Vinny51

Thanks lgrcwest &  thepictureisstill for encouraging me to try this.  It turns out negotiating with schools actually works! Last week I spoke with SFAI and mentioned that I received better financial packages from a few other schools and that I was seriously considering them. The graduate recruiter asked me what these offers were, so I told her the breakdown of scholarships, fellowships, etc. Then she asked me to put all of the offers in writing for her, and she would run it by her department. In the end, it turns out they couldn't do much to match the other offers, but they ended up offering me an extra $7k a few days later. Not the best offer, but it was at least something. 
 
Today, after a ton of thinking,  I decided to formally decline the offer from SFAI, so I gave them a call to inform them of my decision and to thank them, out of respect. I gotta say it was kinda painful and awkward, like breaking up with someone... Anyway, as soon as I told them that I was going with a school that made me a better offer, the grad recruiter immediately asked me if another $3,000 would help. I said no, thanked her, and that was that.  
 
I mention this because I know a lot of you will be receiving funding packages soon, and we definitely have the power to negotiate these deals. If I hadn't said anything at all, I wouldn't have received any additional money. And i'm sure if I wanted to really press the issue with SFAI, I could've easily negotiated that last-second $3k offer into $5k, or possibly an extra $10k.  I know people are still interviewing and all that, but if you find yourself in a similar situation down the road, i'd strongly recommend pitting these schools against each other for a better deal. We have a bit more power than we think. Especially at these private art schools. 

Thanks lgrcwest &  thepictureisstill for encouraging me to try this.  It turns out negotiating with schools actually works! Last week I spoke with SFAI and mentioned that I received better financial packages from a few other schools and that I was seriously considering them. The graduate recruiter asked me what these offers were, so I told her the breakdown of scholarships, fellowships, etc. Then she asked me to put all of the offers in writing for her, and she would run it by her department. In the end, it turns out they couldn't do much to match the other offers, but they ended up offering me an extra $7k a few days later. Not the best offer, but it was at least something. 
 
Today, after a ton of thinking,  I decided to formally decline the offer from SFAI, so I gave them a call to inform them of my decision and to thank them, out of respect. I gotta say it was kinda painful and awkward, like breaking up with someone... Anyway, as soon as I told them that I was going with a school that made me a better offer, the grad recruiter immediately asked me if another $3,000 would help. I said no, thanked her, and that was that.  
 
I mention this because I know a lot of you will be receiving funding packages soon, and we definitely have the power to negotiate these deals. If I hadn't said anything at all, I wouldn't have received any additional money. And i'm sure if I wanted to really press the issue with SFAI, I could've easily negotiated that last-second $3k offer into $5k, or possibly an extra $10k.  I know people are still interviewing and all that, but if you find yourself in a similar situation down the road, i'd strongly recommend pitting these schools against each other for a better deal. We have a bit more power than we think. Especially at these private art schools. 

Thanks lgrcwest &  thepictureisstill for encouraging me to try this.  It turns out negotiating with schools actually works! Last week I spoke with SFAI and mentioned that I received better financial packages from a few other schools and that I was seriously considering them. The graduate recruiter asked me what these offers were, so I told her the breakdown of scholarships, fellowships, etc. Then she asked me to put all of the offers in writing for her, and she would run it by her department. In the end, it turns out they couldn't do much to match the other offers, but they ended up offering me an extra $7k a few days later. Not the best offer, but it was at least something. 
 
Today, after a ton of thinking,  I decided to formally decline the offer from SFAI, so I gave them a call to inform them of my decision and to thank them, out of respect. I gotta say it was kinda painful and awkward, like breaking up with someone... Anyway, as soon as I told them that I was going with a school that made me a better offer, the grad recruiter immediately asked me if another $3,000 would help. I said no, thanked her, and that was that.  
 
I mention this because I know a lot of you will be receiving funding packages soon, and we definitely have the power to negotiate these deals. If I hadn't said anything at all, I wouldn't have received any additional money. And i'm sure if I wanted to really press the issue with SFAI, I could've easily negotiated that last-second $3k offer into $5k, or possibly an extra $10k.  I know people are still interviewing and all that, but if you find yourself in a similar situation down the road, i'd strongly recommend pitting these schools against each other for a better deal. We have a bit more power than we think. Especially at these private art schools. 

Penn State is the obvious choice. Especially if you're getting a stipend -- its like they're paying you to go to school!
 
The scholarship from SAIC is a nice gesture, and they have a great reputation, but that's still $60k in student loans you'll have to wrestle with. Sixty thousand dollars. And I mean, look at how much number-crunching you're already doing and you haven't even stepped foot onto campus yet. You're already in the left-brained/logical/rational frame of mind ... isnt that the opposite frame of mind to be in when it comes to art making? Like you, Ive been lucky to receive full-funding from a school, and i'm grateful for that because I know it will allow me to focus on the work and I won't have to use brain power worrying about tuition. And ultimately, I think this will help keep me more lucid and engaged in the work while in the program. These programs will demand a lot from us, and I think worst thing that I think can happen in an MFA experience is to have this weird concept of "tuition" creep into the studio. Personally it would throw me off & the work would suffer.
 
It does seem like you come from a more affluent family though, so maybe the burden of loans wouldn't weigh on you as much as it would someone like me (?) And if that's the case, maybe the private art schools are worth a shot. I mean, if your parents are giving you and your siblings $30k each, I would imagine that you could go to them if you run into serious money problems down the road... I dont know, I could be wrong here, I dont really know you. 
 
Anyway, I'd kick SAIC and RISD to the curb if I were in your situation. Don't pay for grad school unless you have no other options.

haha you're a genius for this! Ive been waiting forever on a response from them. Congrats on your acceptance, looks like Im in as well

If you havent already, check out these Grayson Perry / BBC talks. I think there are 4-5 talks in total. Really good stuff. http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/reith