KSuverkrubbe

I don't understand this....I thought MFA's were considered independent......why do you need parent finances?

how 'not very good ' is this school? And how much is the funding in difference? I think if you're the kind of person that can make location work for you- aka you put more of yourself into the city, look at the artists there, get involved, and can push your own work- then going to a lesser known school in a vital area could be okay. Especially if you're more of the type of person who is going to school so you can have time to work on your art work (almost just as an intensive studio space) and not for other reasons. If you're the kind of person that thinks you need more support and school connections, and a name to help you along then MICA is your choice. If the other program is significantly different in every opportunity it can provide (and not just name, but actual opprotunities such as visiting artists and students, faculty, etc) then I would definitely go for MICA despite the extra cost. It's really about which one you think will provide you with what is best for you personally. If you'd rather start your career with less debt but withut an advantage or you'd rather take on the debt for one of the 'best programs in the country'. I think it's hard to judge a school just based purely on face value..Sometimes a more tight knit school without as much recognition has faculty that are more willing to stick with you and help you in the long run. They have experiences of their own that are valuable and they are making a living as an artist. I think it's just all about the opportunities you see. If one school has less opportunities, you will have to make your own. But neither school is really a guarantee.

pretend like you aren't sure you're going to attend and request additional funding lol

hey milkyways, I don't want to be nosey but I am interested in why you are thinking of reapplying when it seems you got good funding from a variety of places besides NU?

This sounds awesome. Are they trying to set up themselves as a big art school? I feel like sometimes name ends up swallowing all the good art programs our that so that people miss out on them and only know a few. I had to rely on the internet mostly , fellow students, and professors... I noticed when i was looking it up that Boston University greatly reduces its College of Fine Arts program tuition (only 23,000 about a year!!!) and says that its the 'university's commitment to supporting the College of Fine Arts'. I also realized that they have a $10,000 dollar grant to students in each 3 of their programs....Basically it's a competitive grant for graduating master's students and one person in visual arts, one person in theater, and one person in music all get a grant. It seems very competitive however, but I was pretty amazed at that! I It's also interesting because in 2010 they hired this new dean who seems like he was a big deal in cultural affairs in Mexico..So a big deal kind of guy (though he's leaving his post now) that still tells me that they are also putting money into who they hire . Maybe these universities are pumping a lot of money and resources into attracting students to try and compete for students and to make their programs more well known? It's interesting though..I can't really tell if this is just the normal thing for these programs, or if the universities are trying to build them up.

I'll just add to this the programs I got decent funding from Syracuse University- 60% off tuition for most art graduate students (it may be all students) and 80% for a certain few incoming, and the possibility if you are at the 60% to be awarded the 80% in subsequent years. They did offer me 60% at first, then at the last minute offered me 80% . PAFA- awarded 34,000 which will cover half of tuition for the program. They did raise it to $39,000. Boston University- full tuition, not full ride (full ride is living expenses, supplies, basically total cost of attendance, full tuition is just the tuition ...I think that's the difference) . This helped me negotiate for more from the other two schools. Also keep in mind that B U 's College of Fine Art tuition is much cheaper than most schools and even other programs at Boston at about $23,000 a year.

good luck Carter!!! I'm sorry if I was starting to take the forum off topic.

Of course you guys aren't in painting, I don't assume.........So maybe that's not relevant,but did you guys have problems too? It seems like performance art and technology are becoming a 'thing' ..or have they already been a thing? It makes sense though in our world full of the internet -where everyone is watching everything- that performance art would take a big step forward. Everywhere you go moving media...... It makes sense to me anyway why people would be so drawn to exploring it. As for technology , it is increasingly becoming a part of our lives, so of course artists want to tackle that....I think that maybe I have to admit it's a new frontier....I mean artists always want to experiment with what has never been done before and technology presents a great opprotunity. I think we should definitely embrace that,but I do worry that some artists will be pushed aside that should not be. ..I'm sure that happens though when any new medium starts to be the prevalent one of the day...

Honestly, I found it hard when I was looking for schools specifically for painting- I don't know if anyone else had this problem. A lot of the programs seemed more pushed to maybe not digital, but more like installation, conceptual sort of work, which I have interest in ,but not for my own art work. . I wanted to try and find someplace that had a bit of more of a footing in a traditional aesthetic (but that wasn't tied down to only that- that also had a wide range of new things going on). I wanted funkiness but also a lot of sophistication. I felt like a lot of programs had more of the 'sophisticated' sort of style (muted palettes, scarce sort of information, very abstract ,etc). I know I was just judging a lot based on look,but I wanted to avoid a place that had an 'overall ' aesthetic or that looked too bogged down in looking..I guess..mn how do I say this? ' current'? I wanted variety! But...I also sort of avoided any places with things like 'sociopolitcal ' in the description. I honestly don't care what someone paints..Whether it's a paper bag or the issues of victims from a monsoon. If it's good it's good. I basically tried to just avoid any program that felt like it was pushing some sort of agenda or wanted its students to think a certain way. I just know that I like making a painting a painting. I like other types of painting, I do, but I am not that interested in it personally. My pieces aren't narrative but they are rooted in more recognizable imagery and vivid patterning ....... Anyway, I think Rutgers was one of those programs that appeared to have a wide variety of painting. I hope they keep that up and don't push one method of making art over another.....

