Cobalt

MICA, Mt. Royal!

I haven't heard anything from them.

@savethewolves: how did your interview go? I had a tour of the campus from a first year grad student and she was really happy with the program. She also felt like the proximity to NYC was a huge asset because there were that many more opportunities, not only for exhibiting but for internships in museums and galleries. She had just dropped off work for a gallery show. The program sounds like it is super supportive of whatever style or media you work in. They have a breadth and depth of styles and media with the same in the caliber of their teachers.

refracted light

Hi Payne! I'm still considering going. I'll be out there next week to visit. Can't make the open house due to visiting another school. I didn't get much in the way of funding so I'm not sure I can afford it. But I'm looking forward to my visit. And, yeah, it seems like such a cool program.

Awesome! Good luck! You'll have to let us know how it goes. Are you going in person or over the phone/Skype? I'm going in person since I've never visited the campus.

I was wait listed and now have an interview in a few weeks.

http://www.nyfa.org

I would totally choose Cornell over NYU. Doesn't Cornell have the semester in NYC that you can choose to do? Congrats, btw!

Here's another site to consider, if you are eligible for Income-Based Repayment plans (IBR) or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). For example if you were to end up teaching for a state university, for ten years, the remaining loan amount could be forgiven (I would talk to a loan counselor about this, though): http://www.ibrinfo.org/what.vp.html#eligible

It's going to depend on what you want out of a graduate program. Parson's is much more interdisciplinary and SVA would be focused on painting. (Not that it matters: SVA is ranked 15, Parsons 21 for fine arts and not even rated for painting.) I would recommend visiting both so you can compare. Also look at the teachers who are at each to see who you would prefer to work with. Good luck and Congratulations!

@poorstudent: thanks for your perspective, I really appreciate it.

@twentyeleven: thank you so much for posting the calculator. This is the issue that I am dealing with right now myself. Before I got accepted into any MFA programs, I was willing to borrow whatever it would take to get me what I wanted (the MFA degree). This has been a lifelong goal of mine and I will feel I am letting myself down by not following through. However, accruing that much debt may not be worth the slave to the debt that I will most likely become. For the school that has given me the most money, so far, I would have to borrow $61,000. This does not even include the loans I would have to take out to pay for living expenses. Tacking on that additional amount could end up totaling $100K - $140K. Add the accrued interest, this could total up to $190K. If I were to return to my current job after the MFA, I would have to pay upwards of $1600 month to repay the loans. I would not be able to afford renting a studio space like I do now. This is just ludicrous. Getting an MFA is a total crap shoot in terms of the benefits you will reap after. This is making me think I should look into the low residency programs because I could at least keep my current job and pay for some of it as I go along. Harumph!

I live on the East coast and got my letter on Friday, so you should be getting yours any day now.

Congrats, that's way better than nothin'!

Well, I can tell you, based on SFAI not giving me any funding whatsoever, that 13K/year is awesome. If I were in your same shoes at this point, I would sign on the dotted line. MICA is awesome and lately they've had a number of Fullbright winners. Congratulations!

I just got an email with my "Award Letter" from SFAI. Looks like it's just the amount of student loans I qualify for. Not much of an "Award" if you ask me. Did anyone else get this and have scholarship or grant money added?

Yup, same. I'm just relieved to finally know, felt like I was waiting forever.

Oh, and yes, I'm hoping to attend the open studios on the 10th.

I haven't heard a word from Pratt! I'm really hoping this week I'll hear something!

Congratulations Bonsai! I'm with all of you other CCA's who did not get a merit scholarship and feeling very depressed about the entire expense of it all. Reality is beginning to hit and it seems to be a major major commitment to a life of debt.

When and how did you hear from SVA? and for what program did you apply?

Congratulations! That is so exciting!

Yes, I'm an hour from B'More.