bhavika.aggarwal

Haha, no worries, I trust your observations I declined my offer long ago. The deadline was April 15, I think. Best of luck!

Hey, I was in the same situation - same $30k scholarship offer too. I just paid my SVA deposit - they're different programmes, buy the course and faculty at SVA seemed much better. I also emailed some students and spoke to a lot of people and no one really really recommended Pratt. Maybe it was pretty stupid to choose the more expensive option (by $20k) but I feel happier with the choice. Will go with SVA unless I get an external scholarship to RCA.

I'd say go for Aalto! No tuition must mean a whole lot money difference.

Wow, that's an intense discussion. I think there should be no room for rudeness / snarkyness here! @advicefortheywhoneedit: The discussion on the worth or value of an expensive MFA degree can have no end. Clearly you believe that its absolute financial suicide - which I agree with, to some extent. But remember: your opinion is yours alone, and your advice is not just for those who need it, but those who want it too. Not to say you can't share it, but maybe not so aggressively? Honestly, what you wrote is nothing new - most of us are aware of this unfortunate reality - so a gentle reminder would have gone down much better than a you-idiotic-people-are-so-stupid rant. I agree totally with @klp. I probably won't go to Yale, or to RCA, but just knowing I got in is a great feeling. As an international student, I obviously don't want to spend a little less to go to a more local school when it's already such an investment for me to go outside to study. Honestly, reputation matters, especially when you're moving out of your comfort zone. And hope lives eternal - as long as there's the slightest chance to get some funding why won't you try? You might have a problem with the inherent "value" of an expensive degree, but there's no denying that they do offer better infrastructure and faculty and exposure (in most cases) and definitely increase (initially at least) your own sense of self-worth. You know, a bit like Apple vs everything else cheers!

Yes, I will let the forum know my final decision! Whenever I pay the deposit Yesterday I also declined my offer from Yale, so someone on the waitlist might have a chance. You can see her work here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anugraha/595580513786205 Sorry, the end parenthesis got hyperlinked as well!

Happyland, klp, ros - and everyone else - thank you so much for your advice! klp - I plan to head back home and practice in Delhi, so I'm looking for an incredible environment, and great faculty for the experience of being in their compass rather than for networking per se. I am though very interested in summer internships - but that might be difficult as an international student anyway (no work visa). ros - thanks for the very detailed RCA review! This was incredible helpful, and sort of corroborated my understanding - that RCA might be too conceptual and not so grounded / practical. That's my worst fear - to be in some kind of bull-shitting environment where everything is very "high-brow" and not applicable in the real world outside of the institute (which is why I've sort of moved away from Pratt too). However, I absolutely love their focus on historical and critical studies, and research / writing as a basis for studio practice. The RCA graduate I mentioned earlier, she has an amazing practice in Mumbai and she says she's applying everything she learnt at RCA, so obviously the final experience is very different for everyone. (If you want to see her work: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anugraha/595580513786205) Both SVA and RCA are incredible. I'd rather be in London, and I think that the student environment at RCA is much better, but the programme structure at SVA is more appealing. I've decided on SVA (as of now, two more weeks to deadline, so you never know) but since the probability of an external scholarship is much higher with RCA I'll fill in those applications too. Let's see where it takes me. Thanks again!

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

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.

I sent them an email enquiring about my status earlier this week but haven't heard back. However, I got another email from the admin to notify me of a scholarship opportunity (not to imply at all of my chances) which said: Your official results letter will be emailed and sent to you on 16 April 2014, after the meeting of the Academic Board which confirms the results.

Does anyone have advice on SVA vs Pratt for an international student who can't visit? Thanks!

I was notified of my MFA acceptance at Pratt by email on March 11. If you haven't heard, maybe you're on the waitlist? Offer holders have till May 1 to secure their place.

Congratulations to everyone on their acceptances, and best of luck for the decision making! I was actually hoping for some advice on my choices. I've decided to forego Yale - the major factor for me is the three years - in terms of expense definitely but also just time. I've spent five years at architecture school already. Plus, the extra year is just very very hard to sell to my parents, and ultimately they're the ones who're funding this. I have offers from MFA Design at SVA, and MFA Communications Design at Pratt. While SVA is much more structured than Pratt (I am interested in cross-disciplinary learning so this is something we spoke of during my interviews) - Pratt allows its students to take electives from across the college. Pratt also has a great focus on design as an agent of social change (which I guess the MFA Design for Social Innovation at SVA must offer). On the other hand, the faculty at SVA have been published a lot more - they're always talking about design and society in interesting ways, and their seminars and lecture series seem much, much more exciting. In terms of intellectual content (not the end product or skill development) I suspect (purely from the program websites and faculty profiles) that SVA might have an edge. However, with funding, Pratt is cheaper by about 10k a year, or about 20% of the total cost - which is quite a bit of money if I convert it to INR. Since I can't visit, I have no idea on the students and environment. Am I judging the two institutes correctly? Even if SVA is better, should I just go with the funding? Many thanks!

