ArsenicYellow

My friend back in louisiana had an interview with them and so he stayed and my house and we drove over to the campus. From what we saw, there were a lot of negatives and few positives. The grad students there said the biggest plus is that it's basically free to attend if you're accepted and the studio space is amazing. The negatives: the professors are really hard to deal with. Due to the fact that the graduate studios are a good 10-15 minutes drive off campus, its very very hard to get the faculty to come look at your work. Also, a lot of the older faculty seem to be on cruise control, they've been there so long that they are almost tired of it. This doesnt apply to all faculty, mind you, but enugh that the graduate students themselves mentioned it. The campus is also in a terrible location. EXTREMELY rural. There are no bars and I believe the students mentioned one possible liquor store.
 
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend the school to anyone, it gave me extremely bad vibes. I believe a few years back someone on here reviewed the school and said the exact same thing as I did. I posted a link to it in a similar thread recently where someone was asking about Massart.  
 
Edit: Found it 

Just got a call from Hunter! Bumped off the waitlist and accepted for the Fall!

got a phone call from WashU/WUSTL this morning, they offered me a spot! waiting for the $$ info in the mail

I went to massart two months ago for an interview/tour and was extremely impressed with their facilities. Mind you, I went for sculpture so I didn't really look at the photography facilities, but overall, I was extremely impressed. They have a fall pre interview event that I'd recommend you go to, I didn't go to it myself and really regretted not attending.
 
The faculty that interviewed me were extremely nice, they all gave me their business cards and I've actually kept in touch with one of them since the interview, she even called me the day after her spring break and spoke with me for about an hour, answering all of my questions! 
 
I know I can't answer a lot of your questions because they are photo department based, but here was a link where someone listed the pros and cons of a bunch of new england photo mfa programs:
 

 

Jwalche, I don't know what Andi is talking about concerning us being unhelpful. I find this foum, especially thes visual arts section, to be incredibly helpful and pretty much a safe haven for me during this stressful period of my life.

Are there any areas in particular that you're looking for? There's a great thread that lists schools with great funding. I'm on my phone right now, but when I get home tonight ill try to post something more helpful or pm you.

Jwalche, I don't know what Andi is talking about concerning us being unhelpful. I find this foum, especially thes visual arts section, to be incredibly helpful and pretty much a safe haven for me during this stressful period of my life.

Are there any areas in particular that you're looking for? There's a great thread that lists schools with great funding. I'm on my phone right now, but when I get home tonight ill try to post something more helpful or pm you.

Jwalche, I don't know what Andi is talking about concerning us being unhelpful. I find this foum, especially thes visual arts section, to be incredibly helpful and pretty much a safe haven for me during this stressful period of my life.

Are there any areas in particular that you're looking for? There's a great thread that lists schools with great funding. I'm on my phone right now, but when I get home tonight ill try to post something more helpful or pm you.

Jwalche, I don't know what Andi is talking about concerning us being unhelpful. I find this foum, especially thes visual arts section, to be incredibly helpful and pretty much a safe haven for me during this stressful period of my life.

Are there any areas in particular that you're looking for? There's a great thread that lists schools with great funding. I'm on my phone right now, but when I get home tonight ill try to post something more helpful or pm you.

Jwalche, I don't know what Andi is talking about concerning us being unhelpful. I find this foum, especially thes visual arts section, to be incredibly helpful and pretty much a safe haven for me during this stressful period of my life.

Are there any areas in particular that you're looking for? There's a great thread that lists schools with great funding. I'm on my phone right now, but when I get home tonight ill try to post something more helpful or pm you.

Hah, well I just put a 3k down payment on an apartment in boston thats only a 15 minute walk from Massart and SMFA so I had already made my decision I was just freaking out over nothing. I've not heard the best things about amherst's program, so I have no idea why I was so down about Massart today. They have amazing facilities, offer TA and SA positions, and have gallery work experience opportunities. 
 
Really one finds a way to be as negative as possible. You'd think I'd be grateful with so many acceptances, but then you just make yourself depressed, wondering if you're making the right decision. Yeah, I'll probably come out of grad school with a 20-40k debt, but it could always be way more than that. The Amherst would be free, but it's literally in the middle of no where, I'd have to commute at least an hour-two hours a day and my boyfriend would probably hate where we'd live, and he a few states over 9 months ago to live with me and is actually excited about our move to boston. On top of that, the only things that attracted me to Amherst over Massart were the total freedom given in the TA positions and the 3 years degree rather than two. The free ride isnt bad, but I havent gotten the best impression of umass amherst after speaking with their professor today, as well as a few posters here mentioning they were unimpressed when they had a tour of the place. Going to see if I can schedule a tour, but still, my number one place is Massart.

