OutWest

@berto: "...the application program online is as old as the internet..." Lololol...right? Hang in there buddy. It's amazing how all this crapola comes together at the right moment and gets done. Just like in the work world! @all of the Grad schools we've all applied to: Let's roll. We love you lots, but we can't stand not knowing what we are going to be doing or where we are going to be for the next two+ years

"We argue. Often. But he's a gem..." Lolol...I know the type Ambition can be found in only one place, and that's in one's head. You could go to BFE University, and if you had ambition and drive, you could make something happen, especially in this day and age. And, let's face it, while one is being ambitious (and lucky) with one's talent, it's quite nice not to have 100K in debt hanging over one's head...good that you didn't take that bit of his advice concerning $. Best of luck on your apps!

Nice wide range is a good thing. I'm all for casting the net wide and far. Interesting, why does your advisor hate your range of choices?

First off, this Forum is not Grad school. The psychodramatic circus will be coming to town in Aug/Sept for the people that get accepted for Fall. Let's not start it early is the only point. And, I prefer it when it is "in my face" (I've been through a few critiques, so I know what they're like), rather than in a large online forum. Point being, this is "happy time" for those of us that have applied and are really excited to hear back from the schools we've applied to (UCSB included!). We don't want to grow our hard shells just yet.

Ok No problem! But, per your initial comment when you first started this Forum/post: "...and to be completely honest, our applications were pretty dismal this year (minus a few in my opinion)" That sounds like you saw the all the applications!

@Curious: 1) I, for one, was not taking anything personally, nor was I "putting two and two" together. That's a projection (I have neither gotten a call from UCSB, nor have I been rejected as of yet). My only point was, given the nature of this Forum, picking one's words with a bit more sensitivity goes a long way (at this stage of the art world game, with all sorts of sensitive egos, young minds, etc, being as cordial and even nice as possible does a world of good). 2) I'm totally on your side about the whole "UCSB is commercial" thing. It's bollocks. 3) The work at UCSB looks cool Keep it up!

Hahaha, bring ON the cocky Grad student psychodrama! I'll eat 'em for lunch, lololol

The comment was out of line, but I think he (?) backtracked on it in the above comments... But, it IS nice to see somebody excited about that particular program because, like we can see from the view of it taken by people such as HopeDreamPaint's connections, it doesn't really get the love that it deserves. Hopefully that will change in the future!

Yeah, I have some "heavy hitters" (one's solidly at the top of the gallery scene in LA) here at my current university, myself, and they think UCSB is a fine program, and has some highly regarded practitioners teaching (though, of course, it isn't in the league of the UCLA's, USC's, etc, but I don't think it is trying to compete with such schools). So, perhaps our respective "super stars" cancel themselves out? Regardless, the program there is the furthest thing from "commercial", so I am going to have to vehemently disagree with your sources. Best of luck to you (and the rest) too!!

Any time between now and April So, you might want to contact the departments to which you applied and give them alternate contact info (parents, friends), or allow alternate people to check your email and answer your phone, before you leave. Otherwise, you'll get left behind if the schools don't hear from you.

@HopeDreamPaint: Commercial??? I'd love to know who your "heavy hitters" are that think UCSB grad art is "commercial"...and, considering that there are a number of excellent research centers at UCSB (MAT, Film and Media, Literature, etc), the University as a whole is far more than simply a "party school", which is more realistically reserved for the undergrad scene... And, anyway, the Faculty that I'm interested in (since I am a "new genre" person), such as Laurel Beckman, Lisa Jevbratt (among others), could hardly be called "commercial" (!!) when they are exhibiting at the Whitney... @Curious12345: I have to agree that your opinion that the work from people applying to your program was "dismal" (I'm assuming you were/are helping out with the adcom?) was not very considerate seeing that you are posting to this Forum. It is best to keep such opinions to oneself, especially when everyone is stressing out about being accepted...

I'd call the department asap. But, I'd also go with whatever Slideroom says is the deadline since they (the University) have to input the correct/actual date when they sign up for Slideroom...point being, you can be more sure Slideroom would be correct rather than some webmaster/typo on the CMU site. Call them Monday! Best of luck

Lol, fast forward to August/September! Best of luck, caus

Understood, but, yes, I wouldn't sweat it if you apply again next round (though, I'll bet you get into one of your places this time!); send in your best work regardless...I'm currently at UCSD (a school that is at the same selectivity level as UT-A), and having talked to many a Grad student here over the last three years, there definitely seems to have been a wide approach as to what people submitted as samples to get in. The stated "requirements" seem to generally be a "wish list" of sorts as to what they'd like to see, but if you bend the rules a bit, and they like your work, it shouldn't be a problem. Best of luck Josholas!

