artygrad

Hey, where are you based if you don't mind me asking? I'm waiting to find out about Finland too and there was nothing in the mailbox today. Chicago mail's notoriously slow though...

My husband would come with me. He's being a total trooper but hates the waiting game as much as I do. Do spouses automatically get visas or does that vary by country? I really hope he'd be able to work...

April feels like a really long time away. I hope I can handle being in limbo that long. Ugh.

Why don't we each fill out our information on a new spreadsheet modeled after last year's so you don't need to take on the lion's share of the work going through past posts?

My project involves artists around the country but it makes the most sense for me to be based in Helsinki (I'm an art historian).

Helsinki.

Finalist for Finland too!

my advisor confirmed we will find out tomorrow. am ill with anticipation (and potential heartache)!

So our advisors can't let us know when they find out who made it past this round? It's a confidentiality thing?

Ditto. I have heard nothing and feel super crazy nervous and unable to think about anything else. Plus knowing we can find out any time between Friday and the 31st drives me bonkers.

Cool. Was it a Finn or an American that contacted you? I thought the Americans didn't even pass on applications to the host country until Jan. 31?

Wow, I applied to Finland too but haven't heard a peep so not thrilled to know they're already contacting people! Jon, what's your research area?

SAIC peeps, what neighborhood(s) are you looking into? I've heard good things about Wicker Park and West Town. I'm looking for a hood with action (I'm coming from NYC), that's bikeable to class (at least before the onslaught of winter), super close to the Red or Blue line, affordable, etc. Other folks, feel free to chime in here too...Planning on moving Aug 1 - so excited!!

Yup, I have finally decided that SAIC is the school for me and I turned down Bard for it too. That was hard. I went to visit and while I didn't click with Chicago itself, I really liked the faculty and just got that all-around good vibe. Reminded me how important mutual interest and respect is between faculty and students; Bard was so aloof with me the entire process and they didn't even respond to the email I sent them turning down their offer. Telling, eh? Well some ecstatic person's getting in off the waitlist so it's great news for them. Also, when I went to visit SAIC I grilled the other students in the program and they were really happy with it on the whole. I even have homework already (lots of reading!) - which demonstrates how academically rigorous the place is. A good sign, for sure. I think we're in similar positions in our lives too - I'm walking away from an incredible job in NYC and the life I've built here over the last 7 years (I've been out of school that long). Luckily, my SO is moving with me and that makes this whole change so much more feasible and even exciting. Anyway, you already know that SAIC an amazing school. I'm headed into a double master's program and am so psyched to spend 3 years studying and being surrounded by art and artists. It doesn't get much better than that. Surely you'll love it too!

Wow, studentfromLA, we are in exactly the same boat. I turned down my #1 choice (or what used to be my #1 choice) for a close second that offered me full funding and enthusiasm. I visited this program and liked them even more. School #1 offered me half the funding for the first year only and never even answered my decline email! I'm positive I made the right decision though I agonized about it for weeks. A lack of interest is so telling...