Artist1

Oh, I assumed Federal grants for available for grad as well. I'm applying for artist grants right now. I wasn't able to find outside scholarships that I could apply for. Everything I found online was targeted toward writing an essay about leadership in your community, changing the world, etc. I couldn't find any just based on an art portfolio. And I'm not a minority student, mother, or whatever else the other scholarships required. I'm registered with FastWeb and a couple other sites and couldn't find anything that I could really apply to. So I'm applying for artist grants for personal projects.... My parents can't take out Plus loans due to low-income and bad credit history....and also I'm a little too old to ask my parents to take out loans for me anyway. I'm going to look around online and see if *maybe* there are any scholarships that I could apply to that the deadline hasn't passed. Maybe there are some with an April or May deadline.. ::::crossing fingers::::

I applied for MFA. They've already selected all MFA Candidates for this year. I'm assuming the same with BFA as well. You aren't required to do an interview in person for MFA. You can do Skype or Phone. I think they said about 90 people came in person for the interviews. I think it's a good idea to do this. Not sure with BFA though.

Unfortunately with my $10,000 scholarship and full federal loans, it just isn't enough to cover. I can't take out Private Loans because I defaulted and in collections. Parents can't do PLUS. Workstudy doesn't pay upfront. What happened to the Federal Pell Grant? Weren't there other Grants as well? There were several grant and scholarships available at my undergrad school, of course I graduated 5 years ago... but I really thought there would be more grants available for low-income. I don't know where I can get the extra 6 K and change to pay (plus moving expenses, deposit and rent for apartment, money for supplies, etc). I would need at least $10 K to scrape by and go. I can't save up that much money within months. I only have enough money to move and save up for the apartment. I'm willing to work full time and do commissions while in school Studios are incredibly small to work in. For around $36 K you'd think the school would provide slightly larger studios in better condition...considering that most of your time is spent in the studio.

I still haven't heard anything. I applied for MFA Painting at Columbia. I emailed them last week and no response. Someone said on one of the forums that they will be notifying applicants April 1st...but don't know if it's true. I also haven't heard from Syracuse University for MFA Painting.....No word.. Yes, frustrating...

Thanks for the info! I really don't know anything about the area and where to live. I didn't even get to see the city while there for an interview. Everything was so rushed. I don't have a car so I'll have to rely on public transportation so that's an important factor. $800 is quite a bit for a college student but hopefully I can find decent work (and work study). I have a really good resume but with the economy its a crapshoot. I didn't ask how much work study pays. I know at SAIC its $15 an hour, which is pretty good. Lucky you for the babysitting deal! Score!

Yeah, there's still a gap with the federal loan max amount. I can't do PLUS or Private loans and work study doesn't pay upfront....I don't have thousands sitting around to pay for the gap. I have to save just to do the move and not even sure if I can find an affordable apartment in Boston. I was told that apartments are in the $1000-1200 range and if you are lucky wayyyy out in the suburbs maybe $800. Is this true? I'm not old....but too old to live in a house full of students. I've had my share of bad roommates and would like to have a place of my own (have a pet) even if an efficiency. I'm hoping that Tufts will provide some grants or scholarships based on need. Otherwise, I don't see how I can go.

I wish I would have looked into the STUDIO SIZE and CONDITIONS before applying to any MFA painting programs this year. I have been very disappointed in how small studio spaces are and in some cases the poor conditions of the buildings. Considering that most of our time is spent in the studio, we should be provided with adequate space and working conditions. I'd like to know which schools in the US and EUROPE have good painting programs and also decent studio size. Syracuse University has large private sky-lit studios - am waiting to hear back from them. A lot of other schools have cubicles and some are super tiny, like 5 x 7 feet and have short walls. Some have crappy walls that you can't work on. Even though I haven't heard back from all the schools and funding, I'm looking into other school. Why not be prepared? So I'd really prefer East Coast if in the US and also am interested in the UK and France. I'd appreciate any information regarding painting studios and facilities at some schools in these areas. Wish we would have all taken pictures at the schools we visited to share with each other. That would save a few trips! Thanks!

Hi. I can't really add much here for your question. But I was wondering if you could give some info after your interview about the school? I wish I would have applied this year but was focused on east coast in the US. I would be applying for painting and/or drawing. If you had a chance to see the grad painting studios, please let me know what size they are? private, semi-private, etc? This is something I wish I would have looked more into before applying to schools this year. And of course, how the interview went! and everything good luck

I finally heard from SMFA about scholarship decisions. I was told that I was selected for the SMFA Graduate Scholarship based on my portfolio application, merit and financial need. $10,000. I wanted to know what scholarships and offers anyone has has received from SMFA? Originally I was told that they had two full-ride scholarships and two half scholarships based on merit. Is this still true or did they disperse that among more students this year? The amount I was awarded is less than half. Does Tufts University offer additional funding through scholarships and/or grants (besides Loans and Work Study)? Have you heard anything from Tufts yet? We have until May 1st to decide and place the deposit. I was wondering what type of financial aid other applicants/students received and how they intend on paying for the tuition costs, etc?

Nothing from Columbia painting yet. I've heard of people having interviews already. I'm assuming that I've been rejected since I haven't heard back. Nothing from Syracuse painting either. SMFA already had all interviews and notified applicants of acceptance.

Did they email or call you? I haven't heard anything from the painting department.

Ha. ha. Yes, I do!

I'm waiting to hear about scholarships/grants from SMFA next week and also waiting to hear back from two other schools. So we shall see......

yay! Congrats!

