savantarde

A Room of My Own
Personal Statement, As Written for SAIC

In her 1929 essay, A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf posits that “...a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction” (4). In the Women's Studies program at the University of Arizona, my undergraduate cohort spoke often about Woolf's consideration of what was necessary for a woman to achieve success in the academic/creative arenas. Typically viewed as an exclusively feminist philosophy, A Room of One's Own need not be limited as such. More specifically, I've come to find that this ideology relates well to the artist, regardless of medium. It is necessary for one to possess time, space, and the support of like-minded others: a complete framework within which to bring their ideas to fruition.

I was 25 before I made my first significant move toward finding “a room of my own.” January of 2007 marked my departure from the small, dusty, Mexican border-town of Yuma, Arizona. I landed a mere four hours east, in Tucson. Although I hadn't left the state, I was finally unfastening myself from what felt like a quarter century long stint of immobility. I didn't realize it at the time, but this history would prove an integral aspect of my burgeoning identity.

I arrived at Visual Communications by way of a double-major in Art History and (as previously mentioned) Women's Studies, at the University of Arizona. Greatly fascinated by the ways in which social theory informs the visual artifact, and vice versa, I was initially interested in pursuing this dual degree, wherein I could immerse myself in the study of two such appropriately intersecting disciplines. Admittedly, I thought that a BA was “safer” than a BFA. This hesitance was rooted in the fact that there had been little in my hometown to help direct me toward a discipline, and too many who would sooner convince me that being an “artist” was simply an impractical dream. Conversely, I had always seen my own creativity as a wellspring of vitality—essential to my being. In whatever capacity or medium, the “gravitation pull” toward the physical construction of art has been too difficult to ignore.

In the spring of 2009, I was granted admission into the Visual Communications program. Thus far, my undergraduate work represents a rigorous program of theory, and practice in the technical nuances of design. The more I've learned, the more possibilities have been introduced into my life and work. From where I began three semesters ago, to now, I have developed a real hunger for self-initiated, conceptually driven work: the kind that unfolds naturally, irrespective of medium. In this sense, I see graduate study as an altogether new, yet completely natural bridge between past and future.

Whenever possible, I have imbued my undergraduate work with references to my identity—the identity that has literally grown out of the sequence of events outlined above. I have occupied many roles in life, most of which fell easily outside the realm of “normativity”--at least in comparison to the company that I kept. While my family and community-at-large were straight, church-going conservatives, I was the antithesis. Having seen and experienced the world almost entirely from its margins, I desire to give voice to the “spaces in between.” I want to call upon my own life experiences, while simultaneously exploring the ways in which they can be drawn parallel to the cumulative experiences of like others—namely those of the members of what would by my graduate cohort.

Drawing from my background at the University of Arizona, as a non-traditional student versed in a number of previously studied subjects, I am most interested in furthering research on the topics of postmodern feminist ideologies, the impact of language upon the understanding of these subjects, and the elements of space and time (linear and non-linear) as shapers of identity.

I believe the focus in my graduate studies would be best nurtured in the environment offered by the Visual Communications department at SAIC. By far, the greatest attraction is the Institute's insistence upon self-exploration and independent study. In October of 2009, I was invited to witness this firsthand, in VisCom graduate seminar. The encouragement provided students, to push themselves to make choices based on their instincts and interests, resonated most with my desires. Another draw: location. I have been swept away by Chicago! I have found it to possess the diversity of people and places that I so greatly want to be an integral part of my living and working experience for my graduate career. I genuinely hope that SAIC will be my next monumental step forward: the consummate place to establish what I believe would be a sublime “room of my own.”

SAIC makes it very clear that they are interested in admitting "conceptual" artists for their graduate studio programs. So, that would account for the responses you received from students. I'm curious as to how far along in the program they all were, and to what disciplines they belonged, respectively. It is possible that they have yet to develop an eloquent spoken synopsis of their own work.

If that's not what you're looking for, by all means--don't go!
Look for what *you* need. But also, don't draw blanket conclusions based on your encounters with a small group.

And to answer a previous question--yes. I was admitted to SAIC for the Visual Communications MFA. So, perhaps I'm on this weird-assed crusade, championing the idea of subjectivity and "cultural relativism" when viewing other schools/programs???