I was told during my interview (for painting) that 250 people applied- just to painting, 30 were interviewed, and I think 10 are admitted.

Sometimes this is correct though...especially for people who haven't been doing that specific field of work for very long (think 4 years or less) . Or like when you are honest and state in your essay that you 'need more experience'<< (maybe this hurt me, but it's just true!) Or if you are progressing very fast. A year makes a world of difference for me, but I thought I still could stand up pretty well. I wasn't completely mistaken . It may slow down though once I start settling in to making art.

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Yes I got two 'you should apply next year'.One of them I felt was legitimate, the other not as sure.

I'd be hesistant to defer. Only if it's a big emergency.

Hey lookie there. I did the opposite. i declined PAFA and accepted Boston Hey we have similar ideas ;0

I don't want to judge....but I think you should have figured out an idea of living costs ........ :S . It's rare to get living costs and tutition and everything paid for. Where is the school? There are a lot cheaper options depending on where you want to live.. Usually the closer to the school the more expensive it is. So if you are wiliing or able to ride transportation to the school you may have cheaper living arrangements. Have you looked at the housing for graduate or phd students for the school? Usually even if it's offcampus they have a listing you can look at.

Yes they are really awesome. Anyone would be happy there I believe. I just think that Boston has more life and exposure experiences for me which is what I feel I need. I almost wonder if they want me to come and visit them so I'll change my mind and transfer ;0

You can ask about other funding options. ' If you don't have a better or equivalent offer on the table don't bring up other offers.Just ask about more funding.. I asked if it was possible for them to award funding in the second year for top performers (i think that this is just fair- if people don't hold up after the first year, the people with less funding should have a competitive chance)...But not all universities will offer more in the second year- it's pretty much all awarded at the start. Again, I don't think that's fair to not give people a chance but just ask about it in case that school does. To me the difference again, would be between how much of a difference i saw in the two programs.

I just wanted to stop in and say that I wish I had gotten into Rutgers. Lol. I think there is a large variety there and that is what I felt when I looked at all the work,but I was focused mostly on painting.

lol you're in the forum for visual arts, but WE ACCEPT YOUUU! I am being for real though- it's cool to post here,I am just not sure you were aware. Yeah I applied to 8 schools total and looking at every one else most of them had 5 at most. My teachers said to try at least 10!!! and my one professor said 'oh I applied to a dozen and got into all of them ' << -_______- I hope he wasn't lying. lol. Then again we had one girl last year at my school that applied to a lot and got into every single one. That kind of stung for me though lol. I don't think my work is worse than hers..Just I think she's more mature in her pursuit......which is important to schools. I am glad you got in! you must be a good writer because you did very well for yourself!!!

Lol do explain!!!!

Hey I just wanted to start a forum for people who are either interested in Boston University, have accepted admission, or have an offer from the school. You can drop your thoughts here. I am pretty excited about the school! I am going for painting

I will just let everyone know I decided on Boston University and i think I will start a thread for it

You probably don't want to hear that it may be a no. I really don't know why they don't just email people... I think that they probably have decided and notified everyone. I don't want to assume it's the same case that it was for me, since they are differnet programs but be prepared for a possible no. It was really painless- the calling part...You will get an automated message- just push 0 to talk to the admissions office . Just say your name and then say 'yes I have heard that most people have been notified of acceptance" Tell her what program you are in, she'll ask your name- look it up and then get the answer pretty much instantly. It takes about 5 minutes .I know it's very hard....but...you can't prolong it, and if you have other schools on the hook you need to do it as soon as possible!

you tell the school the best offer you have gotten. That's what I did. Though I only told them which school if they asked. But I had a full tuition to play around with. If you dont really have a better offer then just ask if there is further aid avaliable - or even aid after the first year for top performers. If you do have a better offer use that for leverage (however if they ask you from which school and it isn't a very impressive school in comparison they may not be impressed). I got an extra 4,000 out of one school and an extra 3,000 of tuition a year for a total of three years - that equals 9,000 more dollars from another! You are allowed to do this just be inquisitive and honest. Don't be a douche. They know you want as much money as you can get and if they really want you they will give you more money (unless they can't budge, which is sometimes the case).