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Strawberrycat

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  1. Strawberrycat
    My website has too much personal info on it so I'm not comfortable sharing it here, I'm sorry! A few people have asked, though, so I'll post some of my work on a throwaway instagram I use to test posts and link it here in a little bit.
  2. Strawberrycat
    No problem! When do you have to give them an answer by? Are you able to wait until you hear back from the other schools? I would ask for an extension if they gave you a deadline and you need it. Getting into a fully funded program would help a lot with negotiation too. (Unless you'd rather go to UF anyway!) Congrats on your acceptances and offers so far!
  3. Strawberrycat
    You can politely tell MECA about LCAD's offer and try to negotiate with them. They may match it, especially since the difference is only 5k per year.
  4. Strawberrycat
    So, I can only speak to the situations I've been in, and the answers for each of them are different, so that makes me think it could be different each time. Most of them didn't acknowledge my applying previously. UCI didn't mention it at all, but I'm sure they have access to it. UC Santa Barbara did acknowledge it, though. They said they were able to see I applied a couple of years ago and said they looked back at that portfolio in comparison to this year's and commended me on my growth since then. I didn't have any situations where I got interviews and wasn't accepted and then got an interview the next year. All of mine were instances where I didn't get an interview and then got one. (And one where I did get an interview, then the next year did not get one, I think because I did very poorly in the interview the previous year and dashed my future chances.) Last year I applied to USC and got in, but couldn't attend. After speaking to them, they said that I would be accepted for this year if I wanted to be, but that I would have to submit a new portfolio and interview again to be eligible for any funding or scholarships. This will vary based on school. Some will not defer acceptance and will ask applicants to completely apply again. But it's pretty standard to give up whatever funding they may have offered you and to have to go up against the new round of applicants for it once again. If you end up in that situation and want to try to go somewhere the next year, I would really try to keep in contact with the school and the faculty and keep a good rapport with them.
  5. Strawberrycat
    Thank you, this is my third year applying, so it took me some time to get to the point where I'm getting the interviews I want. Definitely try not to feel bad if you don't get in there this time. I also applied to UCI a couple of years ago and didn't get an interview then, so sometimes it takes a couple of tries and has to do with timing and all sorts of stuff, but I wish you the best of luck! It could be that they were unsure of me and my work and wanted to really question it critically to see if I could back it up. It didn't feel like they were trying to be intimidating, I am just easily intimidated. ? And didn't expect such in depth questions after my other interviews weren't like that, so the comparison was what got me. I think they would be very supportive, just also challenging and intellectual, so that's good to hear that the students feel that way! And no problem! ❤
  6. Strawberrycat
    Oops, forgot to add the advice part! I guess it would just be to be prepared to be grilled a little. Have specific influences for aspects of your work ready to talk about if asked. Like I was asked by one of them who am I influenced by who works with the object and ideas of the artifact, because of some of my pieces. Really study your portfolio and be comfortable talking about it in any ways you can think of, because they came up with some questions that I really hadn't thought about. Which makes them seem like great people to work with, but made me panic a bit trying to answer them on the spot!
  7. Strawberrycat
    It was definitely my most intense/critical/in depth interview so far, which wasn't a bad thing, just a little intimidating. There were 4 of the professors and it lasted 25 minutes and was very structured. They asked me to introduce myself and my work, then asked why I was interested in UCI and grad school in general. Then they had me screen share my portfolio and asked me to pick a few pieces to talk about in some depth. They asked some really specific and thorough questions about the individual pieces, materiality, influences, etc. Sometimes it would be like a series of 3 or 4 questions all at once from one of them and to be honest, I was kind of deer in headlights because of it, so I don't remember exactly what they were or how I answered because it went so fast, but they seemed responsive, I think. They also asked if I was interested in critical theory and research because of the nature of the program. Then they let me ask a couple questions at the end and asked if I applied anywhere else. I have no idea if they think I did well or not or if I'll get in, but I did my best. But my idea of the school based off of the interview is that they are kind overall, very deeply curious and critical, and would push students to think very critically too. It seems like a strong, but very challenging program. In contrast, I had interviews other places that were very casual and the interviewers asked a couple questions, but basically just praised my work in comparison. (Which I'll admit felt really nice in the moment, haha.) UCI noted some positive aspects and seemed interested and engaged in having a conversation about my work, but they definitely weren't there to stroke any egos.
