littlenova

Please note: Obama's new bill does not go into effect until 2014. Direct lending will be nationwide by this date, so if you are applying for loans this Fall...make sure they qualify. (Most schools have already adopted this.) The new guidelines for IBR are for loans originating after this date, though. http://www.usnews.co...dent-loans.html Therefore Stofo is right...Under the current IBR guidelines, the borrower would assume payments based on 15% of their income. And it would not be forgiven for 25 years. The new guidelines for loans taken out after 2014 would only require 10% of one's income and 20 years of repayment. This is not true.The IBR program has earning limits based on your debt to income ratio, so if you earn more you may be ineligible for lower payments. An earned income is determined by how you file taxes...If it is a joint income, IBR will base repayment on that income. But, this could also be an advantage, because if you live at the poverty level for 25 years, you may not have to pay a dime! Please read about this and use the calculator to determine your individual payment: http://www.ibrinfo.org/what.vp.html I am not saying to let go of a dream, I am just saying that you should be MINDFUL when borrowing and realize it's not like any other debt. You can't file for bankruptcy like a foreclosure or a car repo. Student loans never go away. Like ever. They are important and useful, but just...know that it will determine your future.

Congrats to those accepted! (and even those that weren't...the wait is over! lol...)

@Biranmc: In the US anyway, most MFA programs are an MA and MFA in one. Many programs are 3 years long. While there may be discussion about a PhD in the near future, national authorities in art education have eluded to it being less about creating more PhD programs and more about tightening up the existing MFA curriculum to compete globally with other degrees. ***** It's interesting that you talk about a Graphic Design MFA. I have been a designer by trade for the last 10 years and have done my own personal photography work on the side. I have an undergrad in both Design (to eat) and Photography (my true passion). I have worked for agencies for a long time and even some big companies. It is true that your portfolio speaks louder than a terminal degree when trying to find great work. You can have an AMAZING career as a designer without an MFA. You can make great, money, too... But, I think an MFA is important to consider if you want to become a leader in your field. Look at Stephen Sagmeister, Jenny Holtzer, etc. I believe to ever get to that stage now, most would need the conceptual track of study a terminal degree provides. To work in design education (curatorial, corporate or academic capacities) or to be able to oversee a range of talent on a large scale project, the MFA represents a grasp of theoretical concerns and history that would grant a level of credibility and "rank" that work experience may not. I think it's this kind of education that will determine the future of thoughtful design. [I don't think anyone who really wants a career in design will aspire to work as an adjunct design instructor at a community college or work someplace a highschooler would be hired. Everywhere I have ever worked, you needed a BFA. lol.) I really entertained going back for a Design MFA at one time. But, at the end of the day, it really is a client-oriented business most of the time and this is the part I didn't enjoy. I also would not go into 100k of debt as I have told others on this board. But, I will say, if this is your passion...Of ANY of these disciplines/ degrees, a little debt might not be so bad, because you will most definitely make the money back dollar for dollar if you are good. I just left a job as a middle level designer for a crunchy bank , but was still making almost 60k a year plus bonuses and insane benefits. My friends who work with larger agencies like Sapient and Y & R in NYC are making six figures.

Thanks!...You will love it... And it's almost entirely funded usually.

@kmc88: Yahoo!

Someone else posted this same question...about Claremont. I'll be attending MICA and I calculate that I'll be about 15k in debt for a 3 year program. I received fellowships, scholarships and have 15k in savings for graduate school. It might even be less if my TA positions are calculated into that equation or if I work part time. (I was offered one for Photo...) I think some debt is okay, because education is an investment. But... I think that is a hell of alot of debt. Calarts is amazing but, anything over 50k would seem foolish in this economy. I don't even think I'd spend that on Yale. Can you work part-time? Are there opportunities down the road for more funding? What are your plans for the future? Do you have other choices? Good luck...Tink is right...it's such a personal decision.

