Deborah in Mass

Funny I keep thinking about what someone said about saying a bit about who you are. Who are you 12312345? I'm looking at Lesley University MassARt, and MeCA, not necessarily in that order. Where did you apply?

I'm deciding between several low residency programs in the Northeast, and the conversations about Columbia and Yale are almost amusing. I applied to Yale years ago as a recent undergrad, and got such a bad vibe from the tour that their rejection neither surprised nor dismayed me. Just a year or two ago there was a huge story about Columbia's MFA students demanding a tuition reimbursement, I can't imagine why anyone would voluntarily go there after that, especially seeing as how they are one of the most expensive programs in the country. Don't even get me started on SMFA's practice of funneling most people to their post-baccalaureate program to make even more money off of one of the least lucrative professions. If I was in this for the money, I would have chosen an easier path long ago, but please don't patronize me like that. From my perspective, what matters is the work. I want to make the best work I can in the years that are allotted to me. I'm going to suck the marrow out of whichever program I attend, and figure out how to first minimize and then pay off the debt as best I can. Not assuming a paid teaching gig is going to do that trick for me, but we'll see what happens. Is anyone else in this forum looking at low residency programs? Would love to hear your thoughts.

I wasn't invited for an interview so I don't think I'll hold my breath. It is interesting though that I don't have a rejection in hand yet. They have a great printmaker/installation artist there I'd love to work with- Juana Valdez. And Young Min Moon is a super intelligent artist (Guggenheim awardee too) who nevertheless comes off as humble. If it's still up when you get to Amherst, go see the Alison Saar exhibit. I'm deciding between Maine College of Art and Lesley University by the looks of it- 2 happy choices for me but not funded like Amherst is.

Hey congratulations! The director Young Min Moon told me they were only taking 1-2 students this year for the MFA program due to all the deferrals from last year.

Has anyone heard from UMASS Amherst? They're the last decision I'm waiting for and one of my top choices.