arthurrussell

I just committed to a program and am finally done with this app cycle! Posting on here useful information for future applicants (especially internationals!) as GradCafe became such a great resource for me throughout this application process. I posted a table from GDocs, but GradCafe made it bold and I can't unbold some of the text for some reason... I applied mostly to interdisciplinary programs that offered full financial support packages (with living stipends), and programs that offered a fee waiver (as application fees get hefty as fuck and internationals are usually ineligible for fee waivers!). If any of you have questions about a specific program/offer, I'd be happy to answer as much as I can. A little bit about me: -did Computer Science in college (but went to a liberal arts school, so I was able to take so many art classes). -graduated in January 2025 and have been doing art/documentary/tech/sculpture projects independently in my home country -Has no big exhibition experiences/art internships, but have really developed a strong, independent body of work with a lot of community engagement. Going into this application cycle I was extremely worried I didn't have a BFA or a strong academic/formal background in art, and that I didn't have any formal exhibition experiences, but my art profs told me the portfolio's the most important thing. I had about 7 projects I included in my portfolio, with photographs of installations/public exhibitions I had, and also video footages for more interactive/media-based installations... Program Fee Waiver? Financial Support Timeline Ohio State University 90$ Tuition + 23K TAship for three years Deadline: Nov 31/Dec 31 Interviewed: 1st week of January Accepted: 3rd week of January UC Santa Barbara 135$ + 10$ Slideroom Tuition + 37K stipend for two years; Can get Chancellor Fellowship (I got one that gives 32K stipend first year without TAing, and 5K for the summer, and a regular TAship the 2nd year) Deadline: Jan 4 Interviewed: Jan 27 Accepted: Feb 3 informal, feb 15 Formal; Fellowship letter March 3 UC San Diego 135$ Tuition + 37K TAship first year; Second year not guaranteed Deadline: Jan 7 Interviewed: Feb 13 Accepted: Feb 21 UMich STAMPS Fee Waived (They have a form for this) Tuition + around 14K stipend for two years; 4500 grant for like an international summer program thingy; Deadline: Jan 3 Interviewed: Feb 9 Accepted: Feb 28 Boston University Fee Waived (Just email program coordinator) 50% Tuition Merit Scholarship Deadline: Jan 19 Interviewed: Feb 13 Accepted: Feb 21 WashU in St. Louis Fee Waived before December 15; 40$ after that Offers financial aid; gave me a guaranteed 50% tuition + TAship 2K per sem; 2 generous fellowships u can apply for; they nominated me for a fellowship (29K stipend per year) but still waiting to hear back about it Deadline: Jan 10 Interviewed: Feb 7 Accepted: Feb 29 Stanford University 125$ + 10$ slideroom Tuition + 44K TAship for 2 years Deadline: Dec 1 Interviewed (initial): Jan 24, notified Jan 30. Final interview: Feb 26 Accepted: March 14 informal/March 24 formal letter CMU Fee Waiver (email someone) Tuition Deadline: Jan 15 Rejected: Feb 28 Northwestern 90$ Tuition + 45K stipend for 2 years Deadline: Jan 6 Rejected: Feb 6 University of Arkansas No Fee Tuition + 16K stipend (not sure) Deadline: Jan 15 Rejected: N/A; They ghosted me, I have not heard anything at all since I applied Other schools that may have full funding packages/fee waivers that are worth checking out: Kent State, UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, UT Austin, UTK, LSU, Notre Dame, Alfred U, Tulane, UNC Chappel Hill, UMissouri, UNLV, Ole Miss. I also just did a lot of boolean searching on Google and on forums; like searching ("MFA" AND "Art" AND "stipend") or some other combination.

Also it’s a bummer that funding constraints have restricted them now to only guaranteeing financial support for the first year (in previous years they gave full 3-year financial support for all students). They give out one of the best stipend rates out there (37,500$), but having no guaranteed support for the 2nd year is a bit concerning… It sucks cause they have amazing and thoughtful and kind faculty members whom I was so excited potentially working with, given my background in tech/art. UCSD also has one of the cheapest campus housing out there (I got nominated for some guaranteed housing program, and the cost would be around 520$ per month).

Received my acceptance to UCSD a few weeks ago, but just wanted to post here to ask other people who also got accepted about the planned change of the program from 3 years to 2? How’s that impacting your decision? Also how’s the logistics of that (are we graduating with last year’s freshman cohort? Or are they also doing only 2 years now?) I’m going on a call with a faculty member next week, so hopefully they can answer my questions, but just wanted to start a discussion here!

Just received my acceptance to BU’s sculpture program! The financial support is only 50% tuition, though, which puts it down my list… Congrats to all who’s gotten great news so far, and good luck to everyone! Everything happens for a reason!

What do you mean photo interview?

I got a quick call from a UCSB prof that they are nominating me for a fellowship 😭😭 This is an informal acceptance, right?? I’m so ecstatic. I was really questioning my life this past year, but I’m glad this whole application period is turning out better than I was dreading. Congrats to all those who have received good news so far, and rooting for everyone! Everything happens for a reason 🙏🏽🙏🏽

What medium for UArk?

Wait I did not get a rejection email from CMU, but I also never got an interview request?

Just received a portal update from Northwestern. Rejected 😭😭

Also I think UCSD just sent interview requests to be held Feb 9-13!!

UMich Stamps just sent out 45-minute interview invites… They also gave a very detailed doc on what the interview is gonna be on, including questions that will be asked.

It seems like BU just sent interview invites this morning (at least for Sculpture) which will be held in the second week of Feb!

Just received an interview invite for the Visual Art MFA WashU St Louis…

Yes the applicant portal, art + tech

Hi! The applicant center specifically, https://gpadmissions.osu.edu/resources/application-status.html

I received an email from a Prof a couple days ago about my acceptance, but now the admission status is reflected on the portal for OSU!! I think they haven’t sent the letters yet, though

Someone here said they got contacted last week… Also based on past threads they typically send out invites around 3rd/4th week of January.

Studio Practice! The interviews are on Jan 22 and 23 — but I don’t know which time slot to pick. I know it doesn’t really matter that much and I might be overthinking it lmao, but I’m international and all the slots will be from 2am-5am in my time zone 😭

I just received an interview request for UCSB and Stanford!

Like 360p resolution — the original photos were 1280p max on one side, same ones I used for all my SlideRoom applications, but for some reason the preview quality on the UC portfolio sections are so low in resolution… I don’t know if this is literally just the preview quality or if it downsized my file into this resolution

Wait I have a quick question about the portfolio section for some of the UC apps -- the image previews for mine look so low in quality, while the video previews are normal. Is this the same for yall? They would still see the images in their uploaded qualities, right?

I'm guessing it might have to do with university-wide fellowship stuff? OSU does the same thing but a lil differently -- like the grad portal application is due Nov 30 for those who want to be considered for fellowships, but the Slideroom component (with the essays and Portfolio aka the bulk of your app) are due Dec 31... Or maybe they just want ample time to screen and collect the materials IDK lmao but it's def taking so looong

Okay, they also said in their website that review would begin mid-January. Did you apply?

Has anyone heard back from Stanford?

It’s great to see more people coming in! I’m a first-time international applicant working in sculpture/new media work. I’m applying to a bunch of schools that offer full-funding w/ stipend, but here are my main targets: -Stanford -UCSB, UCSD, UCSC -OSU -UArk -Northwestern -UMich