Overlooked programs: WASHINGTON DC I'd like to add George Mason (especially printmaking and new media) & American (painting) for the DC area... FLORIDA and for Florida (I have lived, shown and worked there in Miami for several years) I would say that much of the success at Basel has happened independently of the university programs in the state. Artists are coming from all over to show and get represented and it's been mostly a retail phenomenon. But, if any of them were benefiting from this presence...the University of Florida would be the school to watch over University of South Florida or even Florida State, because they have a chair member on the Basel committee and also are involved in many of the fairs when they stroll into town. They create opportunities for their grads to show during peak times and have spaces all over Miami. They have had a satellite BFA program in Miami for several years and are talking about extending their MFA program there as well. If they did, it would be huge. Potential applicants should understand that even though Gainesville isn't art central, there is an opportunity to connect with their Miami ties as well. Plus, they are HEAVILY funded. Here are the current Miami stars from University of Florida/Miami Dade College High School & BFA program (New World School of the Arts)...You'll notice almost all of them have not even gone for their MFA, but have had HUGE success. Bert Rodriguez Jiae Hwang Naomi Fischer Hernan Bas Luis Gispert There are too many more to name.. This has become the online bible of most exhibitions down there: http://www.artlurker.com/ MIDWEST Also, Peck @ University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is blowing up as well. The faculty are extraordinary and they deserve an honorable mention.

~*~ HUNTER!!!! Congrats.

@Moose: PM me anytime...That info isn't really private...It was in a published article. The photo labs are probably better than Columbia's but, I guess I have been spoiled by some other facilities where the printers were calibrated better and the chemicals were more abundant/labs had more coverage. I may have been treated differently,too, because I was not a student and was allowed darkroom privileges only because I was part of the community. Opinions are biased...including mine. I am glad you are on here to share a different experience for those that want to give Cornell a try. I should have been more mindful about my comments, but I see how hard everybody works to get into some of these schools and even some folks who don't get in...and I get really defensive about the idea of a legacy. You are right, though. And in some cases, these folks can't help that they were brothered into a program because of a relative and are BRILLIANTLY talented in their own right. (Look at Charlie Traub and his nephew Daniel Traub at SVA---who is exceptionally gifted.) But, it left an icky taste in my mouth. I don't want to demonize any program. Because, truthfully, in the right climate, any one of the Top 50 could shoot up the rankings. But, it's fun to speculate and conjecture what the hot programs are. I have seen graduates from RISD work deli counters and graduates from Forida State win Fullbrights. It is all relative, ya know?

@Moose: Respectfully...We lived in Ithaca just 3 years ago. The campus is beautiful. The town is so sweet. (Nines Pizza!!) The research facilities are fabulous. I will give you that. The Johnson is a great museum. I volunteered there a few times. But, I volunteered before that at the Rubell Family and lived right near 3 major contemporary collections in Miami...so...it was underwhelming to me. But, YES I found the photo facilities to be mediocre. I will not argue this point. To each his own. It was fine...I had connections and went to use the printers/darkroom at Lightwork instead. Why did Buzz and Patti move on to other programs?Do you have PEOPLE showing in the Whitney Biennial or do you have PERSON showing in the Whitney Biennial? I think "connections" and fraternization are two different things. I am going to come out and say the name I am talking about since you double-dog-dared me on the board: Please look up Jessica Evett-Miller or read this nice little article: http://aap.cornell.e...eid_2892=124036 She also has family at the Johnson. My husband got into Cornell, because he was a genius. He worked hard. I LOVE Ithaca. I loved the career it afforded him academically...but, that is a huge problem, my friend. I am glad they seem to have it under control from what you are talking about now...but, it would be nowhere in my Top 10 programs. Sorry...It can't even touch some of the others. @gobergood: I have to agree with most of what you said. You sound like you know alot about the west coast scene. I have only been a few times...But, you forgot Miami. Which right now is HOTTTT. MICA is all over Miami. I think MICA belongs on that list over maybe one or two of those names. But, yeah...I forgot Hunter. How AMAZING is Hunter?!

*Cracking Up* I use that term "legacy" as a jab, really. A senior professor there had his sister in the faculty and his niece as an MFA student and another family member at the Johnson....I met the niece and she bragged about it when I volunteered at the museum once. She said she was applying to the grad program and knew she'd get in. I wanted to barf because I thought about how HARD my husband worked for the Cornell pedigree and how some people seem to be handed things. Top that off with a crappy photo facility and crummy work for the last few years and...well....bitter, party of ME.

