Colin

Are you serious? Yes, I have been in the real world, longer than I care to admit, and all the hard work and networking and competitive spirit and good art work in the world will not make more opportunities suddenly appear. I have walked to work when I couldn't afford the subway/bus. I now have a car payment because I live in a place without decent public transportation. I made a choice to live here, and it's where I have a job. So, this capitalistic educational system is outrageous. And? What's the alternative? I don't want or need to get into a pissing match with you, frugal, since the #s obviously confirm my POV: most people could not go to grad school without incurring some debt. Is that fair? When is it ever about fair? Is is scary? hell yea. Scarier for me is putting off a dream for 20 years and then giving up on it because of $. I refuse to let $ be an excuse to not do something. YMMV good luck with that

wow...

RK, I agree with a lot of what you say, and I too got accepted to SFAI. BUt my situation is alittle different. I am older and this is my one opportunity to go do what I always wanted to do, and get the credentials to teach. I have to really look hard at my $ obligations right now and what $ I need. The debt is a given, it'll either be a lot or a ton. I emailed SFAI about some adjustments to my (financial) situation and will see what they have to say. I am prepared to live (more) frugally, but not sure if that will be enough. I would regret not trying. I'm not prepared to live with that regret. are you still on the fence?

thanks mtung there are always going to be people who gloss over the truth and those who get mired in the murky details and lose sight of the meta... between the two, you have to know, is the real story. googling about SFAI financial woes, I found it's not a new story. I can post links here, but the gist is there were problems in the 90's and again in 2002 (with tragic results... google yourself) and on it goes. I will email my contact there and see what he has to say.

Yes, I have heard about this for MFA. there are "tests", what the IRS calls them, conditions, 1) you have to already be an artist and not just decide now you want to try art (as if) and 2) the MFA is required for your profession, or will help you in your current field, something like that. At least that's what I can remember. I'm no CPA so better to check it out for sure. Thanks for reminding me of this! I was looking at $$ and feeling very sick and ill...

careful, would-be grad now you got what you yearned for now the real work starts

My now-wife, then girlfriend, went to grad school a few years ago, only an hour or two away. We saw each other about once a week. It was fine, we were both very busy. Last year she accepted a teaching position 900 miles away to begin Fall '08. We decided to get married (eloped) last summer, June. Two days AFTER the subsequent big party / reception the family threw for us, we were on a plane to her new place, August. I came back to work and to finish my second undergrad here, finished in Dec '08. Jobs are not easily had where she lives/works, otherwise I would have moved there in January. I was visiting once a month, but credit card bills are getting up there... For grad, I applied to only two schools, the one I really wanted and the school where she teaches. I heard back from the want and I got in. It's in Cali, we're on the east coast. Cali school wanting an answer in two weeks. Now I wait to hear from her school. I look at my calendar and realize I have to prepare mentally and physically for a move in the next four months. quandary is an understatement

If I don't get grants/fellowships, yes, screw em... but I'll do it my way: I'll probably be dead before I finish paying off my loans. heh Some schools have $, some don't. Oh the f well.

transportation / commute / car necessary? re: SFAI and commuting from San Jose? to save $ (rent) but... How much of a commute/pain would it be to get in and out of SF-- daily? oh, and parking? The alternative is to ditch the car and use the money saved to go toward rent IN town. But will I regret that? I visited SF last October and did pub trans fine. Lived in Boston and NYC without a car for 10 years.

I saw someone else accepted to SFAI for photography in the results, dated yesterday...? I received an acceptance letter today, dated 3/12. $ pending...

SFAI - accepted via USPS today (letter dated 3/12) "fellowships" pending, have three weeks from 3/12 to decide. Photography

Um.... yea... it does. But what's the alternative? Can you use a credit card instead? That way, if you don't get your "product or service" you might be able to have the charge reversed/refunded.

So I save money after being rejected I should be happy?

Dear Colin, Why didn't you listen to your mother when she said, repeatedly, "is it worth it?" Guess what? It's not. Go back to working the 9-5 grind while you still have a job. We just saved you $100 grand, so be happy. Oh, and good luck in your future endeavors. Best regards, Nameless Faceless Admissions

all finalists for graduate admission must have interview ... f*ck you'd think the ten years I had spent in transition would have prepared me my portfolio did me in, or my statement which is it, tell me!

