lizavetar96

So here are my two cents with my results and observations. I applied for Photography, this was my first time applying and frankly, I was surprised by a positive response from the programs. SVA - accepted, no interview. (They called back in February for a “meeting” and told me I got in.) 50 per cent tuition reduction. Parsons - accepted, 2 interviews. 20 per cent tuition reduction. USC - accepted, 1 interview. No scholarship. CalArts - accepted, no interview. 42 per cent tuition reduction. University of Washington (Seattle) - accepted off the waitlist (I was told I was first person on the waitlist), 2 interviews. Full tuition remission plus teaching opportunities. University of Texas (Austin) - rejected, no interview. Tulane University (New Orleans) - rejected, no interview. I decided to go to University of Washington for the multitude of reasons. I think that the biggest deciding factor for me was reaching out to alumni and talking about their experiences. I reached out to recent alumni from 2019, but also to ones from 2017 whose experience is probably a bit more impartial as they graduated earlier. I asked Universities to connect me to some of them, but majority of emailing I did myself — I just cold emailed alumni whom I found through thesis showcase pages on those university webpages. I was incredibly lucky with people I met, they were not just talented artists, but also insightful and spoke honestly and seriously about their experiences. I am not going to go into details in order to respect privacy of what was said, but in short — I was astonished, to put it lightly, by the lack of professional encouragement and career tutoring that happens in the course of some of these MFA programs. And if my choice was at first between CalArts (for the faculty whom I absolutely love) and SVA (for their adjunct-faculty structure), knowing that no one actually teaches students the ways to potentially make it in the contemporary art world was a surprise to me. Especially, coupled with the stories about the debt that out of college might be 50k grows to 100k with interest and time was definitely a cold shower moment for me. And then comes a question — how can I make time to make art while I am a full-time student and work two or three jobs to pay off my tuition? Can I afford to make art after graduation with all the debt? Some other things to consider is that a lot of expensive private schools have really large classes (at a point SVA had 60 people in their Photo program) — how much of an intimate and personalized atmosphere can that be? While in a state fully-funded program your professors are more invested in you and your success and the professors actually keep tabs on you after graduation. I do not want anyone here to take my comments as an insult on the faculty of some of these bigger institutions -- I met some of them in person and they are lovely people, and work by others has been a formative influence on my visual practice. I am solely pointing at structural and institutional problems that in my opinion come from lack of fresh blood in management, lack of diverse voices amongst the administration and big bucks. University of Washington initially was my “bottom choice” school for the lower ranking (I still have no idea if it means anything at all) and how different the body of work of their Photomedia students is from mine. But taking in the factors that my MFA will be paid for, the fact that I will be teaching my own class and creating my own syllabus and how intimate my department is (they accept 3 people a year into the Photo program), I decided to accept. I do encourage people to look at such factor such as teaching opportunities - as you come out of an MFA with a hirable skill that can somehow help you finance your art practice (you will be paid very little, but knowing that practically no MFA’s in East Coast provide teaching opportunities, teaching a University course is huge). I am very grateful for this Forum as I met some lovely and talented artists who helped me through these incredibly stressful times. As an international person (I am from Russia where there are more avenues for free higher education) it pains me to see when artists feel bad to ask a giant and wealthy institution for several more thousand dollars in financial aid or when they feel like they are not worthy of it. Because they are. Absolutely everyone is worthy of free education, it is our human right. Unfortunately, a lot of universities are not being honest when they say they can’t give people a full ride or, god forbid, several more thousands dollars for a scholarship. I got my BFA from New York University, where administration would rather buy more property in West Village rather than get new video equipment for students or give them higher scholarship. I am relocating to Seattle in September with my husband and two cats, Stanley and Peace Walker. Here is a link to my website https://erakhilkina.squarespace.com and my IG handle is @erakhilkina Though Seattle definitely won’t be my final destination as I am planning to move to Berlin in several years. I will love to connect to fellow photo or/and queer artists!

Just got into UW in Seattle for Photo (got a call from the faculty). I was the first one on their waitlist, and I assumed someone said “no”. now I am waiting to know what is the financial side of things. if someone knows anyone who goes or went to UW - please hit me up.

Hey, did you email them? what program did you apply for?

Got accepted to USC! No news on financial aid yet.

Messaged you !

I understand. Thank you!

Can I ask why you declined UW offer (I know they are fully funded with the stipend)? I am on their waitlist and I think of accepting if offered... Just want to know your thought proccess. and congrats on all the offers!

Thank you! I actually was under the impression that Parsons is more reputable than SVA but it seems like all these rankings are so different and it is hard to understand who even creates them so I do not know what to believe anymore lol. I actually was told that SVA is quite diverse in the student body, but the faculty itself of SVA is very white and predominantly male (that seems to be the case across the board though in different MFA programs). My problem with SVA is that lingering feeling I got from speaking to some people is that it accepts quite a lot of people for the program and churns out a lot of students every year, it does not seem personal or intimate or like there would be personalised relationship with students. That is a downer for me, honestly. But maybe I am wrong, who knows.

Is there a website I can see? I would love to connect. (I connect with SVA alumni by asking the faculty, they were very open and encouraging about this. )

GUYS I got accepted to CALARTS for Photography. What the fuck. I did not even have an interview. I got a notification and I thought it was a rejection. I definitely won't be able to go because of the finances, but the acceptance warms my heart.

Congratulations on acceptances! I got into SVA for Photo and would love to see you as a potential member of the cohort. Do you have an IG where I can see your work? (Mine is @erakhilkina) personally, I was really excited about applying to CalArts as I absolutely admire their photo faculty - JoAnn Callis and Sharon Lockhart but I never got even an interview. But it depends what kind of photography you do and what faculty can elevate your work best. sorry, that I can not offer anything helpful, but I really do not know much about the schools. I would recommend reaching out to CalArts alumni to ask questions about their experiences in the schools. (I did that with SVA).

Just got 50 per cent tuition reduction (through departmental assistantship) for SVA’s photography MFA! very nice and grateful. I still probably can not afford to go there, but I am glad they gave it to me.

I am still waiting on USC

Thank you, darling, you are making me hopeful. I am crossing fingers for you too!

Just got a call from UW, they said that I am at the top of their waitlist... (1 person already accepted the offer so they are waiting on 2 other students... I am feeling pretty crushed honestly as this was the only fully funded place that interviewed me and now it is floating away, and I basically think that I won’t end up in an MFA program this Fall as SVA and Parsons that accepted me are just too expensive).