hello_lauren

Got an offer from Glasgow School of Art, so I'll be turning down my other offers. If anyone's on the UPenn waiting list, hopefully this helps!

I was accepted on Friday for UPenn's program during my Skype interview. Really love the sound of the program and everything my interviewer was telling me was amazing. I live and go to school in Glasgow though, and am still keeping my fingers crossed for a GSA acceptance. I love it here and would love to stay. Unfortunately, my interview didn't go particularly well. So I suppose if GSA sends me the rejection I'm expecting, I'll be Philly-bound! Did all SAIC sculpture acceptances go out last week? should I write that one off as a rejection? I was interviewed, but haven't heard anything since.

I also applied to Urbana Champaign, thanks for the info! Hopefully we hear soon!

Has anyone heard from University of Illinois? Anything?

Just had my SAIC interview, and trainwreck is the only appropriate word to describe it. It was a Skype interview, and my connection here in Scotland is so bad that the call dropped every 2-3minutes, and would take an extra minute or two to come back, so it was this really bad stopping/starting thing where I never got to complete a thought or fully answer a question. They were only able to ask a bit about my work, and it was just such a nightmare. I'm so bummed out- I feel like I could have done really well if technology had been functional. I will not be surprised when the rejection letter comes.

Heard from Penn and SAIC today that they'd like to interview me. Let the stress-eating begin!

That is so great! Congratulations! Must be a huge relief, and it's a great school!

Received an offer to come interview in Belfast! I also got an email from Brighton saying that they will be in touch about an interview date shortly. Stoked!

I applied to UPenn last week, and they sent me an email this week saying that I need to have a third party convert my UK transcript to the US grading system before they will process my application. Of course the third party they require me to use charges $205 for the service. On top of the application fee I already paid, this seems like a lot, no? I want to go to UPenn, but I cannot afford the extra money! I had to give a few applications the axe because of application fees. So bummed out!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Royal Academy only gives free tuition to UK/EU residents, doesn't it? I researched them a couple of years ago when I was thinking of applying to more schools in the UK instead.

I feel like there are loads of programs that are well-funded at good schools, but I never hear about their MFA programs. For example, Tulane, Notre Dame, and Michigan. I feel like it's smart to go where the money is, but is there any risk of applying to less prestigious (or perceived as less prestigious) programs?

I love that description, that actually really helps, thanks!

I have a question: What am I supposed to say in a personal statement? I spoke with someone in admissions for Michigan, and she told me this is my "chance to talk about myself as a person." Which is just vague enough that I have no idea what people put in these things. Artist statements and statements of intent I understand and can navigate pretty well. I can talk about my work and influences and why I'd like to get an MFA. Unfortunately, I just have no idea what I'm supposed to write in an entirely separate statement that's just devoted to me. Can someone please elaborate?

I'll be visiting University of Michigan this summer. From their website, it seems like a great program, but I never hear much about it. Just wondering if anyone here goes there, I'd love to hear some firsthand experiences (that includes application, interviews, and the actual program). I've also never actually visited a campus before- I go to the Glasgow School of Art as an international student from Illinois, so I wasn't able to see the school before I went. I've never had an in-person interview for a school, either. Do I actually bring anything with me for a campus visit? Thanks very much!

Thanks! I have the Cranbrook one, and it's very nice. It came with a patch. It's basically for the students in my department- I'm helping compile a collection of catalogues for my classmates so they can look at schools in the US (we're at the Glasgow School of Art, so campus visits for us are pretty out of reach- catalogues seem to help). SAIC also has a good one every year!

Which schools still send out catalogues to potential applicants? I find a lot of schools just want you to look at the website to save paper, but I'm just wondering.

GSA does not offer much funding, and you can't even apply for scholarships until after you've accepted your spot- so you might want to do some research and see if other places will give you funding offers earlier. It would be a shame to get in and accept a spot there and then find out that you'll receive no funding. That said, living expenses in Glasgow are so minimal that paying your tuition in full here plus living expenses might still be cheaper than living in London with partial funding. As far as Ireland, I've heard good things about NCAD.

I don't know anything about London. But I go to the GSA for my undergrad, and can give you any info you need. The GSA is great, and the scene here is smaller than London's, but it's wonderful. It's easy to make connections, and since it's a smaller scene, everyone seems to know everyone else. There's also loads fo cheap/free places to show work, which is always a good thing. The GSA has great tutors. I'm in the photo department, so if you need any information, feel free to send me a message!

University of Illinois has an awesome new media MFA, and I've heard they give pretty good funding as well. I'm not applying until next year, but it's definitely on my list.

Thanks for the replies, everybody! I'm a photography student right now, and am looking for an interdisciplinary program that will allow me to get good critical feedback. I'd say the biggest thing lacking at the GSA is that everyone is so polite and refuses to critique in a constructive way. Are there good opportunities for exhibitions and internships in Philadelphia? Also, what kind of funding/scholarships are available? I think that's my biggest concern about applying- it looks like a great school, but I'm worried I wouldn't be able to afford it.

Just wondering if anyone from Penn can give me any insight on the program. I'm in Scotland (at the GSA) so I can't just take a trip over there and check it out. I'm not applying to any programs until next year, but I'm trying to narrow down my choices early so I can be a bit more focused.