ebihal

it's strange, but it doesn't surprise me. did you interview? i'm wait listed (it took them over a month to decide). but i think someone else on this forum who didn't interview is also wait listed. they seem very disorganized and/or unprofessional.

Bwahahahaha.... Oh man. The more I learn about this program the more I dislike it.

What were the repayment incentives that have been axed?

They seem a bit disorganized. It wouldn't surprise me if some applications were still under review. Many of us have been wait listed, but they don't actually seem to tell you that unless you call to ask. They didn't have a decision on my application until late last week....

I don't think SVA adopts an open admissions policy. I don't think many schools do any longer, but even if they did, I doubt it would apply to graduate programs.

Yeah, Tyler has really good funding. I'm not sure it's unusual at all. The grad students I spoke with there all had funding for TA, for both years, I'm pretty sure. One told me she chose Tyler (partly) for the excellent financial aid they offered. During the interview, a professor asked me if I'd be able to support myself for the first semester, but I don't have any studio art courses at all (so it would be pretty silly to think of me teaching). Granted, Tyler photo is a small department, and my guess is that the other departments are pretty small, too. But it has amazing funding, that's for sure.

it means you're wait listed. if you call the director of admissions, she'll tell you. i'm not really certain if they actually reject any finalists, or just wait list them all.

yep. i'm wait listed at Tyler, too. and kind of furious, actually, that it took them a month and one week to_not_tell_me. i called. i know for a fact that they called to make acceptance offers three weeks ago. i'm going to accept another offer.

So, do you have to call them to get this info? They don't send email notification, or change your application online, or mail a letter?

I also majored in philosophy. I've felt somewhat at a disadvantage not having a BFA, but even more so not having a solid background in studio art at all, really. Did you take many studio art courses in college? Or elsewhere? Or are you self-taught?

Do you mind if I ask, what did SVA offer? Was that part of the acceptance letter or the financial aid package?

They haven't responded to me yet either. I called earlier this week and the director of admissions checked on the status of my application. She said no decision had been made yet. She did say, however, that she had decisions for many of the other finalists already.

Well, that's a bargain. So is SVA the only school that demands $1000 up front??

How much is the enrollment fee for RISD?

If I were you, I'd call VCU and Tyler and let them know you're still interested in their programs but will soon have to make a decision. Ask for an update. Can't hurt. Also, couldn't you ask Cranbrook if you could have until 4/15 to make your decision, since I think that's customary?

I interviewed a month ago at Tyler. Since I haven't heard anything, I called admissions today. It turns out they've already made decisions about most photo MFA candidates. But not me. They have no info about my application. Weird.....

When would you hear about the partial tuition waiver? Do they mention that in the acceptance letter, or does that info come later?

I was accepted to the photo MFA program, but my acceptance letter didn't have even a word about financial aid in it. I'm worried that that's because it's all loans.....

has anybody heard anything about financial aid at SVA?

Was the email from the admissions office or someone in the painting department?

Hey noahfur, congrats!! How did you hear?

wait a minute. you got into RISD, CCA, SAIC, and SVA, all with funding, and you're dying over there?? is your heart set on CalArts? also, i'd be curious to know what kind of funding you got from SVA. did they notify you of financial aid in the acceptance email?

I know this probably doesn't make you feel any better right now, but you're not alone in having to reapply next year. Many people apply 2, 3, sometimes even 4 times. The whole process is so unbearably subjective. You could ask how you could strengthen your application for next year. They might be able to provide some feedback.

CalArts is #4. SVA is #6. Not really a wide gap there in terms of ranking. Does CalArts offer good financial aid? For whatever reason, I thought both schools offered little aid. Do you want gallery representation in NYC or LA (Valencia is not that far away)? Which program do you like more? Can you compare your expected student loan debt at both programs? Is there a big enough difference for that to be a deciding factor?

I don't think MassArt tells applicants when they've been wait listed. Not sure why. And I've heard of people being accepted to SMFA late in the game (without even interviewing). So you never know. When I called MassArt to check up on the status of my application 3 weeks after interviewing, they literally wouldn't tell me a thing. Not until they were ready. I wasn't rejected, but not exactly happy with their offer either.