Milkyways

If having a successful art career in a big gallery is a main concern for you, and you can actually find the loans to pay that humongous tuition without getting a mortgage/selling your kidney, don't stop considering Yale just yet. It's the price to pay for a potential entry ticket to the elite of the world (in art and pretty much everything else). Your parents probably have some good money if they don't want to disclose their earnings and even if it isn't yours (yet), I imagine you can still be supported somehow by them. The worst case scenario is having to go back to your parents for a while. But when you're 80 and you say "I went to Yale", it will probably make you feel proud. Happy snob is still happy. If your parents don't have as much as I think and/or you want to travel right after you graduate/ be free of commitments, or are less concerned by becoming a gallery best-seller, then choose peace of mind and go to Rutgers or whatever school offered the best funding. Also if you choose this path you'd better be 100% sure of your decision, or you might end up feeling frustrated and depressed later for not taking a risk that might have made you happier. But that's just my humble opinion from the outside B-)

I just submitted official decline decision to Cornell. I hope this makes a waitlisted person super happy

thanks!

I imagine they did consider your external funding source for your offer. I have none 0 nothing (maybe a loan). It's great that you have it ! Fullbright? (hehe never mind I now it's not usual to disclose that info in here). But if you have funding and are going to teach why not CMU? I mean they're bigger and have better resources. Don't get me wrong, Northwestern is a juicy program (yeah the faculty are all SAIC but they're great) and so is Cornell, but CMU has more teachers and better facilities. May NYU grant you lots of money good luck mafrend

Well now that I think about it, it might be possible that some students receive some sort of funding (maybe through T.A.s?), but if that's the case it's a very well kept secret. Maybe they connect you to external funding? Or they might be starting to do it (it makes sense if they have the money...and they're huge so they probably do!) As for the tuition costs, they are very low for in state people. My husband attends the program, he is an international, and he pays full out of state tuition, which is still cheap compared to other universities in NYC (8k/ semester, adding up to 32k for the whole program).Manhattan is pretty expensive. The studios' rent would cost more, so it's still a good deal. There are lots of internationals, you're right, but they're mostly from Israel, Korea, France and other countries where income is relatively good. Other have come with funding from their own government (Mexico, Colombia, China) There is a very popular event where students donate a piece (anything that can be sold on the spot), and Hunter holds this big auction. A lot of NYC people attend it and the money they raise is destined to pay the visiting artists. Anyways, if the funding rumors are true, please let us know. That would probably make Hunter even more desirable.

Hi TEM....I don't know if this has changed this year, but as far as I know Hunter didn't offer any scholarships (I heard this both from MFA students and faculty members).

Hey! well obviously the best would be NYU offering you good funding! Honestly, my deal with CMU comes to the fact that with their offer I don't have enough funds for a third year (I have loans for 2 years only) and I just don't want to risk not being able to finish my MFA because of money issues. Nevertheless, I feel you when you say it's not easy to let go. It would be a tremendous experience. And as you said, teaching can be very profitable for your development, not to mention it looks good on your resume, if you ever want to teach in the future. I plan to go back to my country as soon as I finish, so teaching is indeed in my future plans. What about you? You are right about the economic factor putting stress on the outcome of your work. I know that when I feel tight about the money my work immediately becomes more ephemeral haha. Not that it's bad, but I'd rather be in control of that. What did Northwestern offer you? Isn't the offering the same for everybody? Anyways it seems like we got into the same programs. We might end up being mfa pals 8)

Good fact. She also has Skowhegan and des ateliers in her resume, so I'm not sure how determinant CMU was in her case. Teaching is my ultimate objective, but I'd love to have a career before. Still weighing things up.

YALE period.

Mintykid, for now Northwestern is winning the fight (I am still considering Cornell too), because honestly the money thing is a big deal for me as an international. Nevertheless, I know CMU seems like a better program ( more organized, has more graduate courses and more diverse teachers). But a third year of paying tuition and living would be too straining for my finances. I love the program,but I have to be smart and I would do it only if I see a clear advantage of attending the program in terms of career opportunities that could eventually help me repay the loans I'd have to take. I've been trying to look for evidence of CMU alumni success but have found none... what have you heard about CMU? Why d you think it's a no-brainer? I have the impression that CMU is an excellent program to become an artist of the expanded field. They seem to be very Pittsburgh-centered and I am starting to have the impression they're more focused on making academic artists. So if you are a 100% into it, and would be willing to pay $30 000 for the experience, it's an easy choice.

U of Chicago seems like a solid program (just had a look at it). The faculty is pretty accomplished and varied. I hope they release the spot for you. I've also heard good things about UC irvine. I am considering Northwestern and Cornell now. Northwestern's funding offer is crazy good, but I'm not a fan of the fact that every single person in the faculty is from SAIC. It's weird. I've also had comments on not having many graduate courses to take. So I don't know.

Not a very good financial package indeed. Maybe it has to do with the Dr Dre thing mentioned before? In any case thank you, I was counting on good funding so I can forget about USC for once and for all. Where would you apply to next year?

Same question. Is that 15k on top of tuition waiver or 15k is the whole financial aid offer? I ask to see if it's worth to be kept on the waitlist or I can forget about the possibility of going there.. thanks

For the school I reapplied to I used the same letters and it didn't seem to be a problem.

Dryheat, what kind of funding did USC offer?

I believe that doesn't really have to do with art itself or art education as a whole but more with the American art market and the elitist social structure. It's just a matter of networking. I don't think you need to be tied by these structures as an artist if you don't want to, but he specifically said "gallery representation". If you attach value to selling your work for millions of dollars then it's logical you'll want to have connections with people who can buy that in the most prestigious schools, because ultimately these people are paying for that prestige, and not for the work itself.

If gallery representation is important for you, I'd say stick with Yale and try to find alternate funding so you alleviate the loan. If you do some research yourself you'll notice that the most prestigious galleries are full with young artists that went to prestigious schools either for grad or undergrad (ak Yale, Columbia, UCLA, SVA, Rhode Island, Tyler) some German people and very very VERY rarely with people from less prestigious schools. That's for top galleries. If your goal is to be in THOSE galleries, well Yale. Probably less prestigious galleries won't be as school-elitist.

Honestly I would chose MICA without thinking too much. There's not really a big significance to the fact one ranks second and another ranks fourth. Maybe if it were 3rd and 44th it would be worth weighing. They're both prestigious if that is what you're worried about. And MICA gives you money... Location would be crucial only if you intend to find a job while studying or are personally attached to the city (spouse, family).

Guys, opinions about Cornell, Northwestern or Carnegie Mellon? I'm collecting ideas to choose... anything will be much appreciated!

Marchy, are you attending CMU ?

Gwen, try asking for more in a polite way; ask them for more funding options to see if they can help you with something more. 40 k/year is quite a lot, but generally these universities know how to help their students find more funding.

Congrats Marchy

Alfred was my n1, but I don't have enough savings to support myself during the mfa and the stipend isn't enough to cover living expenses, and honestly I don't think it's easy to find a job in a small town like Alfred. So yeah... I had to pass. What do you like about Rutgers, what do you like about Hunter?

If Tyler was my IDEAL program I would risk it and go there. If the difference between the two programs is not that big, then go with the best funding offer.

Maybe not today.... :/ I'm not too optimistic about my case BUT can't help thinking about it...non-stop.