  8. Strawberrycat
    Hey there, I had an interview with them on Tuesday. I'm sorry that you haven't heard back from them yet, I hope you do soon. That's so frustrating when you reach out and don't hear back at all. That happened to me with another school.
  9. Strawberrycat
    Thank you for sharing your experience with it! Interview styles really vary so much. It's always a surprise. I appreciate it when they're clear about how they want it to go...I think it's more helpful for both sides, like you mentioned. On the flip side, I've also had ones where they ask like 5 really in depth, really great questions, but all at once and my brain is scrambling trying to keep all of the questions in mind while answering, haha. Like I can only hold so many at once, especially when I could write an essay on each question. Just tacking on another thing while I'm thinking about it, but I've found that when I write about my work, I search for really precise language to describe it. But I don't have a lot of opportunity to talk about those things out loud, so having to discuss the work conversationally has been a challenge. I keep getting hung up on how I wrote it and feeling kind of stiff. So I really recommend to everyone interviewing in the future to practice just casually talking about your work if you can and getting really comfortable and loose with it.
  10. Strawberrycat
    Thanks, good luck with yours!
  11. Strawberrycat
    It went okay, but felt kind of weird? There were 2 faculty and idk if they'd seen my work or statement prior, but they had me screenshare and go through my whole portfolio once and then they picked some pieces out to ask some questions about. They said some positive things, but I felt kind of awkward because it wasn't super structured like some other interviews I'd had, and in hindsight, I think I was supposed to sort of take the reins more, but kept expecting them to, so I stayed quiet during certain parts while they were looking at stuff, when I could have expanded more probably and taken advantage of that time. Also there was a moment where I explained something and they thought I said something else and they politely disagreed with how I was describing the work, but what they said they thought of it instead was exactly what I said so I was like noo, that is what I'm saying. ? It was cleared up, though, thankfully. I think it was loud wherever one of them was zooming from and harder to hear. They asked where I was from, where I went to school, what I've been doing since I graduated, what I want to accomplish in an MFA, what my work is about, and what artists I'm looking at, + some material questions about specific pieces. I imagine every interview is different, though, because there are so many different faculty interviewing.
  12. Strawberrycat
    No idea, but I would guess taking that risk in showing new work would be seen as a good thing. I think you made the (brave) right call, for you! You're getting closer to the light at the end of the stress tunnel!
  13. Strawberrycat
    Will do, I really appreciate it!
  14. Strawberrycat
    Thanks very much! I'll be sure to check it out if I make it over there! I appreciate the encouragement. I remember her work was really cool. She found something really special using those banners as text in her pieces.
  15. Strawberrycat
    They just did! Just got an interview request email! Thank you for updating us on the timeline throughout this process!
  16. Strawberrycat
    I have an interview with Painting and Drawing on Friday and can update you on what that's like after it, though I'm sure it'll probably be a bit different from Art and Tech.
