staxdo_21

Thank you so much for your support! It was very hard to choose between different offers and I am old enough to understand that ay choices comes with its risks. Some people I talked with in the field thought I needed more conviction around my goals but from my experience, life will only let you plan so far before you get thrown a loop.

I mostly just wanted face time with the person I would tentatively be working with over the course of many years in the program. I was worried that the silence or delays I encountered reflected what I might experience in the program. I ended up learning some other behind the scenes happenings through the course of some other conversations with current students and a faculty member, which was helpful. I ended up declining the offer, but still feel sad and upset because I did want to go there. I ended up enrolling at an MA program, and will consider reapplying to this Ph.D. program after, with the hopes that some of the behind the scene issues are resolved in the meantime. I am worried that I won't be accepted again, but its a risk I took.

Thank you. It's definitely stressing me out big time. Yes, I talked to two students, and I am meeting more on Friday. The other weird thing is when I mentioned that I was having an issue getting in touch with my POI (whom I've emailed three times since mid-February), the student seemed confused by my anxiety. It turns out that my POI has been ill, but no one from the faculty let me know that, and none of them have responded to my separate request for a chat. I know they are busy but this is a huge life decision for me.

I am in a weird position. I was accepted to a fully-funded Ph.D. program, but I have yet to speak to my POI. They weren't on the interview panel and so I emailed them right after, and then again after I was accepted. I then reached out to the department Chair and haven't received a response from them about the situation. I was leaning towards accepting the offer but now I'm really concerned.... I was advised to reach out one more time, which I will do, but I'm worried that there are some background politics that might impact my experience as a Ph.D. student.

Thank you for the update. I got the notification of rejection later today 🤪 It's alright, though. Now I know what offers I have on the table and will start making some choices. Congratulations!

Has anyone heard from UCSC? There was an acceptance post on the results board all the way back in early February. I've received radio silence so far. I even emailed the department and my POI with some news about a recent project, with the hopes that they'd share something, and I heard nothing back. I'd love some closure!

From the thread, I know that Williams has already been accepting students. Has anyone heard from Tufts? I've been accepted to three programs, but have received radio silence from three other programs and its getting down to the wire here.

The admissions offices must have been inundated with applications because I still haven't heard back from three programs. I assume its either a waitlist or a rejection, but I did hear back from Tufts by this time last year.

I, too, am aiming to expand my curatorial practice by returning to school. Right now, I am an independent curator (and visual arts manager full-time) and am building a name for myself in my current city. However, this is very different than working as an assistant or associate curator at a museum. (Right now, I manage and often curate exhibitions in my current position but wish to work in a larger and better paying, ideally academic setting in the future. I already know the average salaries for arts professionals, so have no illusions about that). I am still waiting on a few decisions but have been accepted to a couple of MA programs and waitlisted for a Ph.D. program. I would love people's opinions based on my career objectives (focus is contemporary Latin American art) and my current options: 1. Hunter MA - did not receive funding, asked to be reconsidered for funding, waiting to hear. If I were to choose Hunter with no funding, I would most likely enroll in one course per semester (including summers) while paying out of pocket and working full-time (tuition itself would be under $20k after all is said and done, not factoring in the cost of NYC living). Two contemporary Latin American specialists with great reputations in the field. Based on the program requirements and the credits I can potentially transfer in, I would be in the program for around three years in total. Obviously, it's NYC, so opportunities abound. 2. RISD Global Arts and Cultures - received a full tuition fellowship which would cover all tuition costs throughout my studies, would attend full-time and work part-time (enough to cover rent and basic needs). The program is 1.5 years long vs. two. The course requirements are a little less than Hunter, with only three required electives. Highly regarded Latin American specialist who utilizes similar approaches in their research. Much smaller group of students, much more cohort-based. Current students are extremely interesting but not necessarily looking to be art historians. Opportunities to take classes at Brown, and build connections with RISD and Brown communities. Providence is much more liveable in regard to rent and life. My main worry is that I wouldn't develop myself as a specialist. I plan to talk more with my POI to learn more. I would love people's opinions. I'm older than the average grad student so am a bit less risk-averse than in my younger years regarding finances and life.