Thanks! Everything is still way way too expensive. Even with the scholarship Pratt (with full tuition + fees close to 95k) is absofrickinlutely crazy. The three year at Yale ($108k) is so much more affordable. Never thought that Pratt (or SVA) would be more expensive than Yale, with it's brilliant list of faculty and reputation.

Accepted to the Pratt MFA, with a $15000/year scholarship. Unbelievably giddy.

Just got an email from SVA: offer for the MFA Design Now to decide! Deadline to deposit is again April 15.

Thanks! So excited

I got accepted to the three year programme at Yale! Checked my status online, no email yet. I have time till April 15 to respond, so I'm really now waiting to hear back from the other schools. But getting an offer from Yale is unbelievable - I've always been very self critical so it's a crazy amount of validation.

Congratulations to everyone getting acceptances! The end is in sight JoJoYang, how did your committee interview go? Curious about the panel - my other experience, at Yale, wasn't exactly the best. I had my first Pratt interview yesterday and it was pretty much how you described. We actually ended up discussing the political situation in India!

Thanks Lola! Yeah, I slept off too, waiting for my 3am interview - bad idea, since I woke up yawning and with bed hair. Maybe it was because I wasn't fully awake, but I'm pretty sure I messed up. I think I was repetitive, and very blah overall. Oh well. They were concerned that much of the work I had sent in (the hard copies) was group/ collaborative work - and they couldn't understand my skill set fully. I understand, but much of the work I've done is collaborative, and I actually consider that to be a very strong skill (I wish I had described it this way then! ) Anyways, we mostly had a discussion on the work I'd sent in. I answered some questions on bridging from architecture to graphic design, and they explained a bit about the preliminary year. Near the end they did have some good things to say, but honestly I don't hold out much hope. Two down, two more to go! edit: Just had the second half of my interview, with current students of the MFA. It went much, much better. I'm more awake and articulate

Thanks kafralal, I did that - turns out they weren't getting any of my emails! Hope to resolve this now - and have my interview!

Anyone? Interview in 6 hours!

The weirdest and most disturbing stuff has been happening regarding my Pratt application! An assistant professor at the Pratt MFA Communications Design programme contacted me (via email on February 13) for a Skype interview, with several scheduling options. I replied the same day, choosing to schedule the interview on February 24, 2pm - 3.30pm EST. However, I didn't get a confirmation, and so sent an email on February 18, and another one on February 24. I haven't heard back from Pratt, and I'm very concerned about the interview. Sent them another email today. I don't know what to make of this - the interview didn't happen yesterday. Will my interview be rescheduled? More importantly, why haven't I heard back from Pratt? Does anyone have any idea about this / similar experiences?

I just had my Skype interview with the co-chair of the MFA Design program at SVA! And halfway through the skype call, I developed this random tick and kept shaking my leg! Thank god it was hidden under the table. I think I realized and stopped what I was doing only a good 5 minutes after. God. The nervousness. It was like a conversation, though - no grilling involved. Lita was really friendly, and she kept smiling She asked me about my reasons for applying, the kind of practice I want to be in, my strengths and weaknesses as a designer, my ideas for the final thesis (basically my interests at this point), as well as what I believe I would contribute to the small class of 20. It was a good 40 minutes, and she gave me a lot of background about the course/ curriculum. She told me that SVA receives over 250 applications, and since they're choosing only 20, its really important for them to make sure that they believe in the student and his/her potential. So, of course, the interview is really important. She was also taking notes intermittently. SVA lets applicants know by early April. That's over a month of waiting - aaaaaaaaah. Phew, one down, three more to go. Oh well, if nothing else I guess I'll be better prepared for the following interviews - though from what I read here, no two are alike.

Thank you! It's great to get some first hand accounts. To be honest, I am keen to get back home and practice here, which is where I see myself in the long term. But maybe graduate school will change my mind! marzipanned and JoJoYang, thanks for letting me know! I've sent GSA an email, waiting to hear back. I have my first interview tomorrow! An approximately hour long one with the co-chair of MFA Design at SVA. They said that I don't need to prepare for it at all, and that she would have already seen my work, so no need to have some of that ready. Very, very nervous - especially about being on the spot for 60 minutes! Going through all the interview tips now

Hi things_x2, Great to hear from someone who studied at GSA! Like JoJoYang, I've also been very curious about their M.Des. Communication Design programme. I just got an acceptance yesterday! I understand that you were in a different programme, but what did you think about the course work in general, and student satisfaction and growth? For me this is really the most important aspect. JoJoYang - were you asked to respond (decline / accept + pay deposit) within two weeks of receiving your offer? I feel that this is really too little time, especially when I'm looking at funding options and also considering other programmes.