As part of the Statement of Intent for Syracuse University - It asks "how you expect to finance your studies?"

I'm not sure the best way to address this. Honestly, I really don't have any money to contribute to going to grad school. I'm saving up enough to move, get an apartment, food and supplied. I doubt I will have enough to really contribute toward tuition. So I need ALL of the financial aid I can get. I can only take out Fed Loans (I defaulted Private). I have a strong portfolio for scholarships.

So what do I say about how I expect to finance my studies??????? that I'm hoping to scholarships, grants, and loans? that I'm a struggling artist from a poor lower-class background but will work my ass off TAing and whatever it takes to get the scholarships/grants to go?

Updated List, 3/27

REJECTED
remains to be seen

ACCEPTED
SAIC

WAITLISTED
UIC
Columbia College Chicago

NO WORD
Parsons


Just wanted to say, that this whole process has been one, giant mind-****.

I applied to four places, one of which (SAIC) was my tip-top choice. I had NO expectation of being admitted. I was playing it safe, so to speak. I am still finishing my undergrad, but am a non-traditional student.
Being admitted to SAIC was a surprise, to say the least. It really puffed up my ego, and it was somewhat strange to hear that I had been waitlisted at Columbia College. Lame, actually.

So, my words of advice are: expect the unexpected--ALWAYS. The admissions process DOES involve a certain degree of "luck," or good timing. There are MANY applicants, whose credentials are as good, better, or below yours. The order in which they receive applications, having a more-stellar-than-average applicant pool, and any number of other factors weigh in on the decisions. There is no telling what factors are in the mix for your particular application year.

Anywhere in Arizona will require a car. The *only* place I can see getting away without one *might* be the Phoenix Metropolitan area, but only because they have reliable and regular buses at all times of day.
Tucson bills itself as a "bike friendly" community, but I disagree, wholeheartedly.
Everywhere in Arizona is sprawling, hence the need for vehicular transport.

A Room of My Own
Personal Statement, As Written for SAIC

In her 1929 essay, A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf posits that “...a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction” (4). In the Women's Studies program at the University of Arizona, my undergraduate cohort spoke often about Woolf's consideration of what was necessary for a woman to achieve success in the academic/creative arenas. Typically viewed as an exclusively feminist philosophy, A Room of One's Own need not be limited as such. More specifically, I've come to find that this ideology relates well to the artist, regardless of medium. It is necessary for one to possess time, space, and the support of like-minded others: a complete framework within which to bring their ideas to fruition.

I was 25 before I made my first significant move toward finding “a room of my own.” January of 2007 marked my departure from the small, dusty, Mexican border-town of Yuma, Arizona. I landed a mere four hours east, in Tucson. Although I hadn't left the state, I was finally unfastening myself from what felt like a quarter century long stint of immobility. I didn't realize it at the time, but this history would prove an integral aspect of my burgeoning identity.

I arrived at Visual Communications by way of a double-major in Art History and (as previously mentioned) Women's Studies, at the University of Arizona. Greatly fascinated by the ways in which social theory informs the visual artifact, and vice versa, I was initially interested in pursuing this dual degree, wherein I could immerse myself in the study of two such appropriately intersecting disciplines. Admittedly, I thought that a BA was “safer” than a BFA. This hesitance was rooted in the fact that there had been little in my hometown to help direct me toward a discipline, and too many who would sooner convince me that being an “artist” was simply an impractical dream. Conversely, I had always seen my own creativity as a wellspring of vitality—essential to my being. In whatever capacity or medium, the “gravitation pull” toward the physical construction of art has been too difficult to ignore.

In the spring of 2009, I was granted admission into the Visual Communications program. Thus far, my undergraduate work represents a rigorous program of theory, and practice in the technical nuances of design. The more I've learned, the more possibilities have been introduced into my life and work. From where I began three semesters ago, to now, I have developed a real hunger for self-initiated, conceptually driven work: the kind that unfolds naturally, irrespective of medium. In this sense, I see graduate study as an altogether new, yet completely natural bridge between past and future.

