Miso

Isn't UCLA also fully funded? Also my third year applying, didn't think I would be back on grad cafe getting ready to apply again but here we are 🫠 Almost every time I look at fully funded programs and view their students' current work or the work of alumni (for my focus on Painting & Drawing)...99.9% of the time the artwork is abstract or collages. Does anyone know fully funded programs that do figurative work? I'm trying to make the list of schools I apply to based on them being fully funded and having students that do figurative work. I feel like there's a big bias for abstract work that no one really talks about. Don't want to make the mistake of applying to a school that doesn't prefer, value, or appreciate figurative work. Any insights are greatly appreciated, thanks!

Does anyone know the general rule about including detail shots in a portfolio? For example, if a school requires 15 works of art in the portfolio, should you include 15 different works or is there an acceptable amount of detail shots you can include? I am wondering if a program will not like it if an applicant included let's say 4 detail shots. Because technically they are only including 11 different artworks. What would you guys do if you thought detail shots were necessary for your portfolio? 11+4 detail shots = 15 12+3 detail = 15 15 different works + no detail? Would appreciate anyone's opinion on this. Thanks!

Was anyone else waitlisted by Northwestern University? If so hit me up

He was leading my interview on Zoom. Michael Rakowitz, Mike Cloud, and Caroline Kent did most of the talking during my interview, others asked questions as well though. They all had a very nice vibe and I wouldn't change a thing about how my interview went. But even if you have a good interview you can still end up waitlisted or rejected. They all kept really good poker faces so it's tough to tell, I got a few smiles but overall I left that interview not having a clue what decision they would make. I would definitely apply again though to show them how much I grow this next year, if they like me now then they should like me again 🤷‍♂️ I feel like it's difficult to find programs that fit my work, I make very detailed realistic portrait drawings that I wish admission committees could see in person. But looking at several different fully funded programs alumni list student websites...it seems like programs prefer painters over people that draw with graphite or charcoal. If anyone knows a fully funded program that fits the work I describe, pls let me know

Thanks I hope so too! I have nothing but good things to say about NW. Being 1 of the 21 finalists lets me know I am very close to being a really strong applicant despite all the rejections I have received from other programs. I think NW may be unlikely (just a gut feeling; hope I am wrong)...but I plan on applying to fully funded programs again in December. 3rd time is the charm right lol I feel like the baby of MFA applicants, I'm in my mid-20s and want things to happen now but life is telling me otherwise. I think because I'm so young these programs want to see what I can do on my own for another year. It's tough competing with older applicants that have been working on art for over 5 years, some even over a decade. This was my first year being a full-time artist since I graduated undergrad in 2021. NW seeing something in me lets me know I am closer but not quite there yet

Exactly, I know there will be a lot of people that stress out for months thinking UCLA never got back to them. They will be refreshing their emails in April and May holding onto hope, not knowing the decision was quietly posted in their portal. Very unprofessional from a school that is ranked #1...I would expect better

Exactly, it seems pretty rude to not email the rejected applicants...like what if I wasn't on this forum, someone could not check their portal and be in April thinking UCLA never contacted them. I'm going to have to go through this process for a 3rd straight year and I won't be wasting my time applying to UCLA again. Seems like I would have a better chance of having a winning lottery ticket

Yup UCLA rejections finally dropped today. Idk why they put it in our portals without emailing us. But this was very expected

Thanks!! I hope I get a call too, this entire process is very stressful. I'm stuck between holding onto my last hope (NW) and thinking about what I may do if I had to apply all over again for the 3rd time. If I'm not selected I'm going to try to get a job as a private school art teacher and create art to add new things to my portfolio. It would be a devastating reality for me, fingers crossed option 1 happens...but if it doesn't I can't cry about it, just have to work harder to become a stronger applicant

Congrats!! Nice to know someone was contacted by Northwestern...I've seen on a previous forum that someone was admitted via phone call and the very next day they admitted someone else via phone call. Did they also send an email about how much stipend they offered you?

Looks like Northwestern isn't releasing final decisions today:/ It's officially taking them longer than it took them last year. I wonder if this is good news for the finalists. Maybe they have too many strong applicants and will decide to admit 8 out of the 21 finalists

It's getting spicy in GradCafe on a weekend lmao, GradCafe turning into Pumpkin Spice Cafe 🥵🤣 I totally understood what you said and you weren't personally attacking anyone. It is just your personal preference to be done with all your school stuff before you hit your mid-30s. There's absolutely nothing wrong with striving to reach certain goals before you hit a certain age. You never said it was a disadvantage to be older while pursuing school. What you said shouldn't have been met with an intentionally rude response.

