thepictureisstill
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Posts posted by thepictureisstill
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Art & Debt
in Visual
It's a very personal decision. My partner took out $30k to pay for his undergrad…turns into $50k and $60k veeeeery quickly with interest…it's essentially the interest that fucks you. Also pretty sure if it's a government loan, you have to begin paying it back immediately upon graduation- unlike undergrad where you had six months or could defer payments. I work a day job now and want to figure out how to live off grants and award money for as long as possible after graduation so I don't have to go back to rationing my art time. I think the "community" you get from graduate programs is moreso your fellow students than anything else; this is what I've been told by my mentors.
If it's really your dream school, trust your gut. If you have doubts, address those. It's also really early on in the game..see how it all plays out. One of my close friends got into a top-tier school as her first acceptance (with little financial aid) and received a fellowship at Penn State as her last acceptance- she went with the fellowship. She was very, very pleased with her decision and she hasn't had to get a day job since she graduated a couple years ago.
It's hard to look so far out in the future! -
I also was shortlisted.
I want to go to the visitation day, but I need to figure out if it is worth spending the money for flights and hotel stay coming from Los Angeles....
If I was in the country at that time I would totally put you guys up…I would ask OSU about student rates at nearby hotels.
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Oh no! Do you think they send all of the interview requests for painting out at the same time?
Yes.
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Art & Debt
in Visual
I'm going to go wherever tuition is free. I want to be a practicing artist after school (I see teaching down the line, say 10 years or so) and want to make the best work possible. Debt, for me, will only hinder that. I want the $200 a month (that would go towards a loan payment) to be put towards materials, applying to shows or paying my rent so I have somewhere to live. Applying for professorial positions is incredibly competitive; I'd rather focus on making great work and being able to travel more- a large part of my practice and motivation-rather than worry about a loan payment. My parents make a decent amount of money; I'm 25 years old though and totally on my own. They are not picking up the bill at a university. Therefore, those schools that take family income into consideration would make me pay full price for such an education...no thanks. I wouldn't dare ask my parents for such an exorbitant amount when I know I'll be offered much better packages (for me, personally) at other schools.
Technotronic, have you heard Teresita Fernández's "On Amnesia, Broken Pottery, and the Inside of a Form"? Give it a listen if not...She talks about living in cheap place after graduating so you can actually make work instead of stressing about money. That's my philosophy on loans as well. You can listen to it here: http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/12/29/teresita-fernandez-commencement-address/
Brainpickings also just totally rocks and I adore everything Maria Popova writes.
Thank you for starting this thread, I'd love to hear others' opinions...Above all, the work speaks for itself.
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I would say most MFA's do not come straight out of undergrad. It's not necessary to take time off, but for some people the time is valuable to determine if you possess the motivation, right intention, and necessary skills to be in grad school and beyond. An MFA is costly and the time spent in school is short. Therefore you may want to make the most of your experience by preparing yourself. You may want to experience the process of exhibiting your work more, planning heftier projects compared to your undergrad work, or evolving your process as an artist. Personally I find it challenging balancing life and art outside of school, so some people also want to deal with that before diving into grad school because school does not last forever. I'm sure MFA programs want to produce artists who can continually fan their own flames.
I agree with Kogepan. For me, taking that time off was such a good idea. I'm making the best work I have thus far and as an artist, you learn how to balance life with your practice. It's almost a test of sorts. What do you really do with your free time after you have to work 40 hours a week to pay your bills and feed yourself? You train yourself to go into your studio, apply to shows, find criticism from the community around you...your "true" interests come to light as well. What do you do when you aren't in a class, directed by a prompt or given a deadline? My first time applying was 2012-2013 after graduating in 2012 and I passed on the spots offered at PNCA and PSU. One of the best decisions of my life. After I was accepted and I really had time to think about why I was going, I realized it was out of fear. Fear of becoming distant with my mentors/recommenders; fear of not actually making work out of schools...I waited. I'm going in to this round totally fearless and my portfolio is so much stronger than it was before. I exhausted all resources around me and gained some real-life experience in working, organizing shows and being part of the (non-schooling) art community. I'm definitely one of those that wanted to deal with balancing life and my practice before diving into school.
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An important thing to remember too; your successes are your former professors/recommenders successes. They get to mark down in an yearly academic log "student xyz was accepted to abc graduate program and received a fellowship" or whatever. Just let your people know you may be planning to apply again. They won't sweat it!
Results from these subjective evaluations have no bearing on self-worth, making good work or the ability to succeed.
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Invited to interview with SAIC for fibers (via email). They also said letters will be going out in the post.
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Same, relieved.
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Me either- big congrats to the Interview candidates!!