Whenever possible, I have imbued my undergraduate work with references to my identity—the identity that has literally grown out of the sequence of events outlined above. I have occupied many roles in life, most of which fell easily outside the realm of “normativity”--at least in comparison to the company that I kept. While my family and community-at-large were straight, church-going conservatives, I was the antithesis. Having seen and experienced the world almost entirely from its margins, I desire to give voice to the “spaces in between.” I want to call upon my own life experiences, while simultaneously exploring the ways in which they can be drawn parallel to the cumulative experiences of like others—namely those of the members of what would by my graduate cohort.

Drawing from my background at the University of Arizona, as a non-traditional student versed in a number of previously studied subjects, I am most interested in furthering research on the topics of postmodern feminist ideologies, the impact of language upon the understanding of these subjects, and the elements of space and time (linear and non-linear) as shapers of identity.

I believe the focus in my graduate studies would be best nurtured in the environment offered by the Visual Communications department at SAIC. By far, the greatest attraction is the Institute's insistence upon self-exploration and independent study. In October of 2009, I was invited to witness this firsthand, in VisCom graduate seminar. The encouragement provided students, to push themselves to make choices based on their instincts and interests, resonated most with my desires. Another draw: location. I have been swept away by Chicago! I have found it to possess the diversity of people and places that I so greatly want to be an integral part of my living and working experience for my graduate career. I genuinely hope that SAIC will be my next monumental step forward: the consummate place to establish what I believe would be a sublime “room of my own.”

I have alot of experience with this FAFSA/Independent Student thing. I think there is some misinformation here on the board...Savantgarde is right...Even if a student is independent from their parents, the parent's income will be still be calculated into the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) in most circumstances. Read about what is defined as an Independent student:

If you are under 24 and unmarried, your parent's income will be calculated on the FAFSA. It counts as apart of your adjusted gross income. You'll see this calculated into your EFC number on the SAR printout.

The Need Access form/process is a horse of another color. It is only used at certain schools. At institutions like Yale that offer need-based institution funding, the age is determined by the school. Yale says you must report all parent's income regardless of age (even though the cut off to report parental income on their Need Access form is 25?). At Berkley, the age is 30, etc.
Taking parental income/assets into account is highly unfair to many students...This added income only hurts their chances at funding.

Schools do this, because they want to give more money to Student A with a poor family and a low EFC over say Student B with a comfortable family and a higher EFC. But, it doesn't take things into account like if your parents are estranged or how much debt they have even if they wanted to contribute.

When I looked at Yale's (and UPenn's) site I was also floored to find how little they pay their TAs and how little the fellowships are in relation to the tuition. Even though the education is first rate, it makes me a little sad that they charge their students so much.

Hi grad_wannabe --- I think you're absolutely right in what you said about one's place of study and the influence that it will have on future connections. I'm thinking that the situation is not as black and white as it had been described: it's not as though one's place of study would dictate his or her location after graduating. For instance, not all SAIC alums stay in Chicago, same for RISD and Providence. On the topic of buying students, I just can't get behind the language being used. If all of the top schools were paying us to get our MFAs, and if we went to the top bidder without any agency in the matter, then I would agree that we've been purchased. But in this circumstance, schools are lowering the amount of money that some people pay to get the degree and it's part of a more complicated equation in which the student decides among a variety of factors. True, costs are lowered competitively, but I wouldn't call it a meat market just yet.

You should keep in mind that department chairs are very busy and may not have time to be extensively involved with grad students. Definitely ask before you apply.

This is my final semester at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. I moved here 3 years ago from Yuma, Arizona, also known as the Devil's Armpit. For those who aren't geographically acquainted, Yuma is in the Southwestern most tip of the state, and is 10 minutes from the border of Mexico. Tucson is a 3.5 hour drive to the Northeast, and is 45 minutes from the border.

Here's what I have to offer:

* HOT. This is southwestern Arizona. Granted, it is the middle desert, but isn't high enough to be cool year-round. If you are coming from colder weather, it is absolutely imperative that you obtain housing with Air Conditioning. Don't rent a place that has only swamp cooling (evaporative cooling). You WILL NOT fare well during the summer months, as temperatures can be in excess of 120 degrees F.

