klp
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Posts posted by klp
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@klp your response was totally on point in terms of the application process. But, I think the majority of the post was questioning the reasoning behind someone who ACCEPTS and takes out loans etc for a degree they cannot afford. In other words, what kind of insanity could lead to someone willingly taking out $120-$160,000 in loans for a degree with very little guarantee for payback?
Oh I see. I agree with your reasoning there but I hadn't understood that from this part of your earlier post:
So, why waste your time, and ours? Why apply to SAIC, RISD, Columbia etc knowing full-well that you cannot pay if accepted? Especially knowing these money pots have limited resources for you? Why not find a means of paying these expenses before you waste the reviewer's time, and also the people who could have afforded to attend and may have been pushed aside while you knew full well you couldn't afford it even if accepted? Why not do some research as to the costs and benefits of these institutions before you even apply?
Also because that post was in the context of an international student a few pages back, saying they'd been accepted into Yale & Columbia but couldn't afford it and they were super stressed about it; I thought it was a little insensitive to say that people are wasting your time by posting about what must be an extremely stressful situation.
To that student, personally I think if you've got into such great schools, even if you can't afford it now, it's wonderful for your self-esteem and a massive thumbs up from the universe telling you to carry on, dig in and focus even harder on your ultimate vision of being an artist.
@advicefortheywhoneedit, it may be that international students may not know everything you know about the less well-known local schools, and so we only tend to apply to the top schools as they are the only ones we know about. Sadly, whilst it's already prohibitively expensive for us, lucrative international fees contribute to driving the costs up even further in the top schools.
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As a fellow artist and recently accepted MFA who has been lurking on here just like the rest of you, I would like to ponder why anyone would be willing to go into $100,000 dollars worth of debt for an MFA degree? I notice so many of you applying to SAIC, RISD, Columbia etc etc and then reacting with astonishment when you are not given a full-ride to these over-priced, generic institutions. $42,000-$60,000 tuition annually plus at least $20,000 per year in living expenses alone puts you in a mound of debt that you will never be able to pay back. Not only that, but it will cripple you artistically, and indefinitely. It's suicide.
So, why waste your time, and ours? Why apply to SAIC, RISD, Columbia etc knowing full-well that you cannot pay if accepted? Especially knowing these money pots have limited resources for you? Why not find a means of paying these expenses before you waste the reviewer's time, and also the people who could have afforded to attend and may have been pushed aside while you knew full well you couldn't afford it even if accepted? Why not do some research as to the costs and benefits of these institutions before you even apply?
*Just a dose of tough love by a concerned colleague. No MFA is worth $120,000 in debt for a degree, and an abstract sense of 'connections' it MAYBE will get you. The reality is, you will likely be making a meager income at best, with $800 a month payments to your new owners. And no, I am not a millionaire just in case you think I'm some spoiled rich kid with everything made. Wise up people!
I think that to achieve anything in life, you need to take it one step at a time. Nothing is absolutely impossible, but you may need to have a long-term vision.
None of us know if we might be the person who will get all expenses paid, until we attempt and apply ourselves. To the people who get in somewhere and can't afford it, perhaps this is the impetus they need to apply for a scholarship for the next year and then reapply the following season to the places that they got into this time -- if they never tried in the first place they'll never go, but if they try and can't afford it, they might manage to go the following year; the latter scenario is a million times better, don't you think?
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From speaking to students who graduated (from Slade, which is indeed an awesome school) after the new visa rules came in in the UK, it seems like it's really tough for students now when they have to leave after 3 months.
Ideally it's better to be able to carry on practising in the place where you've studied, as you'll have built up a support network and the majority of your contacts will be in that city.
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Thanks klp and Designgeek
Just to clarify: I emailed the department asking for a status update, and then heard back from them about the informal offer. So if anyone out here is curious, do send them an enquiry email!
Thanks ros - I didn't come across this thread earlier so this is a great resource! From what I've read here (as well as elsewhere) Pratt doesn't seem to be as well regarded as SVA - and now I do need to choose between SVA, Pratt and RCA (which is even more crazy expensive). I know someone who did the MA Visual Communication at RCA and absolutely LOVED it, and highly recommends it. She says there's a very good focus on the critical and historical bits, and they're always encouraging you to experiment and do new things - I was concerned as a self-directed designer of floundering a bit but she assured me that everyone who comes in does something new which they don't have prior experience in. I would love to hear your take on the program / institute! Thanks
You are in the conundrum that everybody wants to be in
I don't know much about SVA but RCA is really good. Edit: Just had a look at SVA – would you really get taught by Milton Glaser & Stefan Sagmeister? Wow. If I were you I'd want more details around what that entails!
