portafoy

I've been thinking about this too. Mainly, I'm focusing on what to bring and what to leave behind and what to bring later. I intend to just buy a bed and some cheap chairs and a cheap table when I get to where I'll be living (Chicago). I'll buy furniture (except for the mattress) at antique/used furniture stores. I'm only going to need it for a couple of years. I'm not paying to ship towels and sheets and the like and I'm using this move as an excuse to pare down my clothes. My desire is to move as little as possible and live a relatively spartan life, at least in the beginning. I'm going to study photography, so I'm bringing cameras, the warmest clothes I own, a toothbrush, and a couple of boxes of books. I'm hoping to get used furniture and if I have to paint it, well, so much the better. My goal is to get all my stuff there in the luggage I put on the plane and a couple of UPS boxes. For apartments, I'm planning on using craigslist and I've bought a couple of books about the town so I'll know the neighborhoods. I'm giving myself about 3 days in a hotel to find a place to live and moving early (August 1st) so I'll know the neighboorhood and mass transit by the time school starts. I started out at the opposite end of the extreme, fretting about how much of a pain the move will be and then decided to not stress about it at all and see just how simple I can possibly make it.

Well, I'm biased, but I'm sure you made the right choice!

I would definitely take the former. But that may depend on how long you've been together. In fact, I'm enrolling in a program in Chicago while I live in Houston. My SO is staying here and we're going to fly back and forth for a year and if it doesn't work, then she'll move to Chicago with me. But partly this is driven by the fact that we have a house and family in Houston. The presumption is I'll be pretty busy while I'm in school, and her family ties (being very tight) will keep her from missing me too much.

I decided against SVA, so if you were a photo applicant, there's at least one spot open.

For me, the excitement is dampened a little by the practicalities of life: getting out of my job, getting into a new city, dealing with the fact I'll be having a long-distance relationship for two years; etc. But then I sit back and have a beer and think, "wow. This is pretty cool."

Well, for those who are waitlisted at SVA, I've decided to go to SAIC. It's not an easy decision but I'm sure it's the right one for me.

Have you decided to go to SAIC? I'm struggling with the decision but leaning in that direction. What other schools did you consider and why did you choose SAIC?

I'm considering SVA as well, Stomachcramps. I'm going to NY tomorrow to visit the school. I'm accepted in the MFA/photo program, though; not painting.

For those who are in the middle of deciding where to go, the new US News rankings for fine art programs (and sub-programs) have just been released and are available on line. I'm not saying this is a big thing to consider, but I did see lots of changes and if you're teetering towards or away from one program or another, you may want to check it out. Here's the link to the photo programs. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandr ... hotography

My opinion is just that (an opinion) but here goes. Based on your analysis and your stated interests, it looks to me like it is down to SMFA or SVA. From there, it depends on what you want to be when you grow up. Personally, I would go with SMFA if I wanted to teach. And the truth for most of us is teaching is where we will end up anyway. The Tufts connection would be a big deal to me. This opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it! Good luck and post what you decide. I'm having an equally difficult time deciding between SAIC and SVA (for MFA/photo).

Has anyone else noticed how much easier it is to decide where other people ought to go? I mean, I have opinions about what I would do with acceptances that other people have had, but I can't decide between the schools where I actually have acceptances! Just kind of ironic!

pointedears, that is awesome...... Congratulations!

I don't know about extensions for deadlines at all. Of the schools that accepted you so far, though, I would definitely think seriously about Parsons. I thought long and hard about applying there and I think it's a really good school. I just got overwhelmed with doing seven applications and couldn't stomach doing any more. I was accepted at SAIC and SVA. I thought it would be an easy choice (in favor of SAIC) until I started talking to people about it. I'm not whining, because I didn't think there would be any choice to make at all (there were an awful lot of rejections before the last two acceptances!) but I'm still leaning towards SAIC. Working artists I've talked to place a real premium on the NY contacts though. Anyone have any advice? If I knew how to set up one of those groovy polls, I would.

Congrats, labmouse! That's awesome. You've got some great schools to pick from. Do you know which one you'll pick?

Thanks, all. SAIC's letter came after 5 rejections in a row (though immediately preceded by one other admittance) and after a very tough interview. It was grueling, especially after other interviewees said that the interviews were pretty easy-going. Best of luck to everyone and I hope everyone gets their dream school and lots of cash.

just got a letter of acceptance from SAIC for the Studio program. I'm stunned.

Helen, thanks very much for your response. It is really very helpful.

sorry to hear that, jps472. Did you interview at SAIC? I had an interview there but haven't heard anything.

I'm likely to end up at the School of Visual Arts. Any one have any tips on the area and where one should look for housing? I have heard vague things about how lower east side Manhattan is going through a kind of renaissance, but wonder if that means there is housing that is not crazy expensive. Any kind of input would be appreciated.

received telephonic confirmation of admission to the SVA MFA/photo program today. No word on finance.

Thanks, Summerteeth. I actually figured as much. Congrats to you, though. It's an incredibly good program.

All I know about RISD is that they say in the catalogue that there won't be any interviews at all and admissions is based solely on the portfolio and supporting materials.

Cookiemonster, I haven't heard of anyone getting admissions to SAIC yet, but I do have an interview scheduled there this weekend (I'm a studio-photo applicant). I don't know how they use interviews there, ie, whether some people are exempted from them or not. Are any photo people going to be in Houston for FotoFest? I would imagine some people who are going to be at the Meeting Place are also in the midst of grad school applications. I live in Houston, and would be happy to help with info about Houston or FotoFest, which is truly huge.

Just reminds you how incredibly arbitrary the entire process is, doesn't it? According to your prior posts, you have been accepted at Arizona and are being interviewed at Yale. At the moment, I am preparing for an interview at SAIC and I have been roundly rejected by Arizona and Yale. Pretty interesting. It just means someone liked some little thing in your ideas at one school and no one did at the other. It's not about the schools, I think, but more the notions of particular faculty members.

Just wanted to join in the discussion. It's interesting to hear what others are experiencing. I'm a photo applicant. So far the news is not great. Rejections from Yale and Arizona, interview with SAIC. No word from SFAI, Columbia U, SVA, or RISD. Anyone know how positive one should view an interview at SAIC?