Hah, well I just put a 3k down payment on an apartment in boston thats only a 15 minute walk from Massart and SMFA so I had already made my decision I was just freaking out over nothing. I've not heard the best things about amherst's program, so I have no idea why I was so down about Massart today. They have amazing facilities, offer TA and SA positions, and have gallery work experience opportunities. 
 
Really one finds a way to be as negative as possible. You'd think I'd be grateful with so many acceptances, but then you just make yourself depressed, wondering if you're making the right decision. Yeah, I'll probably come out of grad school with a 20-40k debt, but it could always be way more than that. The Amherst would be free, but it's literally in the middle of no where, I'd have to commute at least an hour-two hours a day and my boyfriend would probably hate where we'd live, and he a few states over 9 months ago to live with me and is actually excited about our move to boston. On top of that, the only things that attracted me to Amherst over Massart were the total freedom given in the TA positions and the 3 years degree rather than two. The free ride isnt bad, but I havent gotten the best impression of umass amherst after speaking with their professor today, as well as a few posters here mentioning they were unimpressed when they had a tour of the place. Going to see if I can schedule a tour, but still, my number one place is Massart.

Hah, well I just put a 3k down payment on an apartment in boston thats only a 15 minute walk from Massart and SMFA so I had already made my decision I was just freaking out over nothing. I've not heard the best things about amherst's program, so I have no idea why I was so down about Massart today. They have amazing facilities, offer TA and SA positions, and have gallery work experience opportunities. 
 
Really one finds a way to be as negative as possible. You'd think I'd be grateful with so many acceptances, but then you just make yourself depressed, wondering if you're making the right decision. Yeah, I'll probably come out of grad school with a 20-40k debt, but it could always be way more than that. The Amherst would be free, but it's literally in the middle of no where, I'd have to commute at least an hour-two hours a day and my boyfriend would probably hate where we'd live, and he a few states over 9 months ago to live with me and is actually excited about our move to boston. On top of that, the only things that attracted me to Amherst over Massart were the total freedom given in the TA positions and the 3 years degree rather than two. The free ride isnt bad, but I havent gotten the best impression of umass amherst after speaking with their professor today, as well as a few posters here mentioning they were unimpressed when they had a tour of the place. Going to see if I can schedule a tour, but still, my number one place is Massart.

Nothing from VCU, pretty ridiculous if you ask me. A fellow sculpture friend called them up today and were told they are still reviewing applications and they have no idea when they'll be done. I also received a call today from Umass:amherst telling me I've been accepted with Full tuition waiver, $900 a month stipend and a teaching assistant ship position where I actually teach a class by myself.
 
Although I've pretty much made my decision, Massart, but  I'm sitting here wondering if its the right choice. I know only I'll know what's right for me, but its so difficult finding out exactly how a school runs. I'm afraid I'll go to a school and it isnt exactly how it made itself out to be. 

I'm embarrassed to say I don't currrently have a website, took mine down a year ago or so. Just made a quick tumblr page with my work for feed from ya'll. Any criticism is accepted and appreciated. Keeping my expectations and hopes low for getting into a program, also applying to residencies. There are two pages of work, with the next link at the very bottom of the page. What I included were only pictures I submitted for my portfolio. I just recently realized I should've taken some close ups of the resin with the bees, but I didn't think of it. 
 
http://crisschayer.tumblr.com/

If your work is this disjointed and thoughtless than you'll be weeded out the first semester of graduate school. I would love to print this out and show it to USC. My hope, though, is that you have a come- to- jesus moment and realize that your views are narrow, insensitive and grossly ignorant.

I have met many famous artists and theorists who have the right to be as arrogant as you, but are humble and let their work and research level people. I would venture to say you are overcompensating for something that isn't happening in your art.

Stop bullying people. Use your words.

Actually, according to faculty I've talked to and us.newsweek (http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-graduate-schools/paying/articles/2012/03/13/5-steps-to-getting-more-money-from-your-graduate-school) You should definitely be honest about other schools packages. I plan on asking them if there is any way to re-review my scholarship due to the high cost of living in boston. I plan on taking out the maximum federal loan amount allowed for the school, I was just mostly wondering if anyone else is going through this right now.

You should visit a library, you won't regret it.

From what I've heard, they usually have an idea of who they actually want, but always interview extra.
Some examples:
Uconn interviewed 10 people for 5 spots. Before the interviews started, they already had their top 5 picked out (their grad students told us this)

Massart interviewed 12-13 people for sculpture this year and they only admitted 4-5 people.

