01010101010101101010101010

Any VCU news yet?

Artists, I'm visiting the VCU campus this Saturday for the first time. I'm nervous, I don't know what to ask, how forward to act, etc etc ad nauseam. What pointers can you veterans share to ensure this process goes swimmingly? i.e. I want my first impression to be positive. Thanks folks.

Sounds like you're being treated with a great degree of professional courtesy. loljk Are all hyped schools so clinically dismissive?

The SOP is the single greatest generator of self-doubt I've encountered. I'd rather be told my work is garbage than have to dig into myself and translate the findings into words. The process of writing about art makes me miss actual art making. ;_; My portfolio will be added to/edited up until I click submit. The work I'm making at this time feels more genuine than many of the images currently in my portfolio. Also, I'll be visiting VCU this Saturday. Nerves.

All this time I assumed Indiana University was in: where else? Indiana.

Not if you're using acrylic and painting 10"x10"

What's the consensus on dropping faculty names? e.g. "I was first drawn to your program for the chance to work with So-and-So. Their work has been a huge influence, yadda yadda etc."

I'm interested in learning more about the application waiver, broke as I am. I've convinced myself these are like unicorns.

Thanks for the feedback (and the lulz). I've decided that my earlier draft was much too personal, biographical, and didn't leave enough room to expand on what I'm doing/where things are heading. I think selective honesty might be the key, and finding a way to hook the reader in the opening. What does your hook sound like?

Should the SOP be an opportunity to spill my guts and soul to the grad committee? I'm worried about revealing my true self to these people. I've been told that my way with words can be a little scary, and as much as I don't want to be off-putting, I feel like this is the best way to engage whomever ends up reading this. Reading a few hundred essays has got to become droll quickly for those people. Do we have a responsibility to keep our cards close to the chest? I mean, this isn't a therapy session after all. ...or is it? Fuck.

Painter here, time for MFA round 2. VCU is top priority, applying there for my second time with much stronger work. Fingers crossed.

i will say this with total objectivity: i would probably do terrible things for a fully funded year at VCU. :V

necessity is the mother of invention. have you considered grants to fund your materials? what are these new materials? this is the land of plenty; you'd be surprised what can be had for free. for instance, recycling centers often have free paint. i don't know about stipends, but combing a department to find materials/funds seems pretty ordinary. if you want to go to this school you should probably just shoulder some of the cost. you'll always find a way to track down what you need.

Can we see your site? I know a current UNC MFA candidate and I'm curious to see how your work relates to that department. The faculty are pretty awesome there.

I've got a question for you application grinders. When writing to faculty at prospective schools, is it best to cut right to the point with questions? Or is it wiser to butter up first? Say I'm looking for clarification with the portfolio review panel. Would faculty (who I assume to be busy) rather answer a bulleted list of questions, or do they want a well-written paragraph with a personable tone? I know you only get to make a first impression once, so I don't really want to shoot myself in the foot by appearing excessively frank or demanding. Also, how faux pas is it to send a site link to faculty? "Hey i dig your school, do you feel like looking at my work in your down time? Maybe throwing some knowledge gems my way?"