Renaissance08

Hey, Just wanted to make a space for anyone planning to attend the IFA to exchange excitement/questions/concerns/anxiety/anticipation. I've been living in New York for a number of years, so if anyone has questions about the city, I'd be happy to answer. I went to NYU undergrad but wasn't an art history major, so I don't have much familiarity with the undergrad fine arts department, much less the IFA. I'm really curious about how other people are feeling about starting in the fall... and other peoples' backgrounds, fields, plans, etc. I'm in Italian Renaissance, can't wait to quit my job in an art gallery and get back to school :-)

the17thscream--I'm really glad that things worked out for you. sounds like you made the right decision, and that you will have an awesome experience at bryn mawr. Ana--I hope everything works out for you!! Where are you coming from? What's your field? I'm going to start a thread in the "Meet and Greet" forum for all who decided on the IFA... would love to hear from anyone else who's planning to go there, and of course I'll continue to check here... I hope the relative silence on this board means that everyone is super happy and celebrating :-)

who, in the end, has decided on nyu?

A sudden lull in posts! What happened to everyone? What did you end up deciding, the17thscream?

stylefaxee-- My current job has also convinced me that I am not interested in commercial work. Can't wait to be done... How's your German coming along? Do you have any other languages yet?

stylefaxee-- That's such amazingly wonderful news! I'm so happy for you! And I'll probably be seeing you in the fall! I remember you're from Chicago, right? Are you coming straight from undergrad? Congratulations again :-)

I decided on the IFA... I've met with Brandt a few times (she's reached out to me), and Nagel's on his way... They've been really nice to me there. Plus, it's a much easier commute for me. I'm not crazy, am I?

Charis- I've decided not to go to Rutgers, though it's been a *really* tough decision. I'm trying to write a letter to Prof McHam now, and having some difficulty--she is so wonderful. Have you decided yet? What was your first choice? I really, really wish I could attend the Frick Symposium!! Some of the lectures look wonderful. I work both Friday and Saturday, no sick or personal days (oh the joys of working in an art gallery--only days off are when the owner decides he wants to close the gallery, which is hardly ever). Maybe next year...? Any suggestions regarding how to write OUR rejection letters?

traveling- I think you may have just run into the worst luck. It seems like those programs that would have been perfect for you a couple of years ago (particularly Princeton, also with Rosand at Columbia) are just in this transitional period where they can't offer you the faculty/advisor that you need (Rosand also told me that he would only be working part time for the next two years, and essentially retiring after that, though he didn't so explicitly say he wasn't taking on any new students). You're so invested in the field, I would encourage you not to give up, even if you hear bad news this week (and I still have hope for you!). I know there's a new professor at Rutgers who specializes in Northern Italian/Venice Renaissance, so there's got to be more options out there for you, and unfortunately you might have to find someone newer to the field just because all the people you should be working with are retiring. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about Brown or Rosand, and I didn't like the atmosphere at Columbia. But still, how absolutely devastating and unfair. But it seems like this is not holding you back at all--you've been doing awesome stuff in an awesome institution in an awesome city (pretty much this country's mecca for what you want to do), surrounded by the art that you love. When I was upset about not getting funding from NY, I went to the Morgan Library and spent a couple of hours at that drawing exhibition, thinking to myself, no matter where I end up at school, I'm going to be spending my life with this stuff. That made me feel better. Anyway, keep us posted... and best of luck.

travelingartmuse- I did visit Princeton. I met with Profs Heuer, Brown, and Pinto. Prof Brown, closest to my own interests but not a great match, told me before I set up the appointment that she wasn't accepting new students (she'll be teaching only part time for the next two years then retiring), so she wasn't sure it'd be worth my while to come. I decided to go anyway, and while there she told me that the search for her replacement wouldn't start for a while, so anyone interested in Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture would have to face this uncertainty regarding faculty and advisor. I realized she was basically telling me to not apply, but immediately afterwards I had a great time talking to Prof Pinto (Italian Renaissance architecture), and he encouraged me to apply despite the uncertainties... and I had such a great impression of the school and the program overall (from talking to Prof Pinto, Prof Heuer, though Prof Brown seemed a little aloof and cold), and also staff and a student, I decided to apply, even though I knew I was pretty much throwing away that application fee. I was only planning to apply to 4 schools, which seemed like too few, so I didn't want to limit my chances even more. Remind me, what's your field?

traveling- you mentioned for museum work/work in nyc it's best to have an nyc degree. have you run into anyone yet with rutgers degrees out there? or, in your experience, is the museum world dominated by ifa/columbia people?

the17thscream-- I'll reiterate something I've already said, and that I've seen other people say... Bryn Mawr is a wonderful school and has a really great reputation. My sister did her undergrad at Swarthmore, and people know of those three schools as being really academically rigorous (though maybe not as moneyed and fancy as the Ivies). But academically--really top notch. And for art history especially, I've heard that Bryn Mawr is really at the top. Anyone who knows anything about academia will know that. Those who don't know probably also won't know about the IFA's great reputation. It sounds like for you, Bryn Mawr is a win-win option, and it sounds like you're much more excited about it. It might also be a nice change from Columbia :-)

vangogh08, I did receive an email... Have you checked the application status website? They also updated mine to say I've been "recommended for admission." It could be that they've made a couple of offers and are waiting to hear back from them before they make final admissions decisions (I haven't confirmed that I will accept the offer yet, and I'm sure others accepted at Rutgers area also waiting to hear from other schools as well before they make their decisions). What did you think of the Rutgers program? Is it your first choice? How do you think it compares to other schools in the area?

