afein

Finally heard back from the last school I was waiting on. Rejected from VCU design/visual comm design. Everyone else heard so long ago I figured I did something wrong in the app, but I guess not. It was a very nice letter telling me I was really close to getting in and to apply again next year. I wonder if they say that to everyone? Either way still pleasant rejection. I’m going to elsewhere so no biggie. 

I emailed the graduate program director, who then emailed the financial aid officer. (I'm sure the contacts for all school are different. I would have emailed both the program director and financial aid directly, if the program director had not responded so promptly.)
The email I wrote is below:
 
Hello Bethany,   I have eliminated all but two schools from consideration. RISD is my number one choice. I really believe in your faculty, the vision behind the recent curriculum changes, the whole ethos of critical making. I also related to the students I met, and I loved Providence. I have a hard time envisioning myself anywhere else. I am so excited by your offer.   However, Parsons has offered me a 75% scholarship, which reduces total tuition for me to $12,500. I've attached the admissions letter from Parsons.   Could you make this decision easier by increasing my fellowship aid?   Again, I want to emphasize how grateful I am to be offered a place in the incoming class. At this point, I'm just trying to resolve whether the best choice is the best fit or the most economical. I was fortunate to receive a lot of offers, but it has been fairly easy to see that RISD is where I want to be. Sincerely,

2yr GD at MICA too

My final list for 2yr Graphic Design MFA: 
Tyler - Accepted with TA and generous stipend for 1st year 
MICA - accepted 35% scholarship
SCAD - accepted with small scholarship
SVA - accepted no funding
Rutgers - asked to interview but turned it down because I already had some others I wanted more
Yale - rejected
RISD- rejected
Tulane - rejected 
SAIC - rejected
VCU - ghosted, I never heard anything even after emailing to ask. 
I was really struggling between choosing MICA or Tyler. I’m going to commit to MICA though. Already turned down the rest. 
Anyone else going to MICA? 

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!

I have decided to enroll in RISD's three-year graphic design program. (For those of you concerned about cost, ASK FOR MORE MONEY! I was given 20k more by RISD basically with the snap of the fingers.)
I spend the last 1.5 hours sending rejections to CalArts, MICA, Parsons, Pratt, RCA and SVA. If you've been waitlisted at those, I hope you get offered a spot now!

@Pallavi.Daga

I have decided to enroll in RISD's three-year graphic design program. (For those of you concerned about cost, ASK FOR MORE MONEY! I was given 20k more by RISD basically with the snap of the fingers.)
I spend the last 1.5 hours sending rejections to CalArts, MICA, Parsons, Pratt, RCA and SVA. If you've been waitlisted at those, I hope you get offered a spot now!

@Pallavi.Daga

I emailed the graduate program director, who then emailed the financial aid officer. (I'm sure the contacts for all school are different. I would have emailed both the program director and financial aid directly, if the program director had not responded so promptly.)
The email I wrote is below:
 
Hello Bethany,   I have eliminated all but two schools from consideration. RISD is my number one choice. I really believe in your faculty, the vision behind the recent curriculum changes, the whole ethos of critical making. I also related to the students I met, and I loved Providence. I have a hard time envisioning myself anywhere else. I am so excited by your offer.   However, Parsons has offered me a 75% scholarship, which reduces total tuition for me to $12,500. I've attached the admissions letter from Parsons.   Could you make this decision easier by increasing my fellowship aid?   Again, I want to emphasize how grateful I am to be offered a place in the incoming class. At this point, I'm just trying to resolve whether the best choice is the best fit or the most economical. I was fortunate to receive a lot of offers, but it has been fairly easy to see that RISD is where I want to be. Sincerely,

I have decided to enroll in RISD's three-year graphic design program. (For those of you concerned about cost, ASK FOR MORE MONEY! I was given 20k more by RISD basically with the snap of the fingers.)
I spend the last 1.5 hours sending rejections to CalArts, MICA, Parsons, Pratt, RCA and SVA. If you've been waitlisted at those, I hope you get offered a spot now!

