ArsenicYellow

Oh I'm going to that school, but I'm trying to figure out how to negotiate more money out of them.

I'm at the stage where I'm starting to figure out how to get additional funding with schools and figured I'd make a topic about it to discuss with others. Doing a little research, the consensus is that one should write a letter rather than call. They seemed to stress writing a physical letter rather than emailing, as it may come off as more sincere, but with the acceptance deadline approaching, a letter seems a little slow. What are your opinions on this? So far, these are the offers I've received. For anonymity sake, not that it really matters, I'll just number each school rather than name (though its pretty obvious which one is which). A. 8k/year scholarship and I can take up to 4 assistant ship positions a year, valued at 1,100 per position, equaling 4,400 per year. (acceptance deadline May 1st) B. 5k scholarship with no word on any sort of assistant ship. (acceptance deadline April 5th) C. Tuition waiver + 25% off their curriculum support fee as well as a stipend of 4k a year. (acceptance deadline April 15th) I want to go to school A. They've offered me the most money, but that's due to school C's lower tuition. School A and B also have much higher cost of living due to being in the city. I'm waiting to hear back from my final two school, in hopes I will also get a good award from their schools, but I plan on contacting schools A, B, and C by the middle to end of this week.

do you mind me asking if you were accepted? I seemed to click with unite a few people who were interviewing, but I think it was just my interviewer that was the problem. Everyone was super nice and friendly, I just felt so out of it that day, maybe I was just mentally unprepared.

She didnt actually say she "disliked" the other pieces. If I remember correctly, she said she really enjoyed one of the pieces because, unlike the rest, that one wasn't as literal. I guess in my mind I took it as she disliked the others. I'm leaning towards Massart, but SMFA seemed to really emphasize the fact that they give a lot of opportunities to their grad alumni. One of the admission tour guides said he didnt apply to Massart because they basically spit out their students once you have graduated, not really creating a lasting relationship with them. Of course, his opinion is probably super biased. Facilities have never been a big issue to me, I've primarily worked at home on my own, but I am interested in Massart's pouring and weaving facilities. Do you feel as if Massart's program is well rounded between technique and contemporary art theory/criticism? Both schools seem wonderful, but it was a little hard to take SMFA seriously. Their entire interview day felt like a wine and dine experience, it was impossible to figure out how much of it was genuine. Thank you for such an informative post

Had my interview yesterday at SMFA. Was an interesting experience, eveyone was super nice but I didn't feel as if I really fit in with a lot of the faculty/students. Another person interviewing actually recognized me from this site and a exchanged email/phone numbers with a few potential smfa students. It was a nice experience but again, I didn't really feel like I matched well with the school, which is probably an issue with me rather than smfa. I've been trying to compare massart to smfa, does anyone have any insight about the schools? The faculty at smfa said their program was less structured, but massart seemed to offer a lot of freedom as well. Thu also said massart was more technique driven while smfa is conceptually driven, but I'm not so sure that is entirely true, it seems like massart facilities are just better than smfa's. Also, I had an incredibly awkward interview. My interviewer seemed completely uninterested in my work. I felt like i was wasting her time after she told me she liked only one of my pieces (a maya/3d printer piece) and that the rest of my work was too literal. What a bummer...

Actually, smfa in Boston has an mfa performance art department, and from what I saw yesterday during my interview there, it was pretty decent. It may not be SAIC level, but there are other schools out there. I also think there is another school on the west coast, but I can't think of it at the moment.

Just got an email from Boston U, was accepted and awarded the Constantin Alajalov Scholarship. Weird that I just got the email, considering my friend received an email from them over a week ago informing him that he was wait listed for the same department.

I took a year off to move up to Massachusetts I establish residency before applying to programs. Don't really know if its helped much, although I feel as if my recent work has matured a bit.

Uconn only accepts 5 grad students across the board, they don't separate departments. They've already contacted the 10 students they wanted to interview one of my friends actually got the interview and I drove him there. Surprisingly, I was not impressed with their program after I heard the pros and cons from one of their grad students. If you want more info, feel free to pm me. I'm actually not upset at all that I was rejected.

No one on here has posted that they've been contacted yet.

I actually had a pretty nice interview. Cracked a couple of jokes and made a few professors laugh. Maybe it's just the photography department

Nothing from syracuse yet. Stinks because you cant even check the status !

Drove my friend to his uconn interview. When I actually checked the campus out, I wasn't upset about not getting an interview. The area was way too rural for me and the campus was waaayyyy too big. On the way back, I received an acceptance email from massart with a scholarship award. 30 minutes later I received a rejection letter from risd. Oh well!

Got an email with acceptance to massart with deans scholarship and Ga opportunities. Then received a rejection letter from risd... Not too upset though, in all honesty I couldn't have afforded it anyway.

I had a mass art interview and was told the same thing. Still nothing. My status changed from ready to review to reviewed so now I'm thinking the worst. I emailed them and was informed everyone will be notified by either email or mail within the next two weeks. Also heard nothing from risd. I know they've contacted ceramic people but haven't heard any sculpture applicants being contacted yet.

Got an email last night from Umass Dartmouth letting me know I was nominated for an SA position with tuition waiver+ small stipend. Still waiting to hear back from other schools, at this point I'm expecting a rejection letter from BU and UConn, but the UMass:Dartmouth news makes it sting a little less.

Congrats! Do you mind me asking if you applied to ceramics or sculpture for risd?

I see in your signature that you got an email request for an interview with RISD. What department did you apply for, if you dont mind me asking?

Ugh, looks like Boston university emails went out. A friend of mine (who is also applying for sculpture)received an email around noon letting him know he was waitlisted and I somehow received nothing. Super worried that means a rejection or they didnt get my letters of recommendation or transcripts :(. Called their department today to make sure they were recieved but they won't get back to me until Monday

For risd, it seems like only architecture, graphic design and MAYBE some painting. No ideas on any of the others

My friend had a ba, rejected from all of her schools, didnt know anyone important and certainly didnt do "big things", but got into Bemis when she applied in 2010. Was an amazing experience. If you have the money to spend, it certainly isn't "throwing $40 away".

Sadly massart combines ceramics and sculpture into one program, 3d fine arts. Had an interview with them on feb 6th. Haven't heard from them since.

Where did all the sculptors go? Haven't heard much yet. Friend got a call yesterday for a uconn interview so its not lookig good. Was accepted into umass:Dartmouth, no word yet on funding. Got a call for umass Amherst informing me that I was waitlisted, but #1 on the list. I have an interview on march 9th for SMFA, super worried that I haven't heard back from any other school, but at least I've been accepted somewhere.

Any info on risd or VCU for sculpture yet? I've been hearing about painting and graphic design emails already having been sent out so I don't expect an interview at this point.

I'd advice not to wear anything you'd wear to a job interview. You don't want anything too business like (no suits). I wore a nice casual dress wih a cardigan, scarf, and tights to my interviews. Remember, you are interviewing for an mfa, not a MBA. Wear something nice, stylish and try to remember, how you look will be the first impression they get from you.