Scrambledmegs

Also with all that said, such decisions are really so dependent on the individual, their finances, personal goals/expectations, and reasons for getting an MFA

Both a bit. He was disappointed in the cohort at MCAD though the facilities were amazing. He regrets not attending SAIC because he knows people from his undergrad with similar work to his that went to SAIC and are selling like crazy now. He’s had some success, but it’s been harder to get gallery attention. He did just get his first museum show. I’ll explain a bit about the financial reasoning because it is of course specific to him. He had a lot of debt from undergrad anyway and will basically never pay it off so he now just feels like he shouldn’t have been worried about taking on more. At the rate he’s paying on it, it would take him over 200 years to be debt free. Basically the position he takes (which I think is worth considering), is artists usually have relatively low paying jobs (art handlers, teachers) and have limited success selling. Most will likely live with debt their whole lives, but in many ways student debt isn’t a big deal. You aren’t penalized much for having it, and it’s very possible the government will put programs in forth in the future to forgive debt (like the working for a non profit for 10 years thing pre-trump). You might as well just go for it, and set yourself up in the best way you can to be the one artist in a thousand who really makes it and even easily pays off your debt! Kinda almost like being an artist is a dumb financial decision; might as well be really dumb with it and dream big lol! BTW he did come from a deeply impoverished and very rural background so it’s not like he is nonchalant about money.

My fiancé chose MCAD over SAIC due to finances and has always regretted it. He still has a lot of debt anyway but his monthly payments are small and income adjusted. He feels like in the long run, taking out a little more wouldn’t have mattered. It’s a hard choice. I’d wait to hear from CMU too because I think they are of a similar caliber to SAIC.

Well the printmaking department is separate from painting for Tulane. And I suppose I don’t know for sure. I just asked how large the cohort is in the interview and they told me they were likely only taking one painting student this year and that they only have one for last year.

Hey, I applied for painting and I interviewed with them. They were all super nice! However, I was really disappointed to hear that they are only taking one painter this year. I feel like it would be a little disappointing to not have much of a cohort. Maybe not though! You’d have the professors all to yourself. And the teaching opportunities provided sound amazing along with the funding of course.

I think this is a good thing and perhaps almost an acceptance? Them saying it will be more casual and taking the time to talk to you more just seems like a very positive sign to me. I’d just go into it confident and familiar and see what they want to talk about! Wanting to invest more time would usually suggest they like you!

Painting!

I don't know if it helps but after I sent a thank you email to University of Washington, one of the professors called me with an acceptance. I think I wouldn't have heard back so soon if I hadn't kept in touch.

So I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts are on how much interviews matter depending on the school. My intuition is telling me that for some schools it is not so important, and they are basically just checking to see if you are nut. I say that because I really feel like I bombed my first two interviews and I still got acceptances. For Yale, it seems like the interview is way more important. They have a bunch of requirements and the whole process seems very serious. Perhaps some schools like Yale interview far more people than they are accepting and other schools just interview their first choices? And if they have an awful feeling about a student, at that point they would reach out to a second round of students to interview for that spot? I don’t know if anyone has any clarity on how much the processes differ. It’s just my hunch that there is a lot of diversity and getting an interview gives you pretty widely different chances of acceptance depending on the school.

Oh sorry in the context of the question I was responding to this made sense but I should be more clear. I chose to APPLY to Tulane. I just have an interview. I have not been accepted yet.

Yeah I’m a little nervous to take the nyaa offer just because New York! It’s a scary city financially. Best to wait it out and see what the best offer is. I chose Tulane because of the faculty and also it is fully funded with a stipend. I chose all the schools based on three criteria really: faculty, funding, prestige

Painting! So don’t worry. I think it’s okay to reach out to schools and ask too. I don’t think it hurts at all. The worst they can give is a rejection and then you’ll know but they also might just tell you they haven’t made decisions yet. Best of luck.

Hi! Good luck! I’m interviewing for Yale too. First time and I’m so nervous! Do you have an insta or a website? I’d love to see your work.

I got an interview request from goldsmiths! Had no idea there was a strike happening so that’s concerning. I also got an interview request for Tulane though I’m not sure if anyone else is applying there. Haven’t heard many people talking about it. NYAA scholarship offer was surprisingly good. Feeling more optimistic! Good luck everyone!

