arusse

Just got the bad news.. UO sent me my rejection finally today.. good luck to everyone else! Looks like it’s the end of the road for me. If anyone gets in please let us know, we’re rooting for ya!

Long - I have many thoughts. This is what worked best for me, and what I need/want out of my practice. May not be what you're looking for/thinking about.
I wasn't going to grad school this year if I had to go more than 10-20k in debt. I mean realistically - if you take out 60-70k in student loans, have a 10 year repayment plan, and have an interest rate of 6% you're looking at over $700 as your monthly student debt payment. That's a lot!!!!!
The best program, in my opinion, is a program that allows your work to grow to the fullest, including after you graduate. A program that puts you in debt would be counterproductive in that regard. You won't be able to make good work if you're constantly strapped for cash. Especially as creatives, we sometimes need to spend money on supplies and space in order to work. I know that having enormous student loan payments would only hurt my outcomes post-graduation.
For the school you're getting more funding from: Do the faculty have connections with people and in cities you want to work with/in? If so, then prestige won't necessarily facilitate more connections for you unless you really want to get on that #uppertierlife. Do the alumni have outcomes that mirror what you want in your practice? If so, then that's great! Do you want to teach after grad school? TA experience I am sure will put you somewhat ahead of MFA's who do not have teaching experience.
Just some things to think about, which I also thought about heavily. I am not sure where Penn State falls on the prestige scale, but I am endlessly grateful for the fact I will not have any debt, which will give me more freedom when I graduate to do whatever the heck I want. Personally, I think prestige without funding is unethical and overrated because increased student loan burden contributes to achievement disparity in the arts based on income/background. So I am obviously somewhat biased. 

Long - I have many thoughts. This is what worked best for me, and what I need/want out of my practice. May not be what you're looking for/thinking about.
I wasn't going to grad school this year if I had to go more than 10-20k in debt. I mean realistically - if you take out 60-70k in student loans, have a 10 year repayment plan, and have an interest rate of 6% you're looking at over $700 as your monthly student debt payment. That's a lot!!!!!
The best program, in my opinion, is a program that allows your work to grow to the fullest, including after you graduate. A program that puts you in debt would be counterproductive in that regard. You won't be able to make good work if you're constantly strapped for cash. Especially as creatives, we sometimes need to spend money on supplies and space in order to work. I know that having enormous student loan payments would only hurt my outcomes post-graduation.
For the school you're getting more funding from: Do the faculty have connections with people and in cities you want to work with/in? If so, then prestige won't necessarily facilitate more connections for you unless you really want to get on that #uppertierlife. Do the alumni have outcomes that mirror what you want in your practice? If so, then that's great! Do you want to teach after grad school? TA experience I am sure will put you somewhat ahead of MFA's who do not have teaching experience.
Just some things to think about, which I also thought about heavily. I am not sure where Penn State falls on the prestige scale, but I am endlessly grateful for the fact I will not have any debt, which will give me more freedom when I graduate to do whatever the heck I want. Personally, I think prestige without funding is unethical and overrated because increased student loan burden contributes to achievement disparity in the arts based on income/background. So I am obviously somewhat biased. 

Yes! None of us should be going into crazy debt for an MFA, and congrats on the full ride at Penn State!
 
My MFA philosophy is to not consider going into debt unless it’s Yale.

Long - I have many thoughts. This is what worked best for me, and what I need/want out of my practice. May not be what you're looking for/thinking about.
I wasn't going to grad school this year if I had to go more than 10-20k in debt. I mean realistically - if you take out 60-70k in student loans, have a 10 year repayment plan, and have an interest rate of 6% you're looking at over $700 as your monthly student debt payment. That's a lot!!!!!
The best program, in my opinion, is a program that allows your work to grow to the fullest, including after you graduate. A program that puts you in debt would be counterproductive in that regard. You won't be able to make good work if you're constantly strapped for cash. Especially as creatives, we sometimes need to spend money on supplies and space in order to work. I know that having enormous student loan payments would only hurt my outcomes post-graduation.
For the school you're getting more funding from: Do the faculty have connections with people and in cities you want to work with/in? If so, then prestige won't necessarily facilitate more connections for you unless you really want to get on that #uppertierlife. Do the alumni have outcomes that mirror what you want in your practice? If so, then that's great! Do you want to teach after grad school? TA experience I am sure will put you somewhat ahead of MFA's who do not have teaching experience.
Just some things to think about, which I also thought about heavily. I am not sure where Penn State falls on the prestige scale, but I am endlessly grateful for the fact I will not have any debt, which will give me more freedom when I graduate to do whatever the heck I want. Personally, I think prestige without funding is unethical and overrated because increased student loan burden contributes to achievement disparity in the arts based on income/background. So I am obviously somewhat biased. 