That said, say both schools are as good as each other, do you have a preference for either city, or the ability to live & work in either city once your study period is over?
What do you hope to achieve when your studies are done? Check out InnovationRCA and FuelRCA, initiatives providing business support for alumni.
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Hi everyone, Long time lurker here! just wondering if anyone has heard anything from The Royal College of Art? I thought I would have heard back by now and I'm starting to get a little worried..
Just heard back on my enquiry: I'm being offered a place at RCA!
The email says: I am very pleased to tell you that we are offering you a place on the MA in Visual Communication starting in September 2014. Please note that the offer is subject to approval by the Academic Board. The College will send out formal offer letters on 16 April 2014 once all the College interviews have been completed and the Academic Board has confirmed the results. Until then please consider this a firm offer from the Programme, subject to appropriate terms and conditions which will be explained in the formal offer letter.
Hey Designgeek & bhavika.aggarwal
Congrats on your offer, bhavika.aggarwal !
I got an offer via email (same wording as bhavika.aggarwal received), last Friday 21st -- I applied for Fine Art (Printmaking).
Designgeek, I'm certain that the different schools are replying at different times. Especially as there was a full week between my offer and bhavika.aggarwal's. Best of luck!
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Congrats klp, elinik, and Mauve23!
Yes, congratulations!!
Has anyone here gotten a post interview offer from CalArts for the program in Art? I know photography and media have heard already but I haven't heard anything for Art.
Thanks, ismewilde & kafralal! Feels like I'm dreaming
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Hey Klp, congratulations !!! Did you receive an email or over the post for RCA?
Contacted them and they told me April 16th date, hope that is not bad news for me.
I had an email, they said post will happen on the 16th "once all the College interviews have been completed" -- so sounds very staggered?
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Got into the RCA (Printmaking)!! Yayyyyyyy
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Unsuccessful for the Slade.
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Checking in to vent my nerves- I'm going to NCECA in Milwaukee next week (ceramics conference) and every school I ever applied to is going to be there. I'm going to have to talk to the dozens of people who personally rejected me over the past two years and act like I'm thrilled to disclose and discuss my continual failure with them.
It would never be enough to stop me from going, but it does add a thick dose of anxiety to the whole thing. :/ I know being rejected from grad school isn't personal... but it's still not easy to know you're going to have to talk to the people who decided five days into the selection process that your work is unacceptable.
Try to mentally turn your head around from thinking about failure & rejection, into thinking you have the chance to create new opportunities for yourself.
Positive attracts positive, you might make some contacts or have a conversation that will open up a new avenue for you -- but in a negative frame of mind you wouldn't notice... You can do it! You have something to offer. It's all about true grit
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Unsuccessful for Goldsmiths.
I had to call them today as we were supposed to hear by the end of Feb – the lady who answered was asking someone else across the room and I heard a second lady laughing and saying "they would have HEARD by now if they'd been successful" before I went on hold, then the 2nd lady picked up and looked up my record to check. Sucky way to find out
Oh well, onwards and upwards.
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I just spoke with people at Central Saint Martins and they suggested to apply also to MA Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts. Any info about that program?
Very reputable. Some great artists went there: Patrick Caulfield, David Hockney, Richard Deacon, Anish Kapoor, Gavin Turk, Steve McQueen, Gillian Wearing...
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Hello beautiful future MFA students,
I too am awaiting news from my schools and this forum has been a nice thing to ghost through for a good idea of what has been going on in some of the schools I have heard, unfortunately, nothing from.
I am posting because I'm currently finishing my undergrad at Kent State and I have been informed that right now they have received no suitable candidates for their printmaking grad spot. They have a full assistantship open and want to give it to someone! The community here is awesome and due to the recent retirement of an awesome, but stuck in the past professor who was the head of the department major changes are taking place. Starting potentially in the fall of 2014 (though likely after winter break) you would have access to a completely new printmaking facility and shortly after a whole new arts facility as well. Kent State has a strong first fridays visiting artist program and really awesome opportunities in the summer with their Blossom Arts program in almost every concentration, where they bring in artists from around the world to teach for two weeks. Additionally Kent State has a nice set of galleries, is 20 minutes from Akron and the Akron Art Museum and is about an hour away from Cleveland which houses an amazing and ever growing art community. Two presses in Cleveland (Zygote Press and Black Balloon Editions) were founded by Kent alumni and while BBE is only a few months old Zygote has multiple opportunities for Kent State students every year.
