged feminists to gay pride events, if you have ideas, I want to hear them. Do you have ideas about redistribution of wealth? Tell me. Do you want to talk about women's rights? I do, too. The one thing I don't want to hear: hate. Leave that at the door.

Not liberal? Not a problem. I'm open to hearing your ideas either way. I love dissent. I love arguing. We don't have to agree to get along.

You should apply to me if...

you're that weird, creative kid with an epic beard and/or killer tattoos and you want to learn how to turn your creativity into a lucrative career.

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