  17. Strawberrycat
    Hi sunflowertime, You're definitely not alone there. I really feel like the pandemic has dismantled a lot of the work I've done to curb my social anxiety and it's been a big challenge to work around it through this process. Talking it up here has been helping, though. I also get very nervous reaching out or sending follow up emails when I don't get responses, but sometimes it's necessary because emails do get lost in a sea of other emails pretty often, especially during busy times of year. I didn't reach out personally to any schools or professors directly, but what I did do is look for online info sessions for each school I was interested in. Not all of them do them, but a lot did, and there is opportunity there for them to see your name and for you to ask questions and start to get to know professors in a setting that is meant specifically for that, so you don't have to feel like a bother or wait forever for a response. So that made me a lot more comfortable. Also, I find it a lot less intimidating to reach out to current students and talk with them. You can get a good idea of the program that way and even ask them which professors it might be good to speak with. Each school and each professor are different, so some would be willing to view your portfolio and some wouldn't. You'll just have to ask or search around and you can check which ones participate in the grad National Portfolio Days. I think Cal Arts probably does, but I'm not sure. But I would start early and with looking for the department contacts and asking who would be the right person to speak to about which thing. As for letters of rec, that really stressed me out too, those same exact feelings. But if you send an email to them updating them on what you've been working on, most will be super happy to do it for you. One of my recommenders said not to feel bad or embarrassed about asking, that this is part of their job and they want their students to succeed, and they're happy to be a part of it and to help you get to where you want to go. Something I was told to keep in mind, is that it's not fair to the people around us if we decide in our heads how they feel about us. It's so easy to assume they'll end up disappointed or feel whatever way because of anxiety, but in reality they're supportive people in our lives and we should believe in them believing in us if that's what they've shown us so far. Easier said than done, but it helps me to get less in my head when I think of it that way. As for your statement, I'm sure if you asked here, someone would be willing to look at it. I'd be happy to if you sent a message and wanted feedback on it! Good luck with everything. I know it's tough, but I know you can get there.
  18. Strawberrycat
    Thanks for sharing! I'm so excited to see where you end up!!
  19. Strawberrycat
    Thank you! MFA Fine Arts.
  20. Strawberrycat
    Just got an interview request from CCA. Anyone have any experience with them?
  21. Strawberrycat
    It's so confusing! But it comes with that subjectivity. Applying is such a weird and unpredictable and vulnerable process.
  22. Strawberrycat
    No problem. That exact thing is something I tried to do too and I think you're totally right. Paint for you first, and the rest will follow. I hope that whatever school you end up at is warm and accommodating and makes the challenges that come with it more manageable. You deserve nothing less.
  23. Strawberrycat
    I had the same thing happen to me in the past with SAIC in particular. I went to a portfolio review and they really seemed interested in my work and artist statement and gave me a fee waiver for the application to encourage me to apply. Then I applied and didn't get in or even asked for an interview. I felt really frustrated and confused too. This year, I applied again without doing any portfolio reviews, and got an interview with them. I think the only thing I can say from the experience is that we have to take those reviews with a grain of salt because they're only with one or two people (at least this was the case for me) who may represent the school, but may be just one person on the committee or may not even have anything to do with the actual selection process. There are also a lot of other factors to take into account that are out of our hands, like who else is applying, whose work someone on the selection committee really happens to connect with for whatever reason, the spot in the line up that your portfolio happened to be in when they were reviewing portfolios, the cohort they're trying to build in that moment, etc. Everything is subjective and I think all of those things can tip the scale in favor of one person over another when there are so many qualified applicants vying for so few spots. Some aspects of applying really are left up to luck, chance, and timing, and it absolutely sucks. But that's why there are so many people who end up applying for more than one round of apps and then end up going on to get in to a bunch of places the next year and having successful careers. I'm certain you're not the worst painter just because of a few rejections. I think the person you reviewed with was honest about liking your work. We all have room for growth in our practices, though, and can always build on them and explore new things for the next time, so rejections are just more time to do that. Even if they're not what we wanted. And I say all this as someone who has experienced a ton of rejection, but took that time and am now getting some of the interviews I'd hoped for in previous years. I also know I'm in a better position to do well in grad school than I would have been when I first applied and will get way more out of the experience now, so I look at it as a positive thing now, even though I definitely felt pretty bad about it at first. Anyway, that was really long, but I hope it helps you feel less alone in it! And I'd be super happy to look over your application materials if you wanted to share them, to see if I could offer any specific insight. ❤
  24. Strawberrycat
    There are three of us here with cat in our names that interviewed with UCSB, I'm so amused by it. Congrats on your interviews so far! I haven't heard anything from UCLA. If you want chat about UCSB and how the interviews went, feel free to send me a DM!
  25. Strawberrycat
    I did, but haven't heard anything back, unfortunately.
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