bubu2014

I have just been accepted into my top choice school (perfect course for me + big scholarship). Although some of the other schools that I've been accepted into seem to be higher ranked, I really feel like this is the right program for me. I feel a little sad declining the other offers though. However if you are wait listed at SVA, Pratt or Art Center College of Design then you might be in line for a spot (in Fine Art). I hope I'm making the right choice!

Ah I am seriously stressing about this decision now! I have been accepted into SVA (no word on funding yet), Pratt (15k scholarship) and Art Center in LA (no word on funding yet). I already live in LA and love it but feel my artwork will be better received in NYC and I'm wondering if this will ultimately be a better city to start my career in the USA (I'm from Australia originally). But I have been in LA for 2 years now and developed relationships and I feel like it's my home. Not sure if I'm ready to leave... However I want this MFA to lead to a career in the city that I do it in. I just can't decided on city v's school v's money v's weather v's faculty... So hard! I am a video installation artist and I create quite dark artwork - this is why I am drawn to NYC as opposed to LA.

Hi there, yes I'm in the same position. I emailed them and they said they are taking longer than expected with the process. They have just had Spring break last week and will be meeting again this week so I guess we should hear soon?

I have been accepted into Pratt MFA Fine Art with a $15,000 scholarship. Good news but its not really the school I won't to go to. I am still waiting to hear back on a few but from where I have been accepted I would prefer to go to SVA as the program seems much better suited to my practice and my learning style. Also I am a really big fan of a few of the faculty and don't know any of them from Pratt. Also I would much prefer to be in Manhattan everyday as opposed to Brooklyn. But I don't know if its stupid to spend/borrow/whatever about double the money... Don't know what to do right now... Any advice?

I think I sensed that from you anyway! It sounds like you know what you're doing and you're not going into it blindly. Sounds very exciting to me! Take on the challenge if its the most exciting to you. Good Luck!

This is tough. I think that obviously it would make your life really easy and mean that you could concentrate 100% on your studies if you went for the full ride and TA. However I don't think you should just be thinking only about finances. Even though an art education means very little in the real world, Americans do seem to take it very seriously and it seems easier for artists who go to reputable schools to get exhibitions and teaching jobs. Not that that's a very good reason but you should also consider how big the program is, what the facilities are like, faculty, and the city! You want to be in a place you actually like. I am from Australia so I have no idea what the University of Notre Dame is but from what I can see its a Catholic institution? Is that correct? Are you religious? I think that it would have quite a stigma attached to it in that case. I don't mean to be rude but religion isn't particularity 'cool' in the art world. Can you get financial help from your parents or family at all? this could be a big factor. My parents are in no way rich but are will to help me out because they think its important for my career that I go to go to a top school in a city that I actually want to live in (because that is where I'll be making all my contacts). Here is one thing to consider: do you have any doubt at all in your mind that you want to be an artist? Even the slightest? Have you spent time out of art school working professionally as an artist so you know what it will be like out there after you finish? If you have some doubts and do not have much experience I would say go with the funding. If you know 100% that this is absolutely what you want to do with the rest of your life and couldn't imagine anything else, then I would say take the risk and go to the school that you want and that you think will help you in your field the most. ​If you want to get an MFA because you want to be an artist but also one of the big reasons is because you want to be qualified to teach, I would in that case also go for the funding. I hope this has not confused you more! Its really up to you in the end. Go with what you gut is telling you. You will know what you want.

On and congratulations of course! Do you know how many candidates they take into the MFA Fine Arts program?

Me too!

Has anyone heard anything from USC? Do they do interviews?

Just for your info I received a rejection from CalArts via email a few days ago. I applied to New Genres. Was not really disappointed at all as I don't think the school is right for me and also it was my first application and I improved a lot since then (as in I only put video for CalArts, then after some advise I put still images/installation documentation as well in all the other applications). Had a good interview with SVA but you never know!? NYU Steinhardt and Pratt on Monday...

