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I also got a deadline extension, since one school doesn't even give financial aid information until after the other wants a firm answer. Most are happy to give it to you.

And good luck to everyone still waiting on Hunter!

Got acceptances over the weekend to MICA Rinehardt and CalArts. Now I just have to start making choices. Yikes. Has anyone had experience with asking for decision deadline extensions? I won't get a financial aid package from CalArts until after April 1st, and the SAIC decision is due then.

I certainly understand being drawn to specific faculty work. For me, it was a lot more about the peer group than the faculty, since those are the relationships that you hope to work with into the future. There has definitely been work coming out of SAIC in the last few years that is very compelling to me. That was one of my major requirements in choosing schools to apply to, actually. Also, Mark Jeffreys is amazing. I just visited the school last weekend and he was unbelievably helpful. Tons of energy and a great connection to the Chicago art scene - as well as to alumni communities around the country.

I have a feeling that is not what michaelwebster meant. SAIC's performance department is the only one of it's kind in any MFA program in the country. It's also got a lot of "buzz" right now (as much as that can be defined), with recent alum winning awards like Furnace Fund and NARS in New York. At least, that is my understanding.

Also, anyone apply to MICA Rinehart? Just got an interview email last night. Definitely a bit of an art crush on Maren Hassinger.

Definitely agree with the comments on a post-bacc. I don't have a traditional BFA, and was initially considering the idea, since I didn't know if I could develop a rich enough practice around a day job and still keep up. If you find people to help give you feedback, surround yourself with contemporary work and criticism (even virtually if you are far from a thriving community), and work really, really hard, you can experience an immense amount of development without going into anywhere near as much debt. Sure, if money were no issue, the studio space would be great, but since it is 2013 and you are an artist, I would guess money is, well, an issue. Plus, when I was visiting MICA (for grad programs and post bacc both), the alumnus giving me the tour said that of the 20+ people in the program, only 1 got into Yale, 2 got into MICA, and maybe one or two got into SAIC. Not great odds for the price tag.

Just got an interview with CalArts. Very pleasant surprise for a Friday night!

That's good to know; I'm only interviewing with Sculpture. It just sounds like a huge event, though I would guess that all makes it a lot of fun. Any recommendations for the interview? Thanks! I did apply for both. I'm eager to visit and get to know the different faculty. Looks like you are fairly interdisciplinary - has that made it difficult to know which departments to apply to? And congrats on UChicago! Good luck!

Just got an email about the interview day for SAIC's Sculpture department. Sounds simultaneously interesting and like absolute mayhem.

Also, has anyone heard anything from MICA - especially Rinehart? I know it's a little early, but I'm anxious to hear back. Eeek.

Congrats! Very cool. Are you going to visit at all? And I haven't actually gotten my letter packet yet. Did yours include financial aid info?

Thanks for the information! Definitely excited about knowing I am positively accepted to at least one program, since I didn't really apply to backup schools - just to the five that I knew really excited me. Phew. And aethiryn, I wouldn't be too worried yet. I only got the call yesterday, so I would guess they still might be working through them. I almost didn't pick up given it was a Sunday night and an unknown number. Crazy.

Hi all. I have been watching this forum from a bit of a distance until now, but I have a question: Does anyone know much about SAIC's Performance department? I just got a call of acceptance, and it's one of the only schools I applied to and haven't actually visited. I work in a blend of performance, sculpture, and video, so I am looking for something nicely interdisciplinary. Thoughts? Also, congrats to everyone who is hearing about interviews! Still waiting on some more responses myself.