limpcigarette

I used this forum a lot for the 2021-22 application season, and now go to SAIC. If anyone had any questions about the school, shoot me a message! Best of luck!!

I did part of my undergrad at VCU so can also vouch for VCU's Sculpture program. I was lucky enough to know all the people who are included in this thesis catalog. I am not sure on what their specific experiences were, but can say that the work coming out of the program is amazing!

I felt like I did horrible during my interviews with UChicago and UMich. Not being totally coherent, nervousness, etc. Was accepted to both! This was my first application season and I had no idea how grad school interviews go, besides a cursory google search. I’m not sure how much of a role the interview plays in the admissions process, but I’m sure if they got a good sense of your personality you did fine!

Thanks a bunch! I have been thinking a lot about alumni and student resources already, think it would be best for me to just visit each of the campuses. Hard to schedule with a full work week, though. This is all wonderful advice! And yes, color me surprised that SAIC offered a 100% scholarship! I applied twice during my undergraduate career, once going straight from high school and the other as a transfer student, and didn't get near that amount of funding my first two tries! It's a wonderful opportunity.

Thank you! This is great advice, my friend put me in contact with a previous Northwestern graduate so I will reach out and ask him. I will also see if the graduate director can put me in contact with current students and maybe reach out directly to some of them myself! Also, glad to get some more of the low-down on the differences between Northwestern and SAIC. I hate writing papers, but I can muscle through it!

Hey all, I’ve posted a couple times in this thread but thought I’d introduce myself and ask for advice. I am an artist and poet working primarily with fiber art, with a background in sculpture, painting, and video from my time in undergrad. For general information, I’ll list all the schools I’ve applied to: SAIC - Fiber (interviewed, accepted with 100% tuition); Painting (interviewed, accepted with 20% tuition); Sculpture (Rejected) UChicago - Interviewed, second year full tuition waiver Northwestern University - Interviewed, Accepted with 100% tuition and stipend University of Michigan - Interviewed last week Hunter College - Interview this weekend. My question pertains to my current dilemma: choosing between SAIC’s Fiber program and Northwestern’s Art, Theory, and Practice. How did previous applicants go about choosing the right program for them, and what factors did they weigh? I love the idea of living in downtown Chicago and the resources SAIC offers for Fiber Art, but the stipend for Northwestern has my mouth watering. I’d also like to add a tidbit of advice/reassurance to future applicants who will anxiously be reading past threads next year: good photos are great, but my photos were shitty! Your artist statement can be as beautiful as you want to make it; one of mine’s was a short story. I am a first generation student who had no idea how to navigate grad applications, and I made it out to the other side (admission decisions). Being chosen for an interview is a good sign, and while they may be stressful every faculty member I’ve interacted with at the schools I applied to were gracious and engaged. Best of luck and all my love for all future graduate applicants and candidates ❤️

Same to you! ?

I also interviewed with Northwestern on Saturday and thought their questions were very insightful and critically engaged. Almost felt like critique, haha. It was tough but nourishing. I found the faculty to be very friendly though.

Hi, I have lurked this forum for a couple of years, and this particular thread since I began my applications for MFA programs. I am wondering why you are taking a certain tactic towards a survivor of abuse. While I cannot prove what CMUsurvivor is saying is true, I do know that an institution like CMU has more power and reputation than an individual Gradcafe poster. As someone who knows survivors of abuse and sexual assault, I am little put off by your constant questioning of their story. While I understand the desire for truth and accuracy, I think this type of thinking leads to victim blaming. I am of the opinion that we should begin by believing a survivor over the perpetrator of abuse. As I see it, cancel culture is minimal compared to the financial and social capital possessed by big name art schools and programs. As someone else has said, there are many reasons why an academic institution may not treat their students appropriately or no longer hold themselves to the reputation the university is known for. I hope you do not take this as me attacking you, just want to know more about why you have taken this approach to a purported survivor of abuse at the hands of a big-name university. I know that you are done with this topic, but I hope you understand where I am coming from.