hwrios

Ok, so I was in class and received a call from an area code of one of the schools I've applied to! After class, I checked and no message, so I call the number, and some crazy sounding guy answers and tells me it was the wrong number. Whyyyyyyyy??????????!!!!!!! lol seriously though, i never get wrong number calls. so annoying!

ArsenicYellow, I agree with what lovely painter said. Just say you experienced some traumatic events (very true), because this explains it bus does not make it sound like you have "issues". If you do talk about a bad relationship, unfortunately, they may wonder "what if she gets in another bad relationship while she is at our school?" Of course, it wasn't your fault, but not everyone is going to be understanding about it. Still, you brought your GPA way up and that is the most important thing, so just say you have been working really hard since then, because how you are now is more important that whatever happened then.

AYellow, I was reading it too and saw your name on the bottom lol. So it made me feel better that I wasn't the only one! From what I read, the schools that I applied to sent out either rejects or accepts by March 2, and one was giving interviews the third week of Feb. but i couldn't find info on the other. The exception was one who didn't find out until april, but I assume she/he was on the waiting list. So hopefully I will have all my decisions by then. I really need lots of time if i do get accepted so i can get ready to move. it's not easy with 3 kids.

These are just from Yale?

Om goodness, a guy I know did the same thing! he applied to all kinds of schools, but only one accepted him and it was super expensive. many years later his work is just as bad as it was before and he has no representation or shows or anything, just in massive debt. i so don't want that to be me! yikes.

I didn't get it yet! graduating in May from WVU. (I went to Asbury university like 10+ years ago, got kicked out for not being able to pay my tuition, then had 3 kids, and when the youngest went off to kindergarten i went back to WVU) What city u from?

cool. I'm super Catholic, which is the reason that I liked them (even though I knew that they were being sarcastic). That's part of the appeal of religion to me.... that it is so ridiculous. Catholic relics work really well for that concept because the theology about the human body is so different from other religions--even protestants.

Nice. I feel ya. I applied to Hunter too. I've got fam. in NYC. Husb. grew up there too, but the other schools just seem like highway robbery.

The best schools are those that will accept you and give you funding.

LOL! I'm 33 (and with 3 kids and lots of life history) and i usually feel young until I hear people say stuff like this. haha My statement (i think) is kind of non-traditional, at least compared to some others that I've read. Instead of a life history, I just told stories of events that directly relate to my art-- things like catching chickens and being mistaken for a boy. Well, even if they think I'm a nutjob, there is no way they will fall asleep reading it.

Thanks. Sorry for sounding mad, but at first you came across as someone who was just living in their parents' basement getting mad at other people for being ambitious. Now I can see that is not the case at all, so I apologize. My goal in life is not recognition or fame or money, but just to make art, be around art and artists and provide for myself and my family. I suppose if someone's goal was to be a famous artist, then that would completely change their mentality and approach to Graduate school. I also agree that having connections is extremely important. But those can be gained in other ways besides going to a certain school (in fact sometimes you need the connections before you can even get into certain schools). Nearly all successful (while alive) artists have some connections, but certainly not all of them went to Graduate school!

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` awesome. I especially love the ones with religious/historical images. The Reliquary of st. anthony-- i totally want one of those... i'm too broke though. For some reason your work reminds me of Nicola Lopez, even though the subject matter is totally different. I'm not too crazy about 11-13 though (they just don't really make sense with the rest of your work--the self portrait is pretty though). Overall, very strong. I'm sure you will get lots of acceptances.

Hello. This is kind of a touchy subject, but does anyone know how much schools practice affirmative action? I know some schools I looked at post things about it on their website, but I don't know how much it is currently being practiced. And what do they do? Are they trying to make their campus reflect the population of America, or are they trying to get more "minorities" than in the general population?

Do you have an art career already? Just wondering because you seem confident that it is an easy thing to do. In general, more education= more opportunity. It's just a fact. Also, as a general rule, higher paying jobs require more education. So, yeah having 3 kids (as opposed to just supporting myself ) makes a huge difference. My question is, why wouldn't someone want more education? It's only 2 or 3 more years to have a terminal degree in my field, so why not? I guess it's just in my blood.

Actually, besides all the stuff you said (being around other artists etc.) I really just don't want to work at walmart or some other type of non-art related job. I have to worry about more than just myself-- I have 3 kids to feed. I don't feel that is "trite" in any way.

Morganrhobbs: Yes! Now I get you. I love all the "updates" you posted. Very nice! They seem trancendental-- like hovering in another realm that is not birth or death, or life, but sort of all of them...the collective experience of being human and yet being an individual. well at least those are my thoughts....sorry if i'm way off. i like them a lot though. : )

Yes, the nudes are great. My favorites are actually the watercolors though. I REALLY loved the ones you said you did in New York. It's all nice though. Good luck.

Applause accepted.

Of course it does. But my paintings are mostly small. I don't know if schools even look at that at all, but I'm wondering.... I'm also wondering how much grades matter. I mean, what is a good GPA for an artist? I can't help but think that the Profs just choose people based on "liking" their portfolio and nothing else matters. I don't know.

oh. Hunter isn't on your list though. hehe. Well, that's one less hope for me bc i'm sure Hunter will accept you-- I found your website and you're so awesome. . They actually called you though? I've got a bunch of emails from them but no calls. Which school is your top choice? Which program did you choose for the review? Sorry to ask you all these questions!

Yes. I've seen some really great artists come from unknown schools. (or no school). And then there are a lot of artists that I don't particularly care for that went to well known schools. I think that most of an artist's success come from their own intrinsic motivation. Going to a school with a good reputation and already having talent and motivation would seem like the best combination, but the last two are essential. If you go to Columbia (or where ever) and then just sit on your a** after you graduate, you probably wont get very far.

Hello. Where did you apply?

Actually, elementary school art is MUCH more inspiring than High School art. (I often use drawings that my kids made as parts of my art--they were at their best between the ages of 4-7 but now that they are getting older, they "try" harder and I can't use what they make!). Picasso said: "My childhood was spent learning to paint like an adult, and then the rest of my life was spent learning to paint like a child." Part of me wonders why you are even seeking an MFA (you didn't really say what your goals are except that you want an MFA). If I had a job as an art teacher that paid well, I would be pretty happy about that. I tried but couldn't stomach the "ed." classes. If your goal is to teach college aged students, I don't think you should worry about what age group you are teaching. The fact that you have so much teaching experience already will put you ahead of most people anyway. I'd go for the money! And if you get any really good drawings from Kindergarten or first grade, ask them if I can have them! I need a new supply.

Sometimes quieter people come across as being wiser. Maybe because they think more before they speak, and don't just say the first thing that pops in their head like ....me. If you are so shy that you don't say anything at all, then that would definitely be a problem. Try to push yourself to open up to people, but not so much that you seem fake. Also, the best strategy to make people like you or think you are intelligent is to ask THEM questions about themselves. (not during a formal interview though!) You could think of some questions ahead of time to ask people and then you won't feel awkward during those moments of silence. Plus, asking questions makes THEM talk, which is good if you are shy.

Interviews? Yikes, what's that about? Do all schools do that? Are they in-person or online? dang... I don't really own any dressy stuff, I guess I'd have to raid my kids' closet. As for what to say, that part seems easy. As with any interview, just answer their questions and don't sound like an idiot. Am I missing anything else?