Work was so stressful today, I was actually able to think about something *other* than grad school for a little while! An ironic relief... Unfortunately, I have to second a lot of what travelingartmuse wrote about the IFA and living in NY. stylefaxee-- I also had a much warmer, fuzzier feel from the Rutgers faculty and director. I got a personal email regarding my acceptance, and another one regarding my fellowship offer--as you probably saw from NYU, much different from the very generic one they sent. I did visit the Rutgers campus; my potential advisor there invited me to sit in on a class of hers. When I did, she introduced me to everyone (about 10 students) in the class by their first and last names. Coming from NYU undergrad, this was very striking to me. Afterwards, she asked the class if anyone wanted to join us for an informal lunch, and two of the students came. She left a little early so that I could speak more frankly with the students, and they were willing to spend a fair amount of time with me, and were very enthusiastic about the program, mostly because of this wonderful professor (both of them came from Italy to study Italian Renaissance art with her). I was also given a tour by an administrator, and they made sure I spoke with the director of the program as well. By the time I got home, I had an email from one of the students I had spoken to encouraging me to ask any other questions I might have, and that evening I received an email from the director). This was very different from when I sat in on a class at the IFA. I introduced myself to the prof, and she didn't introduce me to anyone or anyone to me (and, as I know from undergrad at NYU, students don't really talk to each other much, so I ended up just approaching a student after the class and walking with him to the subway, and got as much info as I could in those 5 mins). On another occasion, though, the administration set up a meeting for me with a student, and though it was helpful, they put me in touch with the Renaissance "student rep"--but that student is in Northern Renaissance, so he couldn't tell me much about working with the professors I'd be most interested in (after that meeting I did ask if there was an IFA student who was working with my potential advisors, and they said they could only give me the info of the student rep for my time period, which makes it the only school I visited that didn't introduce me to a student who could really tell me about potential advisors). Both students I spoke to (both the student rep and the guy I approached after the class) were excited about the program, but both complained that there are too many requirements and hoops to jump through (they seemed to think this was particular to NYU, and not to the phd in general), but of course the faculty is incredible and provides great opportunities (academic, career, etc). They said it's more competitive because of the funding issues, of course, and they complained that they did not understand why some students get funding while others don't (meaning that students who proved themselves academically in their first year didn't get funding the second year, or even got their funding taken away, and they said that it's really unpredictable and seems unfair). That worries me. Another valuable thing I learned from the IFA students (one student told me he wished he knew this before he went)--you have to interview to register for seminars. Since there are so many students, the professors that are most in demand hold interviews for their seminars, and there are reading lists just for the interview--so you have to prepare before you're even in the course. That makes it more competitive, too. Regarding living in NY, it is a wonderful city, especially for studying art, and I really relish and take advantage of all the opportunities to experience art/culture in the city. On the other hand, it is difficult to live here, especially as a student, and especially as a student with little money and loans. I'm working this year, and it's hard enough to live on an entry-level salary. It's impossible to live in Manhattan (I'm not sure what rents are like across the board, but my friend is living in a very tiny two bedroom and paying $3,200, which is considered reasonable), so commuting won't go away, and commuting can be rough (my commute to work now should be about 30 minutes, but I have to leave an hour because there in inevitably a problem somewhere along the way, whether a switch problem or train congestion or dispatchers holding trains in stations, and it often takes the full hour or more). It's not a very friendly city, and I often feel like it's completely dominated by the finance world... I grew up here and went to undergrad here, so maybe I'm just sick of it, but if my life were different, I would definitely go to grad school in another city (I like cities, would just prefer a different one). Actually, a number of my friends from high school and undergrad are moving to other parts of the country as they find that NY is not so hospitable to young people trying to start out (unless you're involved in business or finance). As I mentioned in a previous post though, life is such right now that I'm not in a position where I can move. If you're considering coming to NY, I would suggest really taking into account the cost of living here--Metrocard monthly passes just went up to $81, and if you visit the city, stop into a grocery store in Manhattan and check out the price of produce or even just chicken breasts. It's kind of astronomical. That all said, I'm still in NY and it still hurts to know that I will most likely not go to the IFA, although I know Rutgers will be a much better emotional (and of course financial) experience for me. (definitely heart versus head for me too, stylefaxee, I had had my heart set on the IFA). Travelingartmuse--if NYU took me, they should definitely take you. Best of luck, sounds like you really, really deserve it. I know a number of us received rejections from Princeton this week, so maybe your not having heard is good? Or maybe it means a wait-list type of situation? Have you tried calling to let them know you still haven't heard anything?

