cd3

hey albinoslugs, did you by chance interview with a photography portfolio? I had three men do my interview as well, all very cold and intimidating. I walked out feeling exactly as you did! I did hear that they are accepting 80 people, I didn't know if that was their norm or not.

I know exactly what you mean about seeing that pretty little 212 area code Definitely going with Hunter! Congrats to you too!

Folks waiting on Hunter - I got a call today from David Bohl letting me know I was accepted to the program! SO EXCITED! Good luck to everyone!!!

Hunter, anyone? Still silence? Sheeeeesh.

I just found out that CCA is offering me $10,500 per year in scholarship. The scholarship covers 1/3 of the tuition costs, that still leaves me with $40k in debt. It's a decent scholarship, but I wish it were more. If I get into Hunter, I'll be going there over CCA, primarily due to the cost. Does anyone know how useful it is to try and negotiate on scholarship? To tell the school, "if you can't offer me more, I need to go to __ instead"?

I couldn't take it any longer, so I just called the grad dept to ask when they would be notifying us, and how. The woman wasn't entirely specific, but she said we should hear by the end of the week (and most likely by phone if it's an acceptance) - and that she assumed rejection notices would too be finished by the end of the week, some email, some postal. So basically it's nothing that I didn't already assume, but it eased my anxiety for a few minutes, at least.

Summoning the 212....

It is for me! Though you probably knew that. I remember during the art history / Thomas Weaver part of the interview day, him saying they would decide Wednesday, and that we should hear back within one to two weeks. I imagine rejections will come via post, and acceptances probably over the phone or email?

mtung, I had the same experience with Hunter! I was interviewing for photography, and they asked me many questions about influences from other disciplines, and many questions just felt like traps. It did not feel like a conversation, but more like a gun to my head. I don't think I bombed any of the questions, but who knows what they thought.

Thanks canfac and jkroman. I hadn't thought this would be negotiable, but I will try to get in contact with Charles directly to see if in fact it is. The letter states, "Whereas we find you to be a promising candidate, the Committee feels that you require broader knoweldge of the history of photography in order to be able to work effectively on the graduate level." I'm sorry, but I've taken about 20-30 credits of art history work, several of which classes were in the history of photography, so I'm not going to spend an entire year re-learning this information.

My thoughts exactly, brosenth1984. Here's hoping my Hunter interview went well enough that I'll be in a program, which in its entirety, would be the equivalent of 1 semester at SVA.

Does anyone know much about SVA's graduate student at large program? I just got postal acceptance, but am slightly miffed at being accepted into this 3 year program, so that I can "catch up"? I really can't imagine justifying 3 years at probably $30k.

hey helenforsdale, I don't have a contact w/Columbia (though I wish I did!). I think that was someone else in the forum. There's nothing wrong with a little prolonged hope though

Did anyone else apply to SVA? Or know if they do interviews? I can't find any postings from this year, or years past, where someone was interviewed. Strange.

I received a phone call on Monday from the person who I had an interview with.

hey ssap, when/how did you hear back from CCA? I had an interview with them on the 21st, which I thought went really well, but haven't heard back yet. I'm doing photo. A friend of mine used to work at CCA and she said they are pretty progressive in terms of ideas, equipment, and structure. She also said they have good "community".

canfac, I'm sorry to hear about Hunter, but good luck with your interview tomorrow at Parsons. I think I am going to assume that since they didn't call for an interview, that I'll be getting an ol' reject letter soon. ah, well. alspants, as far as interviewing at Hunter goes - a friend of mine in the program said they asked her (last year) fairly basic questions - tell them about yourself in general, talk about your works and work process in general, inspiration, where do you see yourself in the world of art history (I love that one), what do you read, why Hunter, why an MFA, etc. She said it was pretty friendly (but that may just have been because they liked her so much). As for Columbia, I haven't heard anything about their interviewing process.

Thanks for the SVA thoughts canfac - their faculty list is absolutely impressive, and I agree that you see a LOT of SVA students graduating with a good amount of "attention" in publications, shows, commercial work, etc. Plus, I just like a lot of the student work I've seen. I guess I've felt a little skeptical becuase I have also heard they accept larger numbers, and wondered if that lack of selectivity reflects poorly? Columbia acceptance rates are totally depressing. When I met with their admissions director for a tour, the first thing out of her mouth was, "We've got the toughest acceptance rates in the country." Greeeat.

That's awesome, I love Jerry! and the ICP darkrooms. He encouraged me to apply to SVA for their masters program, do you have any opinions on it?

Thanks for the update on Columbia, canfac! Let's hope they start making some initial decisions soon. At ICP you end up studying under a lot of different faculty, but my two primary mentors turned out to be Robert Blake (for crits) and Jerry Vezzuso (color printing). It was a good overall experience, albeit an expensive one. Have you taken classes there?

hey canfac, thanks, yeah I agree, Parsons is doing interesting work. I met a guy who is nearly finished with the program and he basically said the same thing - that it's an interesting, developing program that is young, and has some of the growing pains that go along with that. That said, he seemed very pleased with his experience there. I got my BA in creative writing at the Univ. of Washington - and then spent a year at ICP in their general studies certificate program. I have been worried that not having a BFA would hurt my chances getting into MFA programs. I'll find out soon enough I guess :!: good luck to you!

hey canfac, yes I'm doing photography too, and got an interview with Hunter. they contacted me via phone last week, the 21st. Like you, I applied to Parsons and Columbia as well. haven't heard from either. congrats on Parsons!

So do we have a sense of when Columbia is notifying people of interviews? I'm so antsy I can't stand it.

thanks julieopp - yeah I think the last thing I'll feel will be overlyconfident going into that interview good luck to you!