??? - I would have just sent them your best pieces, regardless of when they were made...at least within reason (within 5 years). It was worth the shot as long as MOST of your pieces were new(er). I mean, if they like your work, they like your work, right? I'm willing to bet they wouldn't be so silly as to reject you outright simply because a piece was 3-5 years old (!)...

Sounds like (in another Topic) people are starting to hear back from UCSB art department since at least yesterday...I have not, which kind of bums me out because it is wonderfully interdisciplinary and has insane funding (free ride with about 24K/year to live off of)...

Hi, yes, I def. applied to UCSB because it has, as you mentioned, excellent funding (an understatement), terrific resources (fine overall research university, connections with the MAT program, awesome Film Studies and other intellectual/departmental connections ,etc), and highly interdisciplinary in nature (a boon for a "new genres" person such as myself). As far as the program having a high profile with "recruiters", et al, no. It doesn't seem to be promoted like places such as CalArts, etc., but I don't expect it to be. Mainly, I found out about it through other artists (MFA's mainly, at my current university, UCSD) who all recommended it as a place to apply. So, I hope my application was not one of the "dismal" ones...

The schools will let you know if you're missing anything for sure (I've had three remind me about this or that item, and it got sent to them, or it was found, without any hassle, even though it was a day or two after the deadline). They are on it...plus, if a school is that absolutist about one item being a tad tardy, then they don't say anything, and then they reject you, you probably don't want to go there anyway...Seriously though, it behooves schools to be nice about all of this, least they are seen as being draconian...the dates are just there to give some sort of structure...we are artists after all, and notoriously "flighty"

Indeed, I have nothing against SUNY-Buffalo (looks plenty good to me, and I have a friend who is a video artist that came out of that program and she's awesome), but I was only using it as an example of schools that are not Yale or RISD, or etc. By putting the words "nowhere" and "ranking" in quotes, I was alluding (perhaps unsuccessfully) that all of that ranking stuff is nonsense. It seems many people just go for the obvious "awesome" schools thinking that they are going to be some kind of meal ticket, when it fact it is, 98% of the time, completely up to you as to how successful you are going to be (and 2% luck). There are many "boonies", or "low ranking", schools that have very interesting people...I love Univ of Chicago (and Mills and UCSB) because of a certain professor there, and I didn't bother to apply to SAIC because there wasn't anyone who really interested me. Plus, UChicago gives excellent funding (along with Mills and UCSB, and...). SAIC, not so much...same goes for schools like Arizona State, which has an excellent program. Or, San Jose State Univ, or... You get the idea

You know what is interesting about the whole "ranking" thing? There are more than a few fantastic artists to come out of "nowhere" schools. Take Cindy Sherman for instance. She went to Univ of Buffalo-SUNY, which, due to it's low ranking (somewhere around #76 in the (in)famous US News rankings) puts it in the "nowhere" category. And, well, she's done pretty well for herself. Likewise, many mediocre artists (or ones not able to continually make art due to any number of reasons) have graduated from the likes of Yale, Copper Union, RISD, etc...just look at the statistics/ratio of grads vs teachers. Point being, there have been amazing artists that have gone on to do great, genre bursting work and it didn't matter if they went to Boonies U. or Yale, they "made it" regardless. It's the commitment one has towards one work (and the ensuing success) that matters, and that is what is more likely going to get you a teaching position, not simply where you went.

Yeah, a few schools have some strange procedures probably because some of them are finally getting hip to the Slideroom. But, truthfully, if you really like the school, just send your Rec peoples an "I'm sorry for the bother..." email and I'm sure they'd be happy to upload it again. Rec people have seen it (and done it) all before

I'm not a painter, but I attended their admissions "Open House" on Friday and, yes, there are a LOT of painters that apply (though a good mix of students were represented in the current student body and ranged from media to performance). Also, it should be mentioned that there are 8 spots for 500+ applicants which puts it in the "ridiculously hard to get in" category. Though, that should not stop anyone if some of their excellent faculty interest you. It's a very fine program and has excellent funding (last year, 100% of tuition was covered and a $1000/month stipend was offered). Best of luck to those that are applying!

Well, it sounds like you answered your own question! I was looking into the same schools as you for film studies (have since decided to pursue an MFA first), and one's chances of getting in seem to be significantly correlated to the general thrust of the department...for instance, Berkeley has people that are quite interested in Slavic film, early cinema, American Studies (Kristen Whissel), and they just picked up the fantastic theorist Mary Ann Doane from Brown (she started Brown's MCM prog, so you know Berkeley's is going to really begin to shine even more so). They also have significant interests in "new media"... So, point being, if your interests seem to jive with the faculty research descriptions, you know you'll at least get a look, right? Best of luck!

You should look into Fee Waivers. I've gotten a couple schools to waive fees because I am a poor student

:) Understood! Since you have been involved in a consistent practice for awhile, this makes complete sense. I wish you the best of luck...and, hopefully, you won't become "a regular" on here, lol