You're right, a visit can't hurt. But you may fall in love with it, which would make it even harder to pass up! (I did when I visited; the building is absolutely gorgeous, especially when you're used to NY architecture and cramped spaces). It was my first choice too, so yes, very disappointing (my other offer will mean a 2-hour commute for me, each way... I'm not really in a position where I can move right now, so that's also a bit hard to stomach). I feel exactly the same way about getting into debt--especially because it's not like law school or med school, where you know as soon as you get out you'll be making enough to put aside a substantial amount to pay back loans. One of my undergrad art history professors at NYU just defended at the IFA about 3 years ago, and though she now has this awesome gig teaching at NYU, she revealed to me the brutal reality that she's only making $15,000/yr. Not enough to live on, much less pay back loans. She may abandon academia, maybe even art history all together (amazing that she didn't deter me from entering the field, no?) Where is your other offer?

Congratulations stylefaxee!! I heard today too, but unfortunately no funding :-( I have another offer for full tuition + stipend, I'm so disappointed, but it just doesn't make sense to get myself into sooooo much debt when I can completely avoid loans with my other offer... At least it's my choice, and I don't have to feel like I didn't have the chance. Did you have better luck with funding?

I know, this is pretty agonizing

I applied for the PhD; Italian Renaissance...

Ok, this may demystify some things for those still waiting on NYU... I just called and they said it's taking a lot longer than expected (yeah, we noticed), and that different fields are operating at different decision-making speeds, so that they only have about half of the decisions made so far. He said we can expect decisions in the next week to ten days. So, good luck to everyone still waiting :-) And, to those of you who were already accepted--what fields are you pursuing? I have a bad feeling this is giving me false hope...

Has anyone called IFA recently to ask about when decisions will be sent? (obviously for the remainder of us who haven't heard yet)

Hi the17thscream, Congratulations on your acceptances! Sounds like you have some great options. Just so you know, from what I've heard (I'm not the last word by any means, but thought it might help), Bryn Mawr has an *excellent* reputation, especially for graduate art history. When I decided to apply for programs in this field, people consistently mentioned Bryn Mawr as being one of the top programs. "Rankings" for phds are not the same, of course, as for undergrad, and even if people outside of the field don't know Bryn Mawr, anyone in the field will--I've seen a number of faculty at top schools with art history degrees from Bryn Mawr. Also, I think the most important factor in terms of determining which school you choose should be the people you'll be working with and how good they are for you. It will mean a lot for you to have people who are really excited about your work and really supportive of it (and with more attention and support, it could mean better networking for career positions down the road). The phd is not going to be easy, and you'll be investing 6+ years of your life, so you better feel like the people you're working with are not only approachable and interesting, but also excited about you. Also, the money makes a big difference. Living in New York is sooo expensive (I'm from NY, living here now while working in an art gallery with a minimal salary which is still more than most fellowships and it's hard! I also did my undergrad at NYU, though not in art history)--and if your plans are for academia, it might be difficult to pay back hefty student loans. I'm currently grappling with not having heard from NYU yet (so prospects aren't good, especially for funding), but I did get into the program at Rutgers, with full tuition + stipend, an offer NYU almost certainly won't match. I feel similarly--I worry a little bit about Rutgers' reputation and what it will mean for my career, but my potential adviser there does *exactly* what I want to do (probably why I was a top choice for them), and she's definitely the best personality I've run into. The program is much smaller than the IFA, which is really appealing, and another thing to think about--I think it makes for a less competitive, of course more intimate environment, where you can have more attention from advisers, faculty, staff, other students--which is great for academic development, and maybe even for future opportunities (career or otherwise). Anyway, sorry for the hugely long post, I'd love to hear others' thoughts as well....

Haha, I had the same fears about my personal statement lxs--not so much something un-pc, but just an egregious error, like I uploaded the wrong statement for the wrong program. Sorry to hear this has been so hard for you, are you still waiting on any schools?

Hey Ana20, Congratulations on your acceptance to NYU!! I'm still waiting to hear... I know it's not looking good, but wondering what kind of qualifications people who've already been accepted have. Are you coming straight from undergrad or have you done any masters work? Anything super special about your app?

I'm still [secretly] *hoping* that's the case for NYU but feel like maybe that's just fooling myself... I was pretty confident with my application (though less so now that I've gone back and read how qualified some people contributing to this forum are), and I also met with a professor there who was explicit about how much she liked me. But that was before I actually applied, and I don't know how much power individuals have... Did anyone else meet with NYU faculty?

Thanks again stylefaxee! I'm still waiting on NYU... anyone have any information about it? Is the general assumption that anyone who hasn't heard yet is waitlisted/rejected?