Marchy

Congrats Cecily.B!! KSuverkrubbe you got into Boston w full tuition….that's really good! And looks like you were accepted to other great choices too…congrats!

All I'm saying is that if the playing field is somewhat level outside the top MFAs, then I'd almost rather go to school for free and get paid while getting a Masters like many of the people on here are doing.

Second this: !!

Hooraypublic, I think it's just that I'm losing it a little, having to make this decision. And I really miss NY, or want to at least be in a lovely place. CMU education seems excellent, but fears of not liking Pittsburgh and living there for 3 years are arising. I will probably end up going anyway LOL. Money is an issue for me, and the other schools haven't offered anything to cheer about. I feel like if I'm going to pay a lot I'd want to come out mega-connected with a top ranked school on my resumé. What about you? You're in some great programs too. Are you thinking of attending CMU?

Czarina, when you applied for the second year, did you reapply to any of the same places you got into the first time around? I'm wondering the etiquette for getting in to a school, turning down the offer this year and reapplying to same school next time. I'm just weighing out all my options!

I wish they'd let us know this week

Congrats Unifield! Fulbright always looks good on the resume. I would call SFAI and clarify the allocated amount. Milkyways I feel like I've heard good things about Northwestern especially in research areas. Have your offers already factored in financial need-based info? Or are the offers prior to need based assessments. Hoping maybe more will come out once they look at everyone's FAFSA. Going to try and clarify this by phone today.

Great points, Milkyways. Which are you leaning toward? As crazy as it sounds, looking at my options, the wild idea to still try and reapply next round is crossing my mind. Dryheat- it appears to be about time for them to crank out some updated rankings! will be interesting to see the latest.

You guys are awesome. Congrats on being accepted to all these fab schools, and getting some funding. I enjoyed reading the above posts and replies. Now that I'm past the acceptances point of the freak out, more freak out over which to say yes to. Once I was rejected by my top choice, Columbia, I moved on to Carnegie Mellon being my new top. But now that I'm in, more things have come up to ask myself about. They offered me 75% funding, that near $10K/ year thing is true for me. I may try and negotiate more funds, to help me make the decision. Because still, around 30K/3-years will be a lot of debt for me. As a decent grant writer I would probably end up with more opportunities to apply for additional funding the following couple years, but it's still taking a chance. (The Pittsburgh weather is another deterrent, embarrassingly enough). Like many of us, one of my reasons for g-school is the opportunity for upward mobility in the art world. I used to be a NY'er (still consider myself one) and have seen first-hand the ridiculous amount of politics in top-tier galleries/museums, as discussed earlier in this topic. Being in Pittsburgh for 3 years, it's kind of far from NY…. and faculty work seems quite Pittsburgh-focused. I'm hoping I can make some good connects if I go. Otherwise, I was also accepted to MICA with mediocre funding (1/3) but it's a lot closer to NY and a somewhat more vibrant art scene. Maybe I'm being a Shallow Hal???? American U is a good, improving MFA program. But funding is also nominal. I will be calling schools this week to try and negotiate. This article again about doing so…. http://www.uni.edu/~gotera/gradapp/results.htm

SAIC offered me 1/3 tuition, but since it's low-residency, as awesome as the program will be and Chi-town will be in the 6-week summer program, Idk if I can bring myself to pay that much for that little amount of school experience.

Baltimore has been noted as one of the most amazing up and coming and under the radar art scenes. It's gritty but happening, and close to NY ($20 Bolt Bus, yay). And it's rare for MICA to offer such funding. If it were me I'd probably go with MICA, knowing the city.

Congrats Hunter & RISD acceptees!!!!

Big congrats hooraypublic & milkyways. It'll be interesting to see who you choose! Zaumnik, I see you were gifted a full ride and stipend @ Univ. of CA?! That's amazing and you should be proud!! Are you going to go?

You guys are awesome. Thank you!!!!!!!!

Scratch that--- just got a call from John Carson offering ACCEPTANCE TO CARNEGIE MELLON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best Bday present EVER. Cannot believe it.

These are very good questions. For me, I know I'm ready now. I'm over 30, so that's one thing. I'm super ready. I feel like every year I wait it lowers my chances for my top choices (seeing how they usually seem to select a couple over 30s, so more competition for those spots). Yet I do know that waiting one more round my work will be even better and my application and knowledge of the process will give me a competitive edge I may not have had this year. It is great to hear that you went through this decision too, and came out better for it this year. More power to you. The app process was rough though. Going through it again….yikes.

So I'm definitely assuming rejection from my new top choice, CMU. This leaves me w/ acceptances from MICA, SAIC Low-Res, and American U. This week I'll be doing some heavy research on visiting artists, professors and recent grads. This is going to be a tough decision...Pick one of these schools, or wait again and apply next year???? MICA is ranked high these days, but I was only offered 1/3 funding. I want grad school NOW, but man. Maybe I need to wait.

Still no CMU? Torture.

Milkyways lol. They're killin me too. I wish they'd never told me about today.

Congrats heyward!

Ugh I know. It's a crapshoot. Factoring in what rank the presenter is in, how well they do presenting us, etc. My heart keeps skipping beats thinking about it. Milkyways- didn't mean to freak you out, lol.

Carnegie Mellon interviewers do their presentations on each finalist today before the entire grad student and faculty body….then they vote….!!

Woot kernufchuel! That's funny good news!

Congrats Maya31, hillaryanne, and KXXX for MICA acceptances! I got the phone call from Chris H today by phone as well for Mount Royal. Come on funding!

Well KSuverkrubbe, good for you for applying and still not letting hearing that from MICA hold you back. I've heard most programs will have a real spring chicken or two in the mix.