brosenth1984

you should email that person and find out why you were rejected. I mean, if the chair of the department recommends you, you should at least be waitlisted. Maybe it is a mistake? It can't hurt to ask.

MFA programs are extremely competitive (as i am sure can see on the posting boards by all the rejections), and so from what you are saying, it doesn't seem that she is really ready for an MFA program. Most MFA candidates in painting have done an undergraduate degree in painting, and have spent several years afterwards making paintings before anybody will look at them. Plus an MFA is a terminal degree (like a Ph.D.), and so one really needs to demonstrate that level of commitment before than can be considered by a program (e.g. she needs to be exhibiting places, coming up with all of her own ideas, etc.). If she wants to embark on this new path in life, i would suggest she apply as an undergrad to schools in the area where you are going. All of them have studio art departments, or maybe a certificate program at one of the art institutes or something, at least to get the ball rolling on her work...

i think (although this is late for many) that name-dropping faculty is generally a bad idea. So yeah, you like Kevin Appel, but how does Yvonne Rainier feel about the fact that she is left out. You never know the personalities and "political climate" of the departments, and you could very easily be playing into (and with adverse effects) their own problems. i think statements of purpose should be personal of course, but their needs to be a formality in the presentation of oneself (and an academic one of that). We recently read through a PHD application where I work, and the entire staff was laughing (in a bad way) about the colloquialisms and the "luscious sensuality" of this candidate. because of this, the Harvard degree won't get her in...

sorry Jenmarie, meant to quote the earlier post, obviously, you will be able to get into them, you were early!

you probably won't be able to get into any MFA programs now, but there may be post-bacc programs or certificate programs that you can apply to in the meantime (which you can also get federal aid for by the way...), which will only make your apps stronger next time around

So, i was thinking, for those who are not having much luck in the acceptance department, artist residencies are really helpful (or so i am told) to boost future applications. If anybody has anything they would suggest, it might be helpful for those who need extra lines on the resume (not to mention the precious time to work uninterrupted). i went to Ox-Bow when I was in undergrad on a fellowship and it was a really great experience. the website is http://www.ox-bow.org/ post any you think would be helpful

i have a friend in the same position, the first time around is always the hardest, and you will catch things you didn't see (trust me i did, and the typos i had were outrageous). Have you thought about applying to a bunch of residencies. During the year is the best time to get them since faculty are teaching and can't take them away from young artists, and I know that the schools really like them for apps. Ox-Bow, in Saugatcuk has a connection to SAIC, and SAIC is really into their "connections"...

I agree, sometimes it is glaringly obvious why one doesn't get in. I work in an admissions office (which i must say is the BEST help in actually applying), and we get people who submit papers from 30 years ago, i mean, come on! how could you expect o get into a phd program with that!

sorry Emma, didn't see the other post (kind of confusing layout on this, maybe they should get some of those computer scientists who are already getting those responses from Princeton to do an overhaul). I am a little surprised about the multiple rounds, not because i think it is a bad thing, but mainly because I have never heard of a program doing that (i mean it would be early to reject a place, no)? I wonder if they are accepting in rounds of mediums (like Columbia, versus non-media specific), but because it is a small program they are not doing them simultaneously? The reason I applied to so many schools is that I was flat out rejected from four schools last year, and I really was not expecting to get into anything but Delaware (the program coordinator was a former advisor of mine at Carnegie Mellon). So I figured I would poke around at a lot of places and see who bited. All the programs have varying degree of strength in new media, but my main focus was programs with strong academic components, because I am very interested in theory. I also work in an admissions office for a decorative arts program, and I saw the trend of large applicant pools happening earlier, and i could no stand the idea of working in a 9-5 job any longer and failing to get my own work done! best of luck with your applications.

sorry guys, but the University of Chicago has already accepted people. I received an email on February 9th, and the chair has been in touch with people. Has anybody heard from Berkeley? My field is new genres/multimedia/video, etc. The insane list, and yes i am broke from it all: University of Chicago - Accepted UIUC - Accepted with full funding and stipends, etc. UC Davis - Accepted via online site UIC - nothing yet, but coordinator called my recommender in January UC Irvine - Interview SMFA, Boston - Interview CCA - Phone Interview Northwestern - Interview Hunter - Interview Syracuse - nothing yet Berkeley - nothing... University of Delaware - Nothing...2/15 was deadline USC - Nothing WUSTL- Nothing UCSD - Nothing RISD - Nothing

I think it depends on the program. While we do pay hefty application fees, if we are clearly not good candidates for the program, I think it is a lot to ask faculty to spend more time with our applications to decipher exactly what makes us a bad candidate. Maybe I am less sensitive about rejection, being an artist and all, but for us it could be a number of factors that are very personal and relate to meshing with the group dynamic. I have friends for example from the same undergraduate graduating class that are applying to the same schools, and they can't let everyone in, only one (for diversity's sake). But don't expect them to admit that... For programs that are score-based, i think it is somewhat rational to ask, and i think they should tell you about any bad recommendations you may have (not the names or anything). For all you know you have a professor you think likes you, but has a vendetta against you.