Hey everyone! First time posting here but I’d love to get some advice on weighing my potential options for this application cycle. I’m a NYC-based figurative painter who applied for MFA programs for the first time this cycle and got accepted to VCU (full funding), Pratt ($15k scholarship per year), and CalArts ($26k scholarship per year), am waitlisted at USC, and haven’t heard back post interview with NYU (remaining programs were rejections).
At this point I’ve pretty much ruled out CalArts, and think I would take NYU if offered. I keep going back and forth between VCU and Pratt and I’m curious if anyone here has any advice for me? The biggest draw for Pratt to me is staying in New York and continuing to build my community here, but I haven’t gotten the best feeling from the program in terms of support for students and curriculum. VCU seems like a great program and a good fit for me in terms of balance between classroom and studio time, but I’m worried about disrupting my momentum here in NY by leaving for Virginia. My career goals are to be both a practicing painter and a teacher (landing a professor job would be my absolute dream) and I get the sense that VCU might set me up a bit better post graduation? But all these things are so hard to discern! I welcome any advice / thoughts folks here may have… thank you in advance!
