kindaafraid

UCLA finalist biatchessssssss!!!!!!!
 

I'm not sure if anyone here is into New Media but so far I've been asked to interview at UCSD visual art, UCLA DMA, USC interactive media, UCSC danm, and NYU tisch game design. Just a heads up for those that do New Media and games (MFA).

@kindaafraid Aren't we all hoping we get into Yale with good funding?

Hi again, thanks for all the support everyone! I guess I just need to think of it as this way: If I can survive fascism within my country for a long period of time, I sure can survive Trump's government if I ever get the opportunity, right? I mean, compared to SCOTUS, my country's constitutional court is mostly filled with incompetent lawyers, and one of them recently got convicted in a corruption case. Last year, they even tried to pass a law to criminalize LGBT people (still ongoing). Unsurprisingly, the only sane judge is the one and only female judge (cues Beyoncé - "Run the World (Girls)" tune).
@minakoruk and @Slowly: With Erdoğan and Duterte in power, I suppose the US is still a relatively better place than our home country? I'm not saying it's going to be a smooth process, but seeing ACLU and the wave of protests keep fighting the good fight, I sincerely hope the sense of freedom in the US that I long for will put back into its place. (Also @Slowly, I've read somewhere that Filipinos' attitude towards LGBT people are way more favorable than its neighboring countries, is that true according to your firsthand experience? If so, that's amazing!)
Anyway, best of luck to you all in this application season! Come on Americans, you can do it!

@kindaafraid and @minakoruk Power to you both! Regardless of what you choose to do or where you go, I wish you both safety and fulfillment.

For myself, I'm a Filipino living in the Philippines and have applied to schools in US, Hong Kong, and UK. This is my first ever go at applications. I was very nervous last year when I'd decided to take the leap, especially since a former professor warned me and my friend that anything could happen that could bar us from moving to the States for MFA (he himself had been accepted into Brown but then 9/11 happened). However, I'd like to think that US schools will be more interested this time around to see what their international applicants have to offer. It seems as good a time as any to make classes more diverse than ever before, to hear different viewpoints on the uptick in populism/modern fascism in many parts of the world. My own statements of purpose detailed my motivation to explore political commentary in illustration and graphic design.

So I guess I just want to pipe in and say that, fellow international applicants, what we're doing now might be difficult, but whatever comes out of it could only be good. I wish you all the best of luck!

(Adding a question here, just to keep the ball rolling: how intense are grad offices' investigations of international applicants, usually? My friend and I were nervously joking with each other that we'd need to lock up our Twitters, as we both RT and write a lot of stuff that's critical of not only our own government but America's as well [how can we not, when everything they do affects us?] I'm not sure if this a naive or paranoid question, but would advisers looking up applicants for admission/scholarship go as far as to hunt down our social media accounts? Of course the schools I've applied to pledge they don't discriminate based on race or creed, but I imagine discourse and praxis are a whole 'nother ball game. Hope this question makes sense. Thank you very much in advance!)
 

@kindaafraid sending warm vibes your way in these uncertain times. Your fears are very valid and you have to protect yourself to the best of your ability. But don't give up! As disgusting as the actions of the Trump administration are and even though he was elected, many Americans are also fighting to preserve your ability to chase your dreams. Many schools are pledging to protect its students by providing legal fees if needed, not disclosing immigration status, etc. These schools have immigration lawyers that will fight for your F1 visa. 
Like Mina said, hate is very real even on liberal campuses, both systematic (my school's police also racially profiled black students) and occurring on a loud-but-small basis (there have been neo-nazi flyers appearing, but the majority of the community is very angry and quickly tearing them down). Art is more important than ever to tell your story—don't lose hope! 

Hey - I am Turkish, also culturally Muslim although not covered. I was in the exact same spot in 2009 applying for my undergrad but Obama had just gotten elected and the climate was completely different. Agree with Poodle Doodle, continue to tell your story and don't give up your push to succeed. It does depend where you are in America but in Chicago it has been incredible to see people from different communities come together against the executive order. I don't know what will happen in terms of visa issuance but eventually the order will have to hold up in court, which it may not. Don't lose hope! In the years I have lived in the US I have always felt the support and welcome of the right people, and I don't intend to please any racist bigots by giving up my livelihood. 
 
In terms of practical issues that may come up as you navigate life here, I hope that cosmopolitan academic communities will be mostly safe places. I am sad to say they have not always been safe for minorities, during my undergrad police would stop African American students and ask to see student IDs, which is horrible. Things seemed to be improving slightly before the election, ugh. 
 
Best of luck to you! 

Continue to tell your story @kindaafraid! What you do and who you are has purpose in the world and it will make sense in the right place and right time. Even though I am not Muslim and can never understand what it is like is to be one, I'll continue to support those like you. 
Admission is not able to discriminate on the basis of nationality, religion, sexual orientation etc. Just when/if you get accepted be in touch with International Services at your university. They will do all that they can to help you. 
As for Trump, I could be not giving enough fucks about him because of my cultural privilege, but I think he's doing everything to please a certain demographic of America. Thankfully there are freedom fighters out there that will continue to resist. I have a feeling that Trump will accomplish very little and America will be a battleground for the next four years. 
Good Luck! Always here to chat if need be. 

Hey Guys, 
I remember being in undergrad and sometimes feeling so distant from my peers because I was an international student. Well, here I am again on this voyage about to feel even weirder, this time as a grad student. I thought that we should have a space where we could be able to share experiences, answer questions, give advice, or just a space where you say what makes you feel ok about yourself. Good luck everyone! 
Disclaimer: I worked with International Services during my undergrad but this does not make me an immigration official. Although I can give my opinion on certain situations based on past experience, I recommend contacting your school directly about these questions.