@caving: I was accepted to MassArt this year for Photo (I actually applied to their Summer 2-D and was considered for the other!) Abe Morell is retiring, I thought?? Hmmm... I will definitely give you Laura McPhee...But, the work coming out of there at the moment is not impressive. I would go to Syracuse before I went there. They just don't have the edge I would look for in a program....like say Columbia. I really look at the alumni before I look at the faculty sometimes. (Is that bad, you think?) This is why I sing Yale's praises so much. Their grads are just consistently showing well and doing innovative work. But, yeah...They would probably round out my Top 10 for Photo. I have a very good friend Naomi Shersty who went to UNM for Photo and teaches in Milwaukee now....So, I will not say anything bad about UNM Photo. She is amazing. But, they are lacking to me in a lot of ways. I felt the same way about RIT. The work is just not clicking. I honestly am glad I am doing an interdisciplinary MFA and not in a traditional Photo program...I think I am not really a "photographer's photographer" if you know what I mean. I think Photo is a VERY interesting discipline to watch. It's changing. The sensibilities are changing. I think the big programs and curriculum structure is also on it's way out... Here are some interesting thoughts/essays I was just reading on that: http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1589 Congrats on UPenn! Pretty fabulous! p.s. I also agree....What the heck is in the water at St. Martins?!!!....They are EVERYWHERE.lol... p.p.s. Would you really go to MassArt over UPenn? That's interesting.

@ atrawickb: Lol...Yep. I am a freelance designer and am in between jobs at the moment, so I have been lurking on the boards....hahaha....I don't really get to see my art friends in Miami as much and MICA doesn't start for a few months...So, this forum has felt a bit like Art Club. Do you really think that about SAIC? I think you are right that they need to start being more competitive with funding or they will miss out. But, I think they are WAY too strong of a program to "fade" away. Chicago is just booming art wise and I think the midwest scene has really fed other programs, too, like UWisconsin Milwaukee, etc. I am biased about Cornell, because my husband went there and we lived in Ithaca for a few years and I know the people. If you PM me, I can tell you a little story about how the department has alot of "relatives" and "legacies" ...This was only 3 years ago. I think they are dated in their thinking,too, which is surprising since Lightwork and Syracuse Univ are right there. They need to dance if they will ever hold a candle to Columbia or even UPenn. I think you are 100% right about programs like USC and VCU blowing other Art Ivys out of the top ranks, because of their funding. At any rate: RISD and Yale are some sweeeeet schools to be waiting on! *Sending you good vibes*

@gradwannabe: You are a rock star!!!! Congrats...I bet you are floating. I can understand how hard it must have been to turn down Charlie White! I had a similar thing happen to me a few days ago when I had to tell art-genius Timothy Druckery that I was taking the summer program at MICA instead of working with him. It wasn't even a funding decision...It was just about what program would be best for my kind of work. I saved his email like a geek, though. lol.....

Oooh...FUN! This is gonna start a feud. LOL! This is just based on alumni work, faculty and CVs I have seen at some of the most competitive fairs/art spaces (i.e. Whitney, Nada, Pulse, Basel, Armory, Frieze,the Biennials, etc.) I also think if I was a few years younger and in a different place in my life, I would probably go to school in London or Holland. lol...But.... I would say for Studio MFA/Fine Arts (general): 1. YALE 2. SAIC 2. COLUMBIA 3. RISD 3. MICA 4. VCU 4. CARNEGIE MELLON (because of their New Media genres...and I really feel they deserve to be higher than Cranbrook) 5. CALARTS 5. UCLA (because of their New Media genres) Some schools are just tied for me...I definitely think the East Coast is where it's at. I am totally biased. IMHO For Photo or where I'd like to see Photo go in contemporary art: 1. YALE 2. SAIC 3. RISD 3. SVA 4. SFAI 5. COLUMBIA I think in the next 5 years, we are going to see alot less emphasis on specific disciplines and more on interdisciplinary study. I favor more experimental curriculum over commercial. (This is why RIT and UNM don't have my vote in the Top 5 for Photo) I would most definitely agree UPenn (and even Bard) is up and coming. I would disagree about Cornell...I spent alot of time up there in Ithaca, met faculty/students/HF Johnson Museum, etc...and to me...very bland.