Just to let everyone know I spoke to the woman at UCLA to change my address and she said they don't send out letters, only emails. They are in the final stages of decision and have not informed anyone yet. She said it most likely will not be before the end of next week. Usually in the 1st and 2nd week of March. So absolutely no reasons for anyone to panic that they haven't heard anything yet! Good Luck people! And I am also completely obsessed with this forum, it has been helpful but I can also see that it could be a little traumatic for people that are not hearing back. Hope you're all holding in there and keeping positive! I have had a good 4 years since I last studied and believe me, there are plenty of advantages to getting some solid professional experience out in the real world, remember there is no experience like the real one and its really really important to see what its really going to be like out there. My advice would be, if you don't get in where you had hoped, don't fret! It obviously is not your time yet and lets face it grad school is not the finish line. My advise would be to get as much experience as possible, have exhibitions, do residencies, start a small gallery with your friends or have underground shows (whatever your thing is), try to network, meet people and travel! I know it seems like all of this is probably to expensive and difficult but believe me it is possible and once you start you'll get on a roll and won't be able to stop. Do HEAPS of research and apply for things, shows, residencies, awards etc - but make sure they are right for you and not financial rip offs. ALSO most importantly of course just keep making art and making it bigger and better than before. Here are some good sites: http://www.transartists.org http://www.resartis.org/en/ http://www.re-title.com http://www.nyfa.org http://losangelesartresource.wordpress.com http://www.residencyunlimited.org http://www.chashama.org http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/763138/a-guide-to-20-top-artist-residencies-and-retreats-across-the-united-states http://www.artistcommunities.org http://creative-capital.org/home Personally, being originally from Australia where we don't do internships for free, I think they're a little bit of a waste of time - but this was only in my case because I couldn't handle the idea of working for free but I'm sure there are great internships out there too. From my own personal experience the Vermont Studio Center is completely amazing! Its like art school condensed into a month. They can help you out financially too so it won't seem so daunting, and rememebr they give you a bedroom, amazing studio, and 3 incredible meals a day! Well worth it I say. They also have fellowships too if you're lucky. There are actually a lot of free residencies in the US, I know the Millay Colony, MacDowell Colony, Skowhegan, Woodstock, Fire Island, Art OMI, Headlands, and many more. And there are HEAPS of residencies in Europe and Asia that are free, if not pay for airfares too (though these are generally competitive). - Check out the first 2 links for info on this. Specifically South Korea puts a lot of money into 'young artists' and there are a lot of opporuntites there. I did a residency with the Nanji Art Studio and everything was free, I believe they now help you with the airfare too. Just google residencies in Korea and I'm sure a few will come up. Also I know a lot of people who seem to be ending up in Iceland doing residencies at the moment!? there are some good free residencies in Norway too. Also if you are from the US you may want to think about studying in Europe? (and I'm not just talking about London!). Although these are mainly being fazed out, there are a lot of free(ish) 1-2 year postgrad programs that sound amazing. Try De-ateliers in the Netherlands. Good places to look for free/cheap education (and REALLY good quality) are: Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Greece... I have done a lot of research on this kind of stuff so if anyone wants any specific details on residencies, alternative programs or application processes then I would be happy to help you out! I have done 2 residencies in Europe, 1 in Asia and 4 in the USA. ​Remember if it doesn't happen this year, then that means you just have a whole year open to other exciting things. Good Luck!

Also has anyone else been asked for an interview at SVA? I thought they didn't do interviews... that's what I heard.

Oh and my Columbia slideroom status says: 2014 New Genres MFA

This is my first time posting on here. I have received interview requests from NYU/Steinhardt, SVA and Pratt... Seems awfully East Coast! I'm not in the country at the moment so I have to do them all by Skype, I hope this is not to big a disadvantage. I currently live in LA but have not heard a word from any schools here yet...