@Pallavi.Daga

Also, I made a list of questions to answer for a friend to help him decide on graduate schools.
If you need something to help you narrow your choices, this might be useful: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mgpJgfwAf9Kp8J7Ze0V6DHx291OcXzUFdRuwkVBfFyk/edit?usp=sharing

I have decided to enroll in RISD's three-year graphic design program. (For those of you concerned about cost, ASK FOR MORE MONEY! I was given 20k more by RISD basically with the snap of the fingers.)
I spend the last 1.5 hours sending rejections to CalArts, MICA, Parsons, Pratt, RCA and SVA. If you've been waitlisted at those, I hope you get offered a spot now!

@Pallavi.Daga

I emailed the graduate program director, who then emailed the financial aid officer. (I'm sure the contacts for all school are different. I would have emailed both the program director and financial aid directly, if the program director had not responded so promptly.)
The email I wrote is below:
 
Hello Bethany,   I have eliminated all but two schools from consideration. RISD is my number one choice. I really believe in your faculty, the vision behind the recent curriculum changes, the whole ethos of critical making. I also related to the students I met, and I loved Providence. I have a hard time envisioning myself anywhere else. I am so excited by your offer.   However, Parsons has offered me a 75% scholarship, which reduces total tuition for me to $12,500. I've attached the admissions letter from Parsons.   Could you make this decision easier by increasing my fellowship aid?   Again, I want to emphasize how grateful I am to be offered a place in the incoming class. At this point, I'm just trying to resolve whether the best choice is the best fit or the most economical. I was fortunate to receive a lot of offers, but it has been fairly easy to see that RISD is where I want to be. Sincerely,

I have decided to enroll in RISD's three-year graphic design program. (For those of you concerned about cost, ASK FOR MORE MONEY! I was given 20k more by RISD basically with the snap of the fingers.)
I spend the last 1.5 hours sending rejections to CalArts, MICA, Parsons, Pratt, RCA and SVA. If you've been waitlisted at those, I hope you get offered a spot now!

@Pallavi.Daga

I have decided to enroll in RISD's three-year graphic design program. (For those of you concerned about cost, ASK FOR MORE MONEY! I was given 20k more by RISD basically with the snap of the fingers.)
I spend the last 1.5 hours sending rejections to CalArts, MICA, Parsons, Pratt, RCA and SVA. If you've been waitlisted at those, I hope you get offered a spot now!

@Pallavi.Daga

I've turned down SVA and Pratt so far. SVA is a good school, with a good reputation, and amazing faculty. But it is not the right fit for me — too entrepreneurial, not experimental enough. Pratt has a very good reputation, but my understanding is that the graduate program in graphic design is relatively new. I'm not very familliar with the faculty and few align with my research interests. I can't speak to BU or ACCD. The latter has a good reputation and at least historically had important people (Lustig) running the program. Currently, a CalArts graduate is running the ACCD graphic design program. I can talk to any of these more, if you think it will be helpful.
Right now, I am deciding between RISD and CalArts, both of which I think are the best fit for my interests and are both highly regarded schools, and Parsons, which gave me 75% scholarship. Basically, do I take on a huge debt load to do exactly what I want, or do I take on barely any debt for a program that is not what I want? Anyone have good advice?

I was accepted also. Is it your first choice?

Got accepted to Pratt with 38k in aid, but cost of attendance is like 110k so I dunno if I'm going to be able to make it to New York this year.?
 

Got accepted by Parsons Design and technology, anyone also applied here? 

Accepted to Parsons MFA Fine Arts!

Recieved a unofficial notification from UIC :
"We have recommended to the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Chicago that you be admitted with full graduate standing to the Master of Design (MDes) in Graphic Design program in the UIC School of Design.   Once the Graduate College confirms our decision and the UIC Office of Graduate Admissions verifies the receipt of all necessary credentials, you will receive official notification with further information.”   So anxious for the final admission letter! I hope they give out a little funding. ?

Pratt offered me 40,000 (or 20k annually).
I'm still waiting on funding from CalArts and RISD, which are probably my two top choices. I need to weigh finances for the other schools, but I guess that I'm leaning RISD. I honestly have no idea how to decide. Anyone have advice on how to make a decision?

Congratulations! Same here! Just received.

Me too! Congratulations!
Baltimore is the most appealing city to me —  cheap and big!

Me too! Congratulations!
Baltimore is the most appealing city to me —  cheap and big!

Me too! Congratulations!
Baltimore is the most appealing city to me —  cheap and big!