Some unsolicited advice I got the other day was why I wasn't considering law school? "Lawyers make more money than artists!" Thanks, Cousin-in-law Obvious. I am not *prepared* to pay for everything since I don't have a buttload of money saved up to pay, but I am *prepared* in that I have been paying for everything as an adult for a while, so what's another $100K of debt, give or take...? At least I won't be a miserable lawyer.

Agreed. a lot of information to sift through. Which made me think that maybe this is a data management problem--this specific thing, sort through the results and finding out 1) when people heard re: interviews and 2) when people heard A / R (I originally typed A / A, see how positive I am?!) and 3) from where. After we all get into the programs of our choice, we won't be concerned with that any longer, but the next batch of MFA-hopefuls will. Why should they have to re-invent the wheel? Sub-folders would be nice to organize things in general. But who does that and what sub-folders? I don't know. Sorry for being OT in this well intentioned thread. I am all for sharing helpful information in a concise, easy to read way! Or make it a STICKY and keep it at the top of the list?

thanks, Stark. that helps. I'm trying to keep busy and not think about it. If and when I get an email or letter, I'll deal with it then. good luck with your interview!

It's NOT crazy, a little obsessive maybe, but not crazy! I did the same thing. I went back to the previous years to see when people started hearing. I also figured that in my case, SFAI was getting in touch with people for interviews in mid Feb and people started hearing a or r in early March. I know someone else heard from SFAI (for painting) for an interview a week a go. I panicked that I haven't heard anything. I did the research and then I started rationalizing. I had a portfolio review with the dept chair, went to visit the school, went to an alumni get together where I talked to a few alumns and the head of school--so I am convincing myself THAT is why I'm not being called for an interview--they already interviewed me? maybe. anyway, thanks for the list. I'm sure it will help many people. I would like the arts area on here to have some subfolders for this type of info to reside. How would that happen?

SFAI - nothing as of 2/13/09 someone in another thread heard back from them last week re: painting EDITED to add: they contacted him for an interview

good luck with the interview I had a portfolio review with the dept chair last fall and he liked my stuff. I went to visit the campus and loved it. Met some alumni at a function, too. So it was all pretty positive. Yes, for photography SFAI - nothing as of 2/13/09 current motto: no news is good news

as for name-dropping faculty, can you say it in a way that is uniquely sincere? consider how may other applicants write something not unique, akin to: "Faculty Art Star is such a huge inspiration to me" ?

Curious when did you hear from SFAI?

This one prof wrote a recommendation for me for a competition in October so I just guessed he could use the same content. Didn't think it'd be too taxing. If that wasn't the scenario and I had asked five months ago, then yea, I would have reminded him--possibly more than once. A week ago would have been pushing it, but still, he could have said he didn't have enough time to do it. I didn't decide to go for Fall 09 until after Thanksgiving. I won't bore you with the details. My experience writing LOR: I had to write a letter for one of our summer interns. I did it in December, a few weeks before the deadline. She asked before she left for school in August and I asked her to email me to remind me with all the contact info, which she did. I added it to my calendar with a reminder popping up every day until I finished it. If she had asked me over Thanksgiving break I probably would have done it the very same day just to get it off my to-do list, but that's just me.

Today I received a one word email from one of my LOR writers: "deadlines?" Um, the deadline is tomorrow for one school and Feb 15, (but I told him Feb 1) for another. wtf? I emailed him back: "The deadline is tomorrow, but I'm sure it'll be ok it it's alittle late. Thanks!" what could I say? really. just one more thing to add to the list of what I didn't get from my undergrad experience. What is galling /ironic is I considered this prof the most professional of the bunch (and the bunch is full of whackos, so, I probably SHOULD have known better to just assume all was well). I just didn't think I needed to be on his case about the deadline, especially since I was clear about the deadlines in a previous email. Oh, the F, Well?! I am hoping the gradschool can handle all of these seperate pieces of paper heading their way. Finding solace in imagining someone at sometime had a messier / tardier application process.