maydaypu

Yeah you're right. It's really not fair to think like that. From poking around on the internet/taking to alumni I do hear how much funding admitted students are getting from either program. It's clearly one school is giving me much more than the average, and the other one much less. Anyway, it's pointless to guess what goes behind the door at this point.

Yes! I really don't know anyone from SAIC or not many from Chicago in general whereas I have many connects in New York and they all want me there. So it's helpful to see your words. Thank you.

I went to CalArts for my BFA. CalArts is big on interdisciplinary collaboration where you can always find cool people to work with. I had a friend in photo and his thesis was really interesting and beyond my expectation for a photography project. The geography, however, is not very ideal if you want to be fully immersed in the city since the campus is isolated in this conservative neighborhood in a valley like 50 mins north of Downtown LA. But sometimes that's what makes the school community really tight. I enjoyed networking with radical artists everyday in a relatively safe space but I do wish I had easier access to what LA art scene has to offer.

NYU ITP (Interactive Telecommunications Program) or SAIC Art and Technology??? I know these two may seen very different but I’m a theater designer/multimedia artist working with creative technology, and my profile basically fit right in between these two programs. I've seen/met their alumni's work and they are both very compelling. By going to grad school I expect to have the resources and community that can not only support me conceptually but technologically. I’m worried that ITP might lack conceptual training and its a big class for very little physical space (no studio), but their student body has more diverse background which can benefit my future collaboration. I’m also worried that SAIC will limit my career in Chicago after graduation and I’m not sure that’s the city I see myself living forever, but their class size is much smaller, and with an MFA instead of MPS might take me farer in the art world. ITP offered me 60% scholarship, while SAIC offered me 0 initially and then 35% need-based grant after I asked. I know it's not fair to compare like this but I can't help but think whether one values me more than the other... Are my worries legit? Which school/program has a bigger potential for me? and what’s the general vibes of Chicago or New York for emerging artists, especially women of color? I lived and worked in Los Angeles so have no first-hand experience with either city. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I did. Also got rejected. Email came in at 1:00am central time. I'm glad I didn't notice it until this morning lol.