Indiana Bloomington for scultpure interviewed 7 people for 3-4 spots.

Smfa interviewed 100 people and although they say they don't have an exact number they follow, it seems they admit a little over 50% or less.

My past professors, who did admittance to schools like Syracuse and notre dame have confirmed interviews are basically just meet and greets/personality checks. They want to make sure you have the right personalities for their schools and would fit in/be a good addition. Usually they already know who they want, but seem to interview roughly doubly the amounts just in case their tops are lacking and so they can set up a waitlist. It really sucks to think that you may be traveling just to be waitlisted, but really, its time to be positive and show the best you possible! Maybe one of their tops is just not feeling the school/ has a poor attitude. You may have been that #1 on the waitlist but get bumped because they appreciate your positive attitude.

From what I've heard, they usually have an idea of who they actually want, but always interview extra.
Some examples:
Uconn interviewed 10 people for 5 spots. Before the interviews started, they already had their top 5 picked out (their grad students told us this)

Massart interviewed 12-13 people for sculpture this year and they only admitted 4-5 people.

Indiana Bloomington for scultpure interviewed 7 people for 3-4 spots.

Smfa interviewed 100 people and although they say they don't have an exact number they follow, it seems they admit a little over 50% or less.

My past professors, who did admittance to schools like Syracuse and notre dame have confirmed interviews are basically just meet and greets/personality checks. They want to make sure you have the right personalities for their schools and would fit in/be a good addition. Usually they already know who they want, but seem to interview roughly doubly the amounts just in case their tops are lacking and so they can set up a waitlist. It really sucks to think that you may be traveling just to be waitlisted, but really, its time to be positive and show the best you possible! Maybe one of their tops is just not feeling the school/ has a poor attitude. You may have been that #1 on the waitlist but get bumped because they appreciate your positive attitude.

From what I've heard, they usually have an idea of who they actually want, but always interview extra.
Some examples:
Uconn interviewed 10 people for 5 spots. Before the interviews started, they already had their top 5 picked out (their grad students told us this)

Massart interviewed 12-13 people for sculpture this year and they only admitted 4-5 people.

Indiana Bloomington for scultpure interviewed 7 people for 3-4 spots.

Smfa interviewed 100 people and although they say they don't have an exact number they follow, it seems they admit a little over 50% or less.

My past professors, who did admittance to schools like Syracuse and notre dame have confirmed interviews are basically just meet and greets/personality checks. They want to make sure you have the right personalities for their schools and would fit in/be a good addition. Usually they already know who they want, but seem to interview roughly doubly the amounts just in case their tops are lacking and so they can set up a waitlist. It really sucks to think that you may be traveling just to be waitlisted, but really, its time to be positive and show the best you possible! Maybe one of their tops is just not feeling the school/ has a poor attitude. You may have been that #1 on the waitlist but get bumped because they appreciate your positive attitude.

I havent heard of anyone being accepted or even interviewed for VCU sculpture yet. A friend called last week and they said they had a large amount of sculpture applicants so it may take a while..they didnt even give us any sort of date as to when we can expect any word...

A suggestion...if you find obvious spam, very repetitive or repeated extremely objectionable posts on the forum, may i suggest reporting them to the moderators and administrators of the forum rather than making posts in the threads directed at the member who probably won't even read them.
 
Go to the poster's profile and the post in question and click report member. Explain the reason for the report. The moderators will then take the action that they feel necessary and appropriate. They are very busy people and can't find everything. We have to help them. Let's keep the great stuff happening in here!

So this afternoon I a LOVELY call from RISD, saying I was ACCEPTED... ecstatic. I will find out about funds next week! But first acceptance! It feels really good! 
 
Nice to hear there's still good news for others out there too! 

Last year I was offered a merit scholarship but still couldn't have afforded to go, so I wrote a polite letter explaining my situation, put together all my financial info and documents into a tidy pdf (basically submitted my financial aid application again), and emailed it. They offered to increase my grant by third, which was quite impressive and generous, but in the end, I decided to wait another year.
Someone in another topic has said it is pointless to reapply to a school once you have turned them down for financial reasons, but I did just that and so far so good. As long as you are honest about your situation and demonstrate that you have made or are making a genuine effort and applying for all available outside funding (so even if you are unable to contribute towards your tuition, you aren't fully expecting the school to take care of you), I think all is fair game.

Guys, please tone down your language. It's making the forum unpleasant and that's unacceptable. I'll be monitoring this thread and the users who post in it; I'd hate to have to suspend or ban anyone but I will if you don't stop this behavior on your own.