* Transportation. People are right. You will probably want a car in Tucson. The public transportation only runs 'til about 11pm or Midnight every day of the week. Tucson, like most cities in Arizona, is VERY sprawling. That being said, it *is* possible to get away with a bike, but only if you plan on living on or around campus (which is quite large). There is one grocery store within a mile of campus--Safeway. It is walkable, but somewhat of a trek. You won't want to be walking during summer, though. One of the best benefits of having a car is exploration. If you're new to the desert, you'll want to make trips outside the city. There is LOTS to see. The BioSphere is currently available for touring. There are two Desert Museums, one of which is an enclosed sanctuary/zoo with native animals and plants. There's Colossal Cave within 30 minutes or so, Old Tucson Studios (used for filming westerns back in the day), and Tombstone and Bisbee, which are great for weekend trips. Lots and lots of history everywhere.

* Campus. Big, but not the biggest. Very, very nicely maintained. It is an arboretum, so there are TONS of native and non-native plants and trees, all with information placards at every turn. Buildings are almost all new or newly remodeled. The new Student Union is very large and central, and houses a large bookstore (looks like a Barnes & Noble), a StarBucks, arcade, several eateries, lots of study room and a huge downstairs TV lounge/computer lab. UofA is a public university. This means that *anyone* can visit campus proper. As such, there are a fair amount of strange folks wandering campus at any given time, but I have never encountered anything threatening or out-of-the-ordinary.

* Food. Some great places to eat, no doubt. Most of what you'll want to try is some distance from campus, but there are areas within walking distance that are up to snuff. Everyone should visit 4th Avenue, straightaway. Lots of bars, but some great little restaurants. Congress Street is another destination. This is in Downtown Tucson, which feels like a *completely* different city. Would highly recommend walking around there at dusk during the spring. Beautiful! Mexican Food is good, but in my humble opinion, it is not "authentic." But, there are different regions of Mexico, serving altogether different food. There are no good Mexican Food restaurants near campus. But that's just my opinion. Go to La Parilla Suiza for *Spanish* food, or Maya Quetzal for *Peruvian* cuisine, to spice things up.

* Food on Campus. I hear that, due to complaints about the substandard food options, students can use their ID cards (which are linked to meal plan accounts) to shop at Safeway Grocery. Good thing. Campus eateries include: Chik-Fil-A, Papa John's Pizza, Burger King, Panda Express, a Sandwich Deli, and three, school-operated cafeteria-style options--two of which are Mexican and Italian cuisine. One is a standard cafeteria fare option. All of these eateries are located in one of the two Student Unions.

Last but not least, don't believe what MANY coed undergraduates complain of incessantly: "There isn't anything to do here but drink!" But I didn't have to tell you that. You're going to grad school, you've got a brain, and you're resourceful! There are many, MANY things to do in Tucson. Just ask people! Lots of hidden gems everywhere.

P.S., if you ARE a bar-goer, you'll want to check out "The Meet Rack"--just look it up. It's the stuff of Tucson lore. Also, if you dig Midcentury Modern--straight up drinks on the rocks, martinis and swanky furnishings, go to "The Shelter." It was built to look like a Fallout Shelter, and is very hip.
"The Surly Wench Pub" is on 4th, and it's like a dark, seedy pirate bar with arcade games, pool and foosball tables, air hockey, and an awesome jukebox. Nice melting pot, too.

HAVE FUN!

Are you sure?

So, when it comes to opinion - we can (and clearly do) disagree. And thank Darwin for differences of opinion - what a boring world we would live in otherwise. For example you like Scottsdale - I think Scottsdale is packed with shallow, vapid, uninteresting people. You are A-OK with the level of heat in AZ and I'm not (yet I've managed to survive and thrive here my entire adult life).

But when it comes to fact - thanks to the advent of internet - you can't fudge. Or you can, but then you'll be caught in a lie. And then people will tend not to believe anything else you say. The highest temperature recorded for February was 92 degrees according to the national weather survey which is a bit higher up then weather.com on the credibility scale.
If your point was that it never topped 90 this February - I never said it did.
And, though you should feel free to continue this argument, I will not be joining you.

