carterjohnson

Who's going to the mixer on Monday?

Hey Chiboi. Did you end up deciding on Columbia?

Congratulations on the decision, and good luck on your studies!

So you decided on UCSD. I'd love to know what your experience there ends up being. Congrats!

Thanks Milkyways!! Much appreciated. I have done research previously, but not for school funding. It's such a daunting task. I can't remember, but have you decided on Northwestern? or have you changed your mind?

Hey everybody. I know someone has already brought this up at some point, but does anybody know of any sources of funding for grad students in the arts NOT related to particular schools?

I vote for Hunter. I did my undergraduate there, and think it a fantastic program. I also turned down BIG funding from another school in order to accept Hunter for MFA. It is definitely inexpensive relative to most other schools, but NYC is very expensive. Nevertheless, it is NYC and the city's art world does pay attention to Hunter graduates, attending open studios and the thesis exhibits. Good luck on your decision.

I had several people that I trusted tell me that I was ready. I'd say look up old faculty from your undergrad, or other older artists you know and who you trust will give you an honest evaluation. That being said, only YOU can honestly know if you are ready to go through the application process. I have discovered, that who accepts you and who doesn't seems largely arbitrary. It mystifies me. One person can be accepted to one so-called "well-respected" program, and rejected by another. Another person will be accepted by the opposite school and rejected by the first. It's very strange to me and seems to have as much to the politics within the programs and where they see their own program going more than the "quality" of the individual candidate's work. It's much like our own choices which does not always have to do with choosing the "best" school, whatever that really means. What I'm trying to say is that if you do not get accepted by a program that you respect, then try again the next year.

Congrats. You'll like the people there. What's your area?

I agree with Milkyways. UCSD is a great program with a great history in Art, at least since the 60s, so if that's your choice, you should be happy with it. Rutgers would be great too... I don't think you can go wrong.

I agree with you. I just made my decision yesterday and called immediately, because I knew that if I'd waited 5 more minutes, I'd have changed my mind again. Ugh... so sad to turn down that money and the teaching opportunity at Rutgers. I would have happily gone there if it had been just Rutgers.

I second this question, allybee. Does anybody know any good resources for funding?

So, today, I accepted Hunter's offer and declined Rutgers'. Somebody will be receiving the TA that they offered to me! Good luck!

I would choose Baltimore. I have a similar choice. I chose the one with better people to work with. I know that different people have different financial situations, and that sometimes better money must trump the better program, but for me the better program wins. I have to choose between Hunter and Rutgers. Hunter is the better program, cheaper, and in New York, but I get zero funding. Rutgers is still a good program (or I would not have even applied) in New Brunswick (ugh), but they offered me amazing funding. Despite that, I think I'm going to Hunter. If Hunter had been as expensive, however, as Columbia or Yale or whatever, I would go with Rutgers, but since it is relatively inexpensive, I'm choosing Hunter. I can make it work without funding.

I would choose Baltimore. I have a similar choice. I chose the one with better people to work with. I know that different people have different financial situations, and that sometimes better money must trump the better program, but for me the better program wins. I have to choose between Hunter and Rutgers. Hunter is the better program, cheaper, and in New York, but I get zero funding. Rutgers is still a good program (or I would not have even applied) in New Brunswick (ugh), but they offered me amazing funding. Despite that, I think I'm going to Hunter. If Hunter had been as expensive, however, as Columbia or Yale or whatever, I would go with Rutgers, but since it is relatively inexpensive, I'm choosing Hunter. I can make it work without funding.

Hey, yeah, I visited on Thursday of last week. I didn't think the city so bad, to be honest... and yes, I liked the program and especially the rapport that the faculty have with the students. What did you like most about the program. I'd be intersted to know what made you excited (also, what's your media)?

no apology necessary. I would say that things are really just the opposite, however. There seem to be more and more schools these days focusing on painting. I go to galleries too, and I see mostly painting. It's rare to see video, and rarer still for performance. The general public understands sculpture and painting, so there's a bigger market for it... but from what I understand, in school anyway, painters and other "non" digital media types are experimenting with video and other types of digital material. That just seems to be my take on all this. I would say that you shouldn't be afraid of it. In fact, if you are, perhaps that would be a sign of which direction you SHOULD go, at least as an experiment. I think it useful to explore what at first seems the most difficult to do. For me personally, that doesn't always have to do with any particular media, but with other concerns.

Have you visited Rutgers yet? or NYU? Have you spoken with faculty? or met with them? Arrange to have a visit and spend a few hours with each. It might help you to make your decision. Have you done research on the various faculty? One is in a small city, and the other is in the middle of the village in Manhattan, very different in that respect. Have either offered you any financial support? NYC is very expensive and New Brunswick, not nearly so. Even though I think you are right to think primarily about the people at the programs and the quality of the programs themselves, you cannot discount the pragmatic aspects of attending the schools, or your own feelings about living in different types of places.

Hey chiboi, I got mine yesterday, and it seems the same as yours. They say we have about 3 weeks (as of the date on the letter) to make a decision. Have you made yours? Mine is between Rutgers (with a large package) and Hunter. I see you've been admitted to Columbia too. Congrats!

Thanks so much Miyamoto81. That's good info. I was in Philadelphia all day, but if I hadn't been, I'd have checked out the talk with Madsen at the nypl. I might've been able to introduce myself. I must say that I am very interested in both Aki and Natalie's work. They were significant draws for me when I was looking for schools to apply to. Anyway, it's good to know this kind of thing, and I REALLY appreciate it. I still haven't made a choice between Hunter or Rutgers, but I gave myself until this weekend to make a decision. tick tock... Carter-

You going to Hunter?

I've got a similar problem between Rutgers and Hunter. Which to choose. To be quite honest, compared to actual problems, however, this is a truly first-world problem: I figure there is no losing here. Nevertheless, there is still a decision to be made: which will help develop the work most, and which will help present the most future opportunities. I think those are the two main considerations.

A year ago Rutgers hired Natalie Bookchin who is from Cal Arts. They recently hired Aki Sasamoto as well who is very interesting... neither are painters, however.

Hi Jaygray, Got the same offer. Visited Rutgers today (03/26) and loved what I saw. I also got accepted to Hunter and now, like you, trying to make a VERY difficult decision. At this point I'm 50/50. ugh... Have you decided yet?

Hey, thanks to you both for responding. I appreciate it. I've just come back from visiting the Rutgers program and have given myself until tomorrow (03/27) to make a decision. I know Hunter already, so it was nice to see Hunter there and meet all the people. Unfortunately, it did not make the decision any easier. ugh... It is big on painting, but I it seems to me that they are making a big push toward media. They just hired someone from Cal Arts last year who works mainly with digital media, and another person recently who does mainly performance & media. Unlike most of the other schools, you don't apply to one particular media, it's all intermingled.