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My skin is thickening as I type. Something I've been reminding myself of through this process: the outcomes of these applications have no bearing on my self worth. Part of being an artist, choosing this path, is being fucking tough. We are all resilient. If not your dream school, opportunities that are as wonderful as we are will be there as long as you just keep applying.
Thanks for letting us know Maelstrom! Much appreciated.
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does anyone think it's a bad idea to call the admissions office and ask whether it's tonight or next week?
stress of waiting is sprouting me some nice white hairs
Can't hurt.
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it'll be on the application
last year they posted around 11:00 pm
but this year they pushed the application date back a week so they may not do it until next week... just hypothesizing tho
I didn't even consider that- good thinking! Thank you.
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Do you guys think we'll hear rejections/interview requests today?
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I think many institutions use the merit funding as a way of securing / wooing the students that they're really excited about working with. I'm assuming Yale doesn't have to do this, since they're Yale..
Yale does what Yale wants
No interview requests yet, and kind of really terrified right now.
Is there a possibility that different departments within a program send out interview requests at different times?
Czarina,
I think most programs work that way unless they're super interdisciplinary. What was your experience last year?
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Agreed. And they are upfront about this stuff, I think it's within the first two paragraphs of the financial information. It definitely does level the playing field. I wonder if they take cost of living In New Haven in to consideration as well? Or just tuition?
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Yale: "There are no scholarships based on merit or any criteria other than financial need. The School determines financial need in accordance with formulas established by institutional and federal methodologies"
another qualm I have with the system is that places like Yale take your parents income into consideration. Why would they assume that my parents are able and willing to pay for school? Going way way back to Saltz's article from like 10 years ago...these programs should not be solely for those who can pay. We can help change this by not accruing debt and stressing to schools that, if they want us, put your merit based scholarships where your mouths are.
I went to the Yale open house and had the impression that they use their available funding to level the playing field, as much as possible. They essentially give whatever they can to the incoming students, based on need. I'm assuming this is of course outside of the initial merit scholarships, etc.
I also spoke with a Yale alum who received the full ride scholarship (this is many years ago) for her department, and she was unable to make the in-person interview. So I'm guessing it's not held against you in any significant way if you have to opt for skype.
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Good luck to everyone going into interviews! Prep prep prep. Also, please submit results and interview requests through the links at the top of the page.
Kick ass. Take names. Do something super nice for yourself after.
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It is ridiculous that they might demand an in-person interview. If you have your heart set on the university, I would do everything possible to make an in-person happen. That's the downside of applying to many school...flat broke afterwards, haha. I ate mac and cheese wayyy too many times in the first two weeks of this month.
You stated "If the schools lean towards those that can come in person, it seems it's another way that privilege can trump the work", but the work has already been evaluated by the time they request an interview. Money doesn't trump work in these situations...they look at the portfolios first with no supporting materials at hand. If you make it past that point, then they delve into written components and LOR. FAFSA stuff is probably last. I think they get the gist of who they'll offer money to from the portfolio. Strongest work=most money. Interviews are to see if you can articulate your ideas, how sociable you are, give you an opportunity to ask questions and to make sure you're not a total psychopath.
If the school is super sold on you, they'll pay for you to come visit after you're accepted.
Just some thoughts!
Though I am still waiting for notifications on whether I will be asked to interview, I have been debating whether or not I will travel for the interview or use Skype. I sometimes wonder if the interview process can be a an issue of entitlement. There seems to be this idea that "if you want it you will find a way" but the expenses involved in the application process can be exorbitant for some.
If the schools lean towards those that can come in person, it seems it's another way that privilege can trump the work. (I remember in undergrad that people that could afford weren't nearly as talented as those on scholarship. Yet, a student on scholarship technically flunks out if they dipped below a B average, because they lose the scholarship and the ability to pay for school.
I really am thinking that considering one's financial position should be deemed prudent rather than frowned upon. Should you get in you still have to pay a tuition deposit out of pocket. And then comes debt. OK this is now a rant lol -
That is great!! Congrats!
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!
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Do folks know how interviews work at UO? I know we specified certain departments on the application (I think I put printmedias and digital arts), but do all departments do interviews? In otherwords, should I assume rejection if I've heard nothing from them as it seems sculpture at least has already interviewed it's applicants?
I would not assume any rejection whatsoever until you get notice from the school. My assumption (which could be wrong) is that they do interviews by whatever area you indicated (since we had to) on your application. They interview through Mid February, so definitely don't rule them out. This is probably just the first round for some departments.
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Phone interview with Oregon sculpture tomorrow. Notified via email.
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Congratulations! I like that they called on a Sunday
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That is great news! Congratulations!!
Eee thank you.
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Just received an acceptance call from UW-Madison
- tcornel5 and buyyourbison
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2015 MFA Applicants: Share your work and statement!
in Visual
Posted
Laura! Beautiful. I love the layered vellum.