I've gotten a few "Spam Risk" and "Telemarketer" calls recently, I just don't pick them up. If it was a school I'm pretty sure they would leave a voicemail though

LMAOO thank youuu!!! Also wishing the best for everyone! Yeah I've seen a few people in previous forums say they've received acceptance phone calls. I think most of the time acceptances are sent via email though. You're right, no matter how you put it...this process is stressful and will make the most relaxed person in the world have anxiety

You have asked the right person because I have gotten plenty of rejections lol 😂 And I can assure you, rejection letters are sent via email. Usually goes something like this "Thank you for your application to blah blah blah...was extremely competitive...blah blah blah....We regret to inform you that you haven't been selected" Sending a hard copy of that via mail would be messed up lol....couldn't imagine opening an envelope with UCLA on the outside just for it to be a rejection, but who knows maybe some schools actually do that

I believe someone in this forum talked to their friend that isn't in this forum, and their friend who applied to UCLA for Painting/Drawing has already done their interview. I usually try to stay optimistic but I think it's safe to say if you didn't hear from UCLA in February then be ready to receive your rejection letter Mid-March

Looks like Northwestern will release decisions next week. They have tuff decisions to make, 21 finalists and they will probably admit 7. Did anyone ask them when they would release decisions?

You are better than me, I can't create under this much stress...but I'm not hard on myself about it, every artist needs breaks every once and a while. Right now all I can think about is how Northwestern released final decisions on March 1st for the past 3 years. But last year they also did interviews a week sooner than this year so I am thinking we will get decisions on March 7th or March 1st

I feel you, I thought about applying to programs that aren't fully funded because I figured if a program cost a lot of money then they probably have higher acceptance rates, but I decided not to. Personally, there's no way I would take on debt for an MFA but everyone's financial situation is different. I would apply for 5 straight years before taking on massive debt. //// Side Note Though: This is my 93rd post...why has no one told me to shut up already lmao 😂 I'm on this forum too much, and I can't stop thinking about Northwestern...I just want to go to sleep and wake up when the results have been sent, it's so annoying having the undetermined fate of your future on your mind 24/7....not to be dramatic but this is crazy lol

After graduating from undergrad I quickly learned that your career options are extremely limited with a BA in Art. I have no regrets about trying to pursue a fully funded MFA program because I know it'll open a lot of doors without putting me in debt. I applied to highly competitive fully funded programs in locations that I knew would be beneficial for me, but maybe I should have been more open-minded and chose some more fully funded programs in the Midwest and South. Instead of wasting my time on long-shot programs like Stanford, UCLA, and UCSD...I could have chosen lower-ranked fully funded programs to give myself a better chance. But I don't regret betting on myself because now I have a chance to attend Northwestern, a fully funded program that gives one of the highest stipends and covers tuition, it'll cover my rent and leave me with money left over.

No problem ❣️ I feel you, in order to avoid that sad feeling of not getting into my top schools, I decided to apply to 8 programs that I didn't view as safe schools. Unfortunately applying to 8 competitive programs has backfired, but I would rather go to a program I truly love as opposed to going to a "safe school" and having that feeling of knowing I settled for a school. I'm glad you've decided to try again so you can be accepted to a program you're actually excited to go to. That is a smart decision. I interviewed with Northwestern over Zoom and I think it went well but you never really know. And it's looking like I have 7 rejections...3 of them pending. I expected rejections but I didn't think I would be this unlucky, but there's still hope for NW, which is my top choice after the interview I had. Would be crazy to be accepted to NW and go 1 for 8....must be the world telling me it's my destiny to go there lol.

Wow that is surprising, I thought they would have covered your hotel and flights. Thanks for letting me know : )

Oh wow, so they over-accept on purpose anticipating that 2 or 3 people will decline the offer. I wonder what they would have done if all 7 people accepted their offers. Thanks for sending that!

Just curious, did you pay for everything for your in-person interview with Northwestern? In the past I've heard they cover the expense of your flights, but I don't believe they consider the time taken off work and hotels. I'm wondering what they did this year

I understand your point, I just think asking finalists about other schools they applied to....in order to gauge the likelihood of them accepting your offer....is just messed up. No admissions committee should be making assumptions about what they believe an applicant will do. If that person nailed the interview and you love them, then accept them. And if that person declines the offer then you have people on the waitlist ready to take advantage of the opportunity. Applicants spend years and hundreds of hours working on their portfolios, written statements, etc. It would be extremely inconsiderate to decline someone that you actually think is qualified for the spot....just because you assume they will decline your offer.