Strawberrycat

So, I watched Yale's online open house info session thing for painting from last year and looked at their app guidelines and it talks about wanting to see the work in the portfolio in context, even if it's just part of the wall around it. I haven't seen anywhere else talk about that, and last year all of the images of paintings I submitted to other places were cropped in to show just the image. Do you guys know if that's bad practice in general or if it's just particular to Yale? I was curious because I understand why Yale wants that, but no other schools have said anything about it to me in any portfolio reviews or interviews. I don't know if I'll feel in a silly goofy mood and decide to apply to Yale, but I'm wondering if I should just prepare two sets of images just in case or do them all like that? Anyone have any insight?

Oh dang, I'm sorry it didn't work out, but I'm glad to hear you were able to realize it early enough on and come to the decision to apply again this time around. I'm sure you'll have a good response to your applications again.

Hey! Good luck too!!

Hey there! Absolutely on feeling unprepared and that imposter syndrome. :') Something that helped me, though, was hearing a UCLA MFA candidate talk about the imposter syndrome that they experienced too. It made me realize that even the people currently in top schools felt/still feel the same way that we're feeling and are just doing the work and getting through it just like the rest of us. I think it would likely benefit your application and would be great experience to have! If you already feel like you're worried about getting everything done in time, though, and are really set on finishing and applying this round, I'd probably take that into consideration if it might hinder you time-wise. But other than that, if you can manage it all, I think generally experience like that is a positive thing. Good luck with everything!

Hey, welcome! I've heard the same opinion about 2 vs 3 year programs and I think it makes sense for sure, but if a program checks off all of your boxes and seems great besides that, I might not rule it out as an option, especially if it has good funding. There just aren't as many 3 year programs and it can be limiting in your search, since you're already limiting it on the basis of funding (which makes sense too). But I've heard that there is really good funding out there for printmakers in particular at certain schools. The statement requirements tend to vary a little bit at each school in what they ask for and in word count. I'd try to look at each app as soon as they're up or dig through their websites or outside forums. Some do a separate artist statement, statement of purpose, and personal statement, and some roll them all into one. For most of mine, I described briefly my background, what my work is about, my process, my goals, and why I felt the school was a good fit to reach those goals. I think that at research-based universities like UCLA and Stanford (I just know that those are and don't know anything about the other schools), it would be helpful to mention that! From what I've gathered, they're all for that kind cross-disciplinary work and research-based art practice. I would just make sure to also mention art department faculty that you are interested in working with as well. Good luck with everything!

Oh nice, that sounds like a great thing to be involved in for a lot of different reasons. Thanks for sharing about it!

I think they'd view your curatorial projects favorably as well. Welcome to the freak out, haha. I hope you can get in this year and leave your job! That seems like a solid list. @123123435 @SocialKonstruct I'd actually be curious to hear about how all three of you got involved in curating? I've never done it, but I've always wondered how people jumped into that side of things.

Ah, yeah, I don't think that's really the attitude these days, at most places at least. I'm sure they want dedicated painters, but they also want well-rounded people who are actually involved in things instead of living in a vacuum. That's just what I've gathered.

I think both would likely be viewed favorably! If you can look at the websites of the current students or recent alumni from some places you're interested in, I'd check out their CVs for some insight too.

edit: @SocialKonstruct , oops, thought I quoted you. That's good to hear. That's awesome!! Big congrats to your friend! Haha, I have not yet, unfortunately. I got some offers last year, but in the end it didn't work out at any of them for either financial or fit reasons. So I'm working on my list still and trying to both widen my net, but also look more critically at where I apply. I'm keeping my eye out for online open houses and info sessions because I missed a lot of them last year, and reading through past threads!

Hope you've been well! Are you still planning to apply for 2023?

Definitely not too early to be freaking out. ? Prepping for my third round of applications, so the pressure feels very high.

Np! Ahhh that's really frustrating! I'm sorry the communication hasn't been great. Congrats on all of your offers still though.

It seems weird since they gave you a date you'd hear back, but they could still be trying to negotiate for you? I'm not exactly sure what the process looks like behind the scenes, but I was told for my case to ask for an extension on the deadline for acceptance so they could continue to negotiate for more aid after they see if other people who were offered some scholarships accept or not, so they know what kind of money they have left to work with. Are you waiting on them to make your decisions at other schools or just waiting on them alone at this point? I hope they reply to you soon and give you some good news!

Congratulations!!

Hi, congrats!! I haven't made a decision yet. I'd be happy to chat about it if you want to message!

Congrats on your acceptances to both! UCSD is a great school and the funding is so good in comparison!

Thank you!!

I found out through email last night at 10 pm. The portal still hasn't been updated!

Guys, I got into USC and was offered a $20k fellowship for the first year, which is so nice, but is still way too expensive for me (?) so I know I have to try to negotiate, but am very scared to. Is anyone who has experience negotiating willing to chat with me a bit?

Oh, I think so too. I've just heard from some professors who weren't as spooked as I assumed they'd be by it, so I was curious about if there might be more factoring into it than I'd heard.

Do any of you have an opinion on Mills College in Oakland? They're in the news because they just announced that they're going to be phasing out their degree programs within the next few years, so this round is the last MFA class they will be admitting. Their funding (basically 1 year funded) will be the same and TAships will still happen.

Not yet. I just had my interview on the 12th. I know some people had theirs on the 8th, though, so not sure if those were the only two days, but hopefully we'll hear soon if the 12th was the last day. Good luck!

Ahhh yeah, that 15 minutes goes by like it's nothing. That makes sense!

Congrats on doing well in the interview! To the question about what you're working on right now, did they mean for you to expand on what you submitted as your portfolio or new work since then?