*edit
Also, to help answer some questions, there are indeed affordable places to live near ASU - and quiet and safe. The only trouble is you have to get the legwork in to find them, but it's definitely worth the search. Parking on the other hand is pretty lame. The passes are expensive and sometimes you can only get inconvenient structures. I found living near ASU and biking to classes to be the way to go. Best of luck to you!

Thanks so so much for the info! Im sure I will have questions, but no time now.
@Kewpies: effin awsome!!! Big congrats! good luck on the decision, let us know where you end up.
Checking out for now kids, Vermont Studio Center in T minus 12 hours. Dont know what internet is like there. Good luck to all, and may I add that I totally agree with someone elses comment that *luck* is a major factor here. thank you all, best wishes.

Updated List, 3/27

REJECTED
remains to be seen

ACCEPTED
SAIC

WAITLISTED
UIC
Columbia College Chicago

NO WORD
Parsons


Just wanted to say, that this whole process has been one, giant mind-****.

I applied to four places, one of which (SAIC) was my tip-top choice. I had NO expectation of being admitted. I was playing it safe, so to speak. I am still finishing my undergrad, but am a non-traditional student.
Being admitted to SAIC was a surprise, to say the least. It really puffed up my ego, and it was somewhat strange to hear that I had been waitlisted at Columbia College. Lame, actually.

So, my words of advice are: expect the unexpected--ALWAYS. The admissions process DOES involve a certain degree of "luck," or good timing. There are MANY applicants, whose credentials are as good, better, or below yours. The order in which they receive applications, having a more-stellar-than-average applicant pool, and any number of other factors weigh in on the decisions. There is no telling what factors are in the mix for your particular application year.

I have to say I disagree completely. Of course you have to worry about money. Are you not an adult who plans to support yourself and pay your own bills? Then yes, you always have to think about the money. This is not some romanticized storybook of the artist starving for their vision. This is your life.

In my own humble opinion, NO it is not worth it to take out so much debt, especially for a painting degree. Painters' primary income comes from teaching. The educational system is already glutted with painters scrambling for the few teaching jobs there are, and those are disappearing at a brisk clip. Have you had much interaction with post-MFA students dealing with mountains of debt and a shrinking job market? I have. It's not a pretty picture. The fear and worry in their eyes actually pushed me away from getting an MFA. Even without any loan payments to make at all, a painter would be have to struggle constantly. WITH such loan enormous payments, I ... I just don't know.

I plugged your hypothetical debt into a payment calculator:

Loan Balance: $70,000.00 Adjusted Loan Balance: $70,000.00 Loan Interest Rate: 6.80% Loan Fees: 0.00% Loan Term: 20 years Minimum Payment: $50.00
Monthly Loan Payment: $534.34 Number of Payments: 240
Cumulative Payments: $128,240.42 Total Interest Paid: $58,240.42
You would have to make a payment of over $500 a month for TWENTY YEARS. 500 bucks a month is no small number. That will have a huge effect on where and how you will be able to live. Do you plan to have children? Buy a house? Save up for emergencies? Travel? That 500 bones coming out of your wallet every month won't make any of that easy.

I would recommend finding a compromise: don't enroll at Claremont now. Take a year off, work on your portfolio, and next year apply to more middle-range schools that would be more likely to offer you assistance. Find a happy medium between a good painting program and the price. I know it feels like you're at a precipice now and have to jump, but you don't. A year spent working on your portfolio to get more assistance is a lot easier to handle than two decades paying off a loan you didn't have to take out.

This is all, of course, just my humble opinion. If you're okay with all of that, and you WANT to sacrifice for your work, then go for it. No one can tell you what to do.

Then again, Obama has enacted a lot of new student-loan legislation, including a bill that would forgive student loan debt if they agreed to teach in under-funded schools for 5 or 10 years. That's an option. Look into that.

This is my final semester at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. I moved here 3 years ago from Yuma, Arizona, also known as the Devil's Armpit. For those who aren't geographically acquainted, Yuma is in the Southwestern most tip of the state, and is 10 minutes from the border of Mexico. Tucson is a 3.5 hour drive to the Northeast, and is 45 minutes from the border.

