dryheat

same here!

My site is also in progress--I decided to revamp it right before submitting all of the grad applications, and I haven't had a chance to flush it with all of the text it needs yet--but the images of my work are up there at least... http://www.nick-larsen.com Schools I'm applying to: Northwestern, U of Chicago, UMichigan, Ohio State, and UI-Chicago.

yep, I did, but they were even earlier in sending out notifications this year. they are the only school that i applied to last year that i'm re-applying to, the others being northwestern, ohio state, umichigan, and ui-chicago. how about you?

UChicago interview invite here as well. I was definitely not expecting to start hearing back so soon!

Anyone on here currently attending or have first-hand knowledge of the following programs: Ohio State, UChicago, Northwestern, UMichigan, Claremont, UI-Chicago? Also, besides the obvious questions about funding and/or teaching opportunities, what other kinds of questions are people asking their interviewers about the program?

More re: USC http://www.artforum.com/news/id=52175

Exactly how I felt.

I did late last week.

Did you talk to the the grad coordinator/contact person in the art department or someone in the financial aid office?

I think I'm going to reapply next year and be a little bit smarter about where I apply (this forum has been super helpful in that regard). Did you decide on Northwestern? If so, you should post on here next year about your experience. It's a program I'm very curious about!

Just declined the admissions offer to USC Roski, so a spot should be opening up for anyone who may be on the waitlist.

congratulations!

After chatting with bannedinbc, another poster on here who applied to UCI, I went ahead and emailed Kevin. He got back to me pretty quickly and just said I was on the waitlist, which I guess they don't always tell people? If you haven't heard anything from them at this point, I bet there is a good chance you're on the waitlist also. I think it's a program that gets overlooked sometimes, but I think it's just starting to hit its stride. All of the faculty members I spoke with seemed really excited to be there, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it become one of the more talked about programs in the next 5-10 years. They also have a brand new art building, really nice studio and exhibition space, and one of the better visiting artist programs I've seen. I also think they have their act together administratively, as well. They've been the most open and communicative at every step in the process, and one of the faculty members emailed me after I was put the wait list just to check in, see if I had any questions/concerns, etc. Plus, as you said, Jessica Stockholder, Theaster Gates, William Pope.L, Catherine Sullivan...

Really fell in love with U of Chicago after visiting for my interview (I'm currently on the wait list there), so I think I'll definitely apply there again. Northwestern, UMichigan, UT-Austin, and UC Irvine (another school I'm currently in the waitlist for) are also on my radar for next time as well.

15k whole financial aid offer. Ends up being less than half of the cost of tuition, which is substantially less than they have offered in the past. Throwing living expenses into the mix, I'd probably be looking at 30-40k in loans each year, which I'm just not up for. Would much rather apply again next year at schools with much better funding possibilities.

$15,000 for the the first year which is renewable for the second if I'm making satisfactory progress.

I doubt much will change either. Haven't sent back the paperwork yet, but I'm 90% sure I'm going to pass on USC's acceptance offer and reapply again next year too (unless, by some chance, something changes at one of the schools I'm waitlisted at.)

How often are those US World and News Report rankings updated?

Kinda? I had an "informal conversation" with the Vice Dean last week, but we talked almost exclusively about the transition the program is going through and very little about my work. Milkyways and I were discussing our respective conversations a couple of pages back if you're interested. Thanks! At this point, I honestly have no idea what to make of the rumors or the state of things down there. It definitely seems like a very different program than the one I visited six months ago, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're struggling or that I would have a negative, tumultuous experience there. Still, a lot to process.

Received an acceptance email from USC Roski this afternoon. More information and official paperwork to follow in the next couple of days.

was thinking the same thing when I saw that story yesterday!

I felt the same way after visiting U of Chicago. Their faculty is great, their new art building and grad studios are great, and I was super impressed by the level of discussion and interaction I saw when I sat in on their critique class. On the wait list there now, and I'm seriously considering applying again next year if I don't get in this time around.

Frances: therealstarkiller me: nick.larsen

After she announced her resignation, I sent Frances Stark a message through Instagram just saying that I was currently in the process of applying to USC, that she was a significant part of the appeal of that program for me, and that it was disappointing that that I'd no longer have the opportunity (were I to be accepted) to work with her. Her short response: "Don't apply, save your money, stay in touch..." I don't know for sure, but I think your description above is a huge part of why she left and why she was encouraging me not to apply. It's really a bummer because, when I started the application process probably 6-7 months ago now, USC was at the very top of the list of schools I wanted to go to. Since that time, it's only slipped further and further down the list.

After a bit more miscommunication, I was finally able to speak with the vice dean just now. I have to agree with you--I'm getting a weird feeling about the program as well. In addition to the changes willenium mentioned earlier, I also found out that the grad coordinator who I met with last fall (and who had a lot to do with me actually deciding to apply) has also left the program. I feel like going through the program while they are in the middle of such major restructuring and rebuilding might end up just being a super frustrating experience all around. definitely not my top choice anymore.