Saw this on the website: Here's what the website states: Admissions Policies Notification of Admission In most cases, official notification that a decision has been made will be delivered by e-mail. For security, such e-mail does not contain the decision itself however, decision information will be posted in the on-line application. Decisions are made and communicated during the months of March and April. Official decision notifications are made by the School of the Arts and not individual departments or programs. Only letters or e-mail sent directly from the School of the Arts may be considered official notifications of admission and financial aid. The Office of Admissions cannot give decision results over the phone. It is important that you keep both your e-mail address and mailing address current by e-mailing us at admissions-arts@columbia.edu with "Applicant Address Update" in the subject line. Any changes necessary can be made from within your on-line application. The School of the Arts regrets that due to the large volume of applications, we cannot provide individual explanations to those who are not admitted.

Taken from the Columbia Visual Arts MFA section on the websiteL Here's what the website states: Admissions Policies Notification of Admission In most cases, official notification that a decision has been made will be delivered by e-mail. For security, such e-mail does not contain the decision itself however, decision information will be posted in the on-line application. Decisions are made and communicated during the months of March and April. Official decision notifications are made by the School of the Arts and not individual departments or programs. Only letters or e-mail sent directly from the School of the Arts may be considered official notifications of admission and financial aid. The Office of Admissions cannot give decision results over the phone. It is important that you keep both your e-mail address and mailing address current by e-mailing us at admissions-arts@columbia.edu with "Applicant Address Update" in the subject line. Any changes necessary can be made from within your on-line application. The School of the Arts regrets that due to the large volume of applications, we cannot provide individual explanations to those who are not admitted.

Here's what the website states: Admissions Policies Notification of Admission In most cases, official notification that a decision has been made will be delivered by e-mail. For security, such e-mail does not contain the decision itself however, decision information will be posted in the on-line application. Decisions are made and communicated during the months of March and April. Official decision notifications are made by the School of the Arts and not individual departments or programs. Only letters or e-mail sent directly from the School of the Arts may be considered official notifications of admission and financial aid. The Office of Admissions cannot give decision results over the phone. It is important that you keep both your e-mail address and mailing address current by e-mailing us at admissions-arts@columbia.edu with "Applicant Address Update" in the subject line. Any changes necessary can be made from within your on-line application. The School of the Arts regrets that due to the large volume of applications, we cannot provide individual explanations to those who are not admitted.

Yep, Found out early afternoon that I was accepted to SMFA. YAY!

I'm sorry to hear that. I still haven't heard anything from Syracuse. I'm getting impatient. I'm going to go ahead and assume that I was rejected from Columbia because they have already been calling artists for interviews.... Syracuse... I dunno.

Nope. Still waiting....

ANYONE hear from Columbia? Someone said in another forum post that they started calling for interviews on March1st? I did a search but it's polluted with posts from last year. I haven't heard anything through email or phone. It's been a month and a half. Was wondering if anyone has heard and if so, what genre? I applied for MFA Painting..... also, Syracuse?

I didn't see that. I applied for painting. Haven't received email or anything. I'm going to go back through the thread. But you'd think they'd send the rejection emails already. It's been a month and a half. :/

IMPORTANT INFO for SMFA Interviews tomorrow, Sat March 5th: I talked with admissions on the phone. We need to arrive at 8:15am and we will have a mandatory pre-meeting. Interviews start at 9am and will go throughout the day. We will receive a welcome packet when we arrive (230 The Fenway, Atrium when you first come in). The day will consist of tour, free museum pass, and shuttle bus to galleries. So really the day will be from 8:15am to 5pm. And then at 5pm we will have a closing reception until 7pm. Be free from 8:15am - 7pm, it will be a loooong day! You need to bring your laptop and a cd of your portfolio (and any new work). Let admissions know whether or not you are bringing a laptop, otherwise they will have to provide one. You can bring original work in person, but the rest will be viewed on laptop. They don't project it. I'm up for meeting other intervieweeeesss.. PM me for phone number etc. I'm staying at Best Western on Longwood Ave. Will be here til Sun afternoon. Might be up for doing something after the reception (but might be beat!). I'm interested in going for painting/drawing....but also have an interest in installation/sculpture/combined media.

Because my work doesn't come across as well through digital photos. They limited the size for the photos so you can't zoom in enough for detail. You can't see the actual texture through the photograph and grasp the scale of the work. It has a different presence when standing in front of it vs. a digital photo projected. I've had work rejected based on the dig photos and then when presented in person it is accepted. So really wanted to bring it if possible. Didn't think just shipping a large tube would be difficult. They said that the interviews are in classrooms and offices. I requested a larger room with flat wall space. They said I could bring my drawing and make room for it. You can arrange to have your work shipped to the office ahead of time as well. If I am not able to get the drawing there, then I'll just bring additional photos. Really wish I would have just planned on driving out instead of flying. oh well I'm arriving Friday around 10am so I can spend time in the city and have plenty of time to relax the night before the interview. Leaving Sun mid afternoon. Direct flight, yay! See you there

I found some tubes locally through a construction company. They are intended for concrete, but they can cut them to size. Mine is over 7 feet long. Problem is that shipping Fedex and UPS are away too expensive. Totally close to $300 or more if you count both ways. Getting different answers about bringing on plane as oversized check-in luggage. I'm wishing that I would have planned driving out to Boston instead of flying, it would be cheaper to bring the work with. Unless I get lucky and find someone in my area that is driving to Boston this week (and coming back soon) that is willing to bring my tube with (compensated of course).....Otherwise, I plan to package my work and bring to airport and hope they will take it and it won't be too expensive. Anyone else having trouble with shipping or bringing work on plane? Anyone from the Midwest going to Boston this week and willing to bring my tube with if I pay?