Here's what I have to offer:

* HOT. This is southwestern Arizona. Granted, it is the middle desert, but isn't high enough to be cool year-round. If you are coming from colder weather, it is absolutely imperative that you obtain housing with Air Conditioning. Don't rent a place that has only swamp cooling (evaporative cooling). You WILL NOT fare well during the summer months, as temperatures can be in excess of 120 degrees F.

* Transportation. People are right. You will probably want a car in Tucson. The public transportation only runs 'til about 11pm or Midnight every day of the week. Tucson, like most cities in Arizona, is VERY sprawling. That being said, it *is* possible to get away with a bike, but only if you plan on living on or around campus (which is quite large). There is one grocery store within a mile of campus--Safeway. It is walkable, but somewhat of a trek. You won't want to be walking during summer, though. One of the best benefits of having a car is exploration. If you're new to the desert, you'll want to make trips outside the city. There is LOTS to see. The BioSphere is currently available for touring. There are two Desert Museums, one of which is an enclosed sanctuary/zoo with native animals and plants. There's Colossal Cave within 30 minutes or so, Old Tucson Studios (used for filming westerns back in the day), and Tombstone and Bisbee, which are great for weekend trips. Lots and lots of history everywhere.

* Campus. Big, but not the biggest. Very, very nicely maintained. It is an arboretum, so there are TONS of native and non-native plants and trees, all with information placards at every turn. Buildings are almost all new or newly remodeled. The new Student Union is very large and central, and houses a large bookstore (looks like a Barnes & Noble), a StarBucks, arcade, several eateries, lots of study room and a huge downstairs TV lounge/computer lab. UofA is a public university. This means that *anyone* can visit campus proper. As such, there are a fair amount of strange folks wandering campus at any given time, but I have never encountered anything threatening or out-of-the-ordinary.

* Food. Some great places to eat, no doubt. Most of what you'll want to try is some distance from campus, but there are areas within walking distance that are up to snuff. Everyone should visit 4th Avenue, straightaway. Lots of bars, but some great little restaurants. Congress Street is another destination. This is in Downtown Tucson, which feels like a *completely* different city. Would highly recommend walking around there at dusk during the spring. Beautiful! Mexican Food is good, but in my humble opinion, it is not "authentic." But, there are different regions of Mexico, serving altogether different food. There are no good Mexican Food restaurants near campus. But that's just my opinion. Go to La Parilla Suiza for *Spanish* food, or Maya Quetzal for *Peruvian* cuisine, to spice things up.

* Food on Campus. I hear that, due to complaints about the substandard food options, students can use their ID cards (which are linked to meal plan accounts) to shop at Safeway Grocery. Good thing. Campus eateries include: Chik-Fil-A, Papa John's Pizza, Burger King, Panda Express, a Sandwich Deli, and three, school-operated cafeteria-style options--two of which are Mexican and Italian cuisine. One is a standard cafeteria fare option. All of these eateries are located in one of the two Student Unions.

Last but not least, don't believe what MANY coed undergraduates complain of incessantly: "There isn't anything to do here but drink!" But I didn't have to tell you that. You're going to grad school, you've got a brain, and you're resourceful! There are many, MANY things to do in Tucson. Just ask people! Lots of hidden gems everywhere.

P.S., if you ARE a bar-goer, you'll want to check out "The Meet Rack"--just look it up. It's the stuff of Tucson lore. Also, if you dig Midcentury Modern--straight up drinks on the rocks, martinis and swanky furnishings, go to "The Shelter." It was built to look like a Fallout Shelter, and is very hip.
"The Surly Wench Pub" is on 4th, and it's like a dark, seedy pirate bar with arcade games, pool and foosball tables, air hockey, and an awesome jukebox. Nice melting pot, too.

HAVE FUN!

they are all pure art schools (not part of a large, wide-ranging university like ucla or yale) with solid reputations.

hypothetically, if funding were not part of your decision (lol), and if you were to be accepted to all 4 programs (in painting), where would you go? in what order? and why?

so far, i'm thinking:

1. risd
2. chicago
3. calarts
4. cca

(i haven't gotten the letter yet one way or the other from calarts, have already been accepted at cca, and have interviewed at risd and saic and am waiting on their decision)