Long - I have many thoughts. This is what worked best for me, and what I need/want out of my practice. May not be what you're looking for/thinking about.
I wasn't going to grad school this year if I had to go more than 10-20k in debt. I mean realistically - if you take out 60-70k in student loans, have a 10 year repayment plan, and have an interest rate of 6% you're looking at over $700 as your monthly student debt payment. That's a lot!!!!!
The best program, in my opinion, is a program that allows your work to grow to the fullest, including after you graduate. A program that puts you in debt would be counterproductive in that regard. You won't be able to make good work if you're constantly strapped for cash. Especially as creatives, we sometimes need to spend money on supplies and space in order to work. I know that having enormous student loan payments would only hurt my outcomes post-graduation.
For the school you're getting more funding from: Do the faculty have connections with people and in cities you want to work with/in? If so, then prestige won't necessarily facilitate more connections for you unless you really want to get on that #uppertierlife. Do the alumni have outcomes that mirror what you want in your practice? If so, then that's great! Do you want to teach after grad school? TA experience I am sure will put you somewhat ahead of MFA's who do not have teaching experience.
Just some things to think about, which I also thought about heavily. I am not sure where Penn State falls on the prestige scale, but I am endlessly grateful for the fact I will not have any debt, which will give me more freedom when I graduate to do whatever the heck I want. Personally, I think prestige without funding is unethical and overrated because increased student loan burden contributes to achievement disparity in the arts based on income/background. So I am obviously somewhat biased. 

This is precisely what I have heard repeatedly (often from people who did take out tons of loans). MFAs have a high philosophical/personal/societal ROI but not a high financial ROI (typically). My goal was to put myself in a position to have a better practice and possibly teach without worrying about a mountain of debt I'll never pay off. 

Long - I have many thoughts. This is what worked best for me, and what I need/want out of my practice. May not be what you're looking for/thinking about.
I wasn't going to grad school this year if I had to go more than 10-20k in debt. I mean realistically - if you take out 60-70k in student loans, have a 10 year repayment plan, and have an interest rate of 6% you're looking at over $700 as your monthly student debt payment. That's a lot!!!!!
The best program, in my opinion, is a program that allows your work to grow to the fullest, including after you graduate. A program that puts you in debt would be counterproductive in that regard. You won't be able to make good work if you're constantly strapped for cash. Especially as creatives, we sometimes need to spend money on supplies and space in order to work. I know that having enormous student loan payments would only hurt my outcomes post-graduation.
For the school you're getting more funding from: Do the faculty have connections with people and in cities you want to work with/in? If so, then prestige won't necessarily facilitate more connections for you unless you really want to get on that #uppertierlife. Do the alumni have outcomes that mirror what you want in your practice? If so, then that's great! Do you want to teach after grad school? TA experience I am sure will put you somewhat ahead of MFA's who do not have teaching experience.
Just some things to think about, which I also thought about heavily. I am not sure where Penn State falls on the prestige scale, but I am endlessly grateful for the fact I will not have any debt, which will give me more freedom when I graduate to do whatever the heck I want. Personally, I think prestige without funding is unethical and overrated because increased student loan burden contributes to achievement disparity in the arts based on income/background. So I am obviously somewhat biased. 

Just got an email from MassArt to check my portal for a decision. 
Accepted to the 2D Find Arts program with a TA, Dean's scholarship and museum position?

Haha I’m not sure I did that successfully but here’s my email verbatim: 
 
“””My name is Abigail Taylor. I am emailing to inquire the status of my MFA graduate application. I have not heard anything from the school since January 25 and would love if you could let me know where the faculty stands and the process is? Thank you for your time and have a great day. 
Sincerely,
Taylor”””””

How did you word your email to them without sounding desperate or needy? I need to do this to the programs I am waiting for as my declaration deadlines are coming up with others!

There’s a group of us here still waiting to hear back as well.. I don’t think anyone has gotten an invitation to even interview yet. The admissions department sent me an email on Feb 15th saying that applications were still being reviewed and that they expect invitations to go out early March.. sooo any day now. Keep checking back

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Yessss! So awesome!

Congratulations!!!

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.  

Just got accepted to Penn State via Email!!! I am crying, this is so incredibly validating because I wasn't even going to apply this year because I didn't think my work was ready or good enough. Also this forum rocks you all rock, everybody rocks.