Yes, I am interested in Museum Studies. I'm an independent curator and am going back to school in order to increase my curatorial competencies.

It might be their first round of admits?

I didn't apply to U of M but find that to be a bit callous on their part not to inform students before their admitted students event.

Yes, I wonder if a brave soul with reach out to all the remaining programs I haven't heard from 😂 I might reach out if only to see if I'm waitlisted at any of the schools I haven't heard from. I assume not but dreams die hard.

Are people reaching out to departments to check on their admissions status? I'm thinking about doing so.

I'm visiting from the art history thread and I have the same questions. I know another person who applied to the same program I was waitlisted for, but from their other comments, I know that they are aiming for the bigger Ivies (the school where I am waitlisted is a "public Ivy"). I'm waiting to see if they post about their acceptance to the program and if they will discuss their decision in the thread. I think if someone gets into their dream school, they are more likely to make that decision quickly than if their choices are between a few 2nd and 3rd choice placements - that's what I would do, anyway!

I would personally apply again over and over or apply for fellowships while applying to programs. You already have an MA, don't pay for another when you clearly are equipped for more advanced study! Also, always be weary of programs with MA and Ph.D. tracks, usually, the Master's students pay full price to off-set the Ph.D. students. It can be a "cash cow" situation.

So someone responded to my question by saying that they would share their experience as an undergrad at RISD. And then the message somehow disappeared...If that person or others want to connect about their experience at RISD, I'd love to hear from them. Thanks

I was just accepted to RISD's Global Arts and Cultures Master's program! I am to receive the official offer in early March. I feel strongly that the curriculum is well-suited to my interests in visual culture and representation within a global context, and will support my goals of transitioning from a freelance curator to a full-time assistant curator (and onward). The only thing is that I haven't seen anyone discuss the program in this entire forum, and there is very little information anywhere else on the internet besides their own website and Youtube channels. Has anyone heard about this program (besides one of my past comments) and have any thoughts?

Hello there, I'm visiting from the art history thread, though I am also a visual artist. I was just accepted to RISD's MA program in Global Arts and Cultures, and am hoping to hear whether others have some information on the program? I looked everywhere I could before applying, but the available information was pretty limited. Thankfully, both of my professors (who provided LoR) thought it was a very good program for me, so I applied. I'm thankful I did, but would still love to hear whether anyone else here did as well, and/or if they hear ANYTHING about the program. The program advertises itself as being structured for humanities students (art history) and artists alike, which sounds like a perfect fit for someone like me (I am also a curator and wish to work in academic and/or the museum world while maintaining my artist practice - which I do already but not yet at the level I am building towards).

Thank you!

I don't want to say, though you can easily deduce from my past posts ? I'm praying for better results from the other schools I applied to this cycle, though I felt more positive about this application since I was accepted before.

I had a really depressing thing happen to me today. I applied to a Ph.D. program last year but was only admitted to their MA program and then waitlisted for a scholarship (which did not go through). When I talked to my POI, she said that she strongly considered me for the Ph.D. program but had a couple of stronger applicants. I was excited about the chance to work with her and so reapplied to the Ph.D. program again with the hopes that I would at least be admitted to the MA program with solid funding. I just got a full out rejection letter in my in-box, and I'm really confused. ? Since we had a brief one on one chat last year, and she ignored my email from this past fall and spring, I assume that she didn't like me. I definitely was not too pushy or arrogant, but maybe too much of my weird INFJ energy came through. Anyway, bummer city.

Can you elaborate more either in this thread or via PM?

I wish to add that RISD's Global Arts MA program has two faculty members that specialize in Islamic art. Perhaps that program might interest you?

I've heard that a lot of Ph.D. students only get partial funding?