I feel like an advertisement now :[ But I just thought some of my fellow printmakers might like the knowledge that a spot in a nice place with an assistantship is OPEN and they have extended their deadline!!
That's really good of you to post that here, belchert. Thanks for the info!
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Anyone heard from Goldsmiths?
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i was waitlisted when i applied there for undergrad and ended up being accepted, so don't give up hope!
i see you interviewed at the royal college of art.. Im applying in a different field but what questions did they ask you if you don't mind me asking? I'm going there to interview very soon.
Hey humrush, thanks for the hope! Wow, congrats on being accepted into RISD for your undergrad, did you end up going there?
Whoops sorry about the confusion with RCA – I updated my footer incorrectly just now! Interviewed yesterday with the Slade, RCA is next week.
I was at the RCA last night for a Laure Prouvost lecture, amazing. Such slick facilities @ the Battersea premises.
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Ack! How did you find out? E-mail? Website? Phone call?
(Congrats on making it to that level, and wishing you SO much luck!)
Hey DidacticPrinter
I had an email a couple of hours ago. Bearing in mind I would be an international student for RISD, maybe international students have a different quota so could possibly notify at an earlier time?
Best of luck to you too...
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Waitlisted for RISD...
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How weird, my RISD application link no longer has my email address on record. Just over a week ago, I was able to check my application status, but now I can't. Anyone else had this?
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Accepted into COFA Printmaking (Sydney), for which I suspect I'm the only person on this forum to have applied
Yay!
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Hey JoJoLang
Cool, well if it's for Communications then tour photography is very well shot and shows you have a broad range of skills. Best of luck!
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Hi Guys!
This is my first post, I know everyone's got their MFA applications out and are waiting to hear back from Grad schools, but while we are all waiting, mind telling me what you think of my work? I'm not the greatest out there, so I could do with some suggestions to make my portfolio better. To Start it off, I know I don't have that many work, so I am currently working on putting more up there.
Thanks! have a good one!
Hi Joanna
Some nice work in there – what sort of MFA have you applied for?
Your portfolio is very clearly laid out, it's easy to find everything and the amount of content isn't overwhelming, which is a good thing. A tiny thing might be (and this is only my personal opinion) that the blue circular previews of the work aren't as compelling as the actual work is. They look nice as a whole, from a layout perspective, but if the idea is to draw you in, they could be creating a slight visual barrier.
As my main interest at the moment is in printmaking, I loved your printmaking / illustration portfolio. Really fun and well executed. The design section too had some beautiful, clean typography and visually compelling layouts.
Re the photography section, the shots are really well executed – but wedding photography is such a particular genre that I'd worry about having mainly wedding photography unless that is what you are wanting to go into. Anyway, it's hard to advise without knowing what you are aiming for. If it's a photography MA, then you might need to rethink this section to be a little broader / experimental. But if not then ignore me as you are clearly communicating the ability to get a good shot!
My background: My BA was in design, majoring in photography. I have over 10 years' experience working as a UI designer (mainly in rich media / television). My current artistic practice is mainly in Media & Printmaking, and that is the area I'd hope to get into for an MA / MFA.
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Royal College of Art- Not accepted. Email notifications went out today.
I'm happy that they at least were diligent with sticking to deadlines and letting people know about delays. Wish more schools were as punctual.
Sorry to hear that, Yellow Magnet. Sounds like you have a lot of other options, though! Good luck.
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RCA sent an email saying that the February 14th projected response time is being moved back to Monday the 17th. Just a little bit longer and we will all have answers. But maybe since you have recieved an interview request, I should cross it off my list? I don't know, I'm applying under sculpture.
I called them today before I heard and they said ppl would hear by Monday latest. I wouldn't cross off yet, they are just getting through volume. Who knows what their communication order is, could be alphabetical or submission date for all we know. Good luck!
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I've got an interview at the RCA! Yayyyy happy v tines me!
Advice for Starting MFA Application Portfolio for Fall 2015
in Visual
Posted
Hi
If I were you I'd find some recent-ish painting graduates from the programme you are looking at, and see if anyone is offering their services as a tutor. Having a tutor to discuss your work with is not only great for your own development, but will give you an insight into how things work on the programme(s) you are looking at.
Good luck!