Everyone is, of course, unique. My criteria was as follows: 1. Reputation of faculty and alumni work..(It was all about what was coming out of the school...) 2. Curriculum/Program structure 3. Location; I own a home in DC and didn't want to move too far. Also, I have to agree with Spaced Out...You want to live in the community you are making work in for a while, because it helps your following and might give way to exhibition opportunities. 4. Funding Funding was not my biggest concern, because I just didn't even apply to ones that didn't give enough funding. I knew someone on the panel at Columbia. She encouraged me to apply, but at the end of the day, I heard the debt there is astronomical and the commute that would come with living in 2 cities would have killed me and my marriage...so.... Good luck.

I hear most programs will allow you to defer admission for one year if you have unforeseen issues/ circumstances. But, some competitive programs may not and they are not obligated to. I would just ask. It should be fine.

I didn't know if any of you would be interested...but, ACA is an amazing residency that offers artists a chance to work with a renowned master artist in a small group for 3 weeks on the beach in Florida. Before you think, Florida??, look at the list of artists that have been in residence and the master artists they have had there over the last 15 years and you will see how exceptional it is. I got to eat breakfast everyday with Rineke Dijkstra...nuff said. See the RESIDENCY thread to hear my first hand account. Welp, I just wanted to let you sculptors know that Jonathan Horowitz will be at ACA from June 28-July 18th and they are extending the application deadline to April 9th. (You might even be able to call and get it extended even further.) Also, they have funding! So, HEADS UP! And apply.... More on Jonathan Horowitz: http://www.interview...athan-horowitz/ http://ps1.org/exhibitions/view/213

Congrats Lazycatfish! @Helenforsdale & Elizabeth Brown: Don't give up...We have ALL been there. And those that haven't will... @Helenforsdale: Maybe it's just not the right timing yet. My friend was showing alot, too and was accepted everywhere she applied after undergrad with a full ride, but was advised by her representation to show more in Miami while she was on a hot streak....She waited 2 years, did more amazing work and got into some insane exhibitions...She applied this year and got in NOWHERE. ZIP. Who knows the rhyme or reason? It was supposedly one of the most competitive years on record for the Art Ivys.

@Jesteem: Well, damn! What are you O for 5 now or something? lol!!!!!! Yale is the tippy top...Congrats, Congrats!

@Litho: The drive in can be a bit alarming if you haven't seen the surrounding neighborhood yet. I thought I was driving through Cracktown at first...But, it's not a big deal after a while. lol...Brianmc probably knows the area better than I do---I actually live in DC and am new to the Bmore area myself. If you want advice about what to see in DC, though...There's alot going on now. PM me....hahhaha Have a great trip visiting! I think the awesome campus, faculty and opportunities will make it a clear choice. @Heyoo: You should have received an award letter with your fellowship on it when they sent you the acceptance packet. If you haven't, I would call the Graduate Admissions office. If you need more aid, you can fill out the FAFSA and after MICA receives it, you can apply for loans or whatever to pay the balance. But, yeah...you should have already been given aid by now.

@Nathancote: You didn't know it was Ivy League? Lol. Yep. My husband went to their rival Cornell...lol. But, unlike some other Ivy Leagues for art (Yale excluded of course), they are alot more edgey. @tink23: They are all great schools...But, IMHO...if he gets aid, I would have to say I totally disagree. The work coming out of UPenn is the standout. And Philly has a bigger art scene than New Jersey...and it is only 1 hour further away from NYC. But, yeah...You need aid.

@brianmc: Your posts made me smile...I am even more psyched to go now. You know so much about Baltimore, too. I might PM you later if I have more questions---if that is okay.

@turnip: You should look into MICA, too. Many of the summer faculty came from Columbia and Bard. Bard is great, but I really think MICA is just alot more established as a program. There are three Top 5 programs on one campus and having that kind of a community is just so inspiring. Also, your husband might be able to find work here if he is cleared already. My husband works in R & D for intelligence and he loves it... *Just a friendly plug before you pick your schools for next year...

@Kewpies: Columbia!!!!!! OMG!!!!! Fabulous. Columbia is amazing. Just amazing.