Well it’s still early February so if you are just waiting to hear don’t lose hope! I don’t work on anything as big as 6ft yet because that’s just a lot to take on for me! My biggest paintings are something more like 40 inches by 30 inches. And my smallest is something like 6 inches by 4 inches! Generally what I find most manageable and rewarding is something in the 20 by 20 land. I don’t think grad schools care at all about the size as long as the size fits what you are painting and the way you are painting it. So you should paint the size you like painting on. Beyond that, I personally think it’s important to switch up sizes a bit. It’s a nice challenge to see if you can paint with a size you aren’t used to, because different sizes present so many different challenges. However, lord knows I’m no professor so perhaps fallowing their advice is wise? And if you’ve graduated you could email them because they’d probably love to tackle your question. I hope that 1st 2nd year things happens too! It’s cool to see my possible future classmates are all so hardworking and supportive.

"I am a whole ass person". - LOVE IT! and kudos to you by the way for getting a museum job.

Painting.

Well, I think the whole higher educational system will reach some sort of breaking point not just in art. Tuitions are skyrocketing but teachers are paid the same, facilities are no better, the salaries of graduates aren't increasing, and so many people are defaulting on their debt. Who knows what will happen? Lots of broken systems do seem to hobble on endlessly though. Coincidentally yesterday, I sent my Dad the same article that you posted about Yale and the power law. (Fruitlessly trying to get him to be excited but he's still heart broken I didn't go on to med school or the like haha) I feel the larger takeaway of that article is that MFAs simply don't teach you how to be an artist. Yale doesn't have the secret, it just has the prestige. The numbers wouldn't look like that if these schools were truly shaping their students in the way we like to believe they are. Sure, a great MFA program will give us great critiques, help us be more open in our practice, and tie us to the art world, but it won't make or break us. Atelier programs and a few places like NYAA can help realists sharpen their toolkits and give us some good skill exercise too! Maybe Yale can even get some of their students a gallery. But being an artist is an extraordinarily self-directed venture and in the end it's simply up to each one of us to keep working towards it. I don't mean what I say to be negative and I do believe every program tries it's best to be everything it advertises and more. But the art world is simply too random, subjective, and exclusive for success to follow a linear path.

Yes! I applied to Yale, RISD, MICA, SAIC, University of Washington, Tulane, Goldsmiths, CMU, Northwestern ATP, NYAA, and Smu. It was my first year applying and I spent every cent of my money on the fees. So far I’ve had a rejection from CMU and Saic, an interview from university of Washington and Yale (and NYAA), and not a peep from anyone else. Honestly I wish schools would just email me I’m rejected at least. I do feel grateful for the Yale bit because that’s my dream school, but it’s hard to keep my spirits up when every other school seems so devastatingly uninterested. Mica told me today that this is just the “first round” of interviews so anyone waiting on mica, don’t lose hope. But yeah, this whole process is disheartening, stressful, and difficult. of course we all are silly chaps trying to get our MFA. A terrible investment for any sane person. Luckily we’re artists so sanity doesn’t apply. A ridiculous process for ridiculous dreams! ❤️? but ahhh what dreams they were...

Oh my gosh thank you so so much! http://Margaretayres.squarespace.com

You applied for painting too? I'd email them and ask. Also, take this as a hopeful sign. Good luck!

Thank you and so relieved to hear I am not the only one! I'm like is that somethin' they taught in them faaannccy art schools up north? LOL. I pretty much got a set of oil paints and never looked back so media experimentation is minimal. I guess I see those paintings as dabblings content-wise so I could just elaborate on that. My finished work often includes animals and female figures, more finished narratives and ideas. I think you are right about the risk taking. That will be what they are really looking for with this awful requirement! And probably best not to include work already in the portfolio! TRICKY!

OKAY PANICKING! This is a part of Yale's interview requirements: "finalists are asked to select FOUR artworks (paintings, drawings, prints, video or other) and FOUR studies (sketches, provisional or preparatory works, etc.) for the committee to view during the interview. Experimentation, risk-taking, and openness within one's practice are some of the core values in Yale's program." My problem is I don't make "studies." I never have, or the few times that I have they are just dumb sketches to lay out a composition and I've thrown them away. I have a few works that I regard as incomplete. That is, despite the high level of finish to the painting, I'm really just throwing around the idea. I attached example of a painting that is just a superficial stab at what it would be like to paint a John Kacere as a woman and a painting that is just a painting from life with a taxidermy bat rather than a photograph. Do you think Yale would accept these as "studies?" In other words, they are finished paintings but unfinished ideas. Or should I use the reference photographs I take (that seems horribly lame.)? Or be quick on my feet and make up some experimental studies before the end of the month? Seems dishonest... Any and all help would be appreciated. Sincerely writhing in horror and anxiety, M

Me! I have a BS. I think we just have to try and try again. Maybe consider a post bacc program too. I certainly will if I don’t get into any mfa programs. I think some schools doubt the commitment of an applicant unless you’ve been professionally in the art world or academically in the art world. Especially with younger applicants. But some schools also love an outsider!

Best of luck! Hope you hear soon.