justjean

Thanks leee =) Will you have a car or a bike? I've lived in over seven different apartments the last four years so I can definitely help you out. You don't want to live on 3rd Ave S, it's right by the school, but this area isn't safe. You can walk around, but have friends with you. Nearer spy house and bad waitress, this stretch is called eat street and there is more traffic so you will be okay to walk around there. I suggest trying to find an apartment on blaisdell. If you want to be closer, there are apartments available right above spyhouse and right across the street, it's only a block from the school so the convenience is nice and walking near here is safer. Stay away from Washburn Fair Oaks, usually lots of bums sleeping there. Mint Properties owns a few apartments on blaisdell, they're are an okay management company. If you can, get a place in Uptown, it's a better environment and cooler area to live in, 3MIN driving, and you can take a bus to school. If you have any more questions, you can e-mail me =) If you do decide to come to MCAD, let's meet up for some coffee or I can show you around =)

Hi everyone, I'm just finishing my BFA in painting from MCAD and I have been to the Whittier studios a couple times and know some MFA grads. It is a wonderful program, so much that I almost wish I hadn't of came here for my BFA so I could get my MFA here instead. The reason why I love it here is because it is very diverse and encourages concept and multi-disciplinary studies. There is plenty of studio space in the Whittier studios and computers and scanners, etc. It is also mentor based and the professors are very approachable and willing to help, studio visits are a normal routine. There are many great teachers: Howard Quednau, the current fine arts chair, Michael Karaken, Aaron Van Dyke, etc etc. The photo teacher Rik Sferra has been at MCAD for more than 20 years. It's strange that MCAD's faculty work seems commercial to you, but that's understandable. Some of the faculty that I enjoy unfortunately don't have current work up anywhere on the internet. I personally have loved MCAD because although I am a painting major I have switched up mediums and been able to do what I want in my classes to fit the concepts of each piece I work on.

Great News, I got a voicemail saying I've been accepted to MICA and will receive funding. Not sure of the details yet, but I'll be finding out more.

Hi, I was wondering the same things. I have applied to MICA, BARD and SFAI. I was in the final running at MICA but alas didn't make it. I have an interview tonight with SFAI and Bard told me I didn't get accepted a week ago. I'd like to know more from people who have already experienced these programs. There is another another fairly new low residency program at PNCA which I've interviewed for as well.

Thank you so much for your advice. I only have a year left until I'll have to start applying and I feel that with just two posts you've helped to immensely better my chances. =)

Thanks I really appreciate all the advice. I've always known that I want to go to graduate school. I value the academic establishment and to continuously learn and immerse myself in art is my passion. But really no disrespect I don't think that if I want to go or if it's right for me should go is something to discuss. I do want to become a professor, and that is also is rooted to my passion of continuous learning. I really appreciate your advice about entering juried shows. I check daily for these shows on local art sites such as springboard for the arts and mnartists (minnesota based). Do you recommend applying for juried shows outside of the state I'm currently in? I definitely do not feel that show opportunities will just fall in my lap, If I can't find them, I try to make those opportunities for myself. I recently worked with a outreach center for troubled youth and was able to curate a show in their gallery space for my work. I know that this isn't a juried show, but I am a hard worker and I am always looking for the next step up, without someone else's ladder, but my own. =)

Thanks, not getting in because I'm coming straight out of undergrad was worrying me a bit. If the reason for this is experience, are they looking for people who have had a lot of exhibitions? What can I do to get myself to par with the other students applying?

I plan things ahead, maybe sometimes too far in advance and then I get anxiety about it until whatever I'm trying to accomplish is decided and done. I've been thinking about where I want to get my MFA. There are a lot of factors to consider. The ones I seem most concerned about are, am I going to feel safe in the area and will the school I go to have a nice studio and be somewhat interdisciplinary/conceptual/ independent? I also have a dependent little dog named Moxie who is attached to my hip so when I consider moving somewhere for graduate school I consider if the area I live in has apartments that accept dogs (preferably without a monthly pet fee, she's only 6lbs and she's super well behaved!). Schools I've been considering: UCLA (Living in that area sounds the most pleasant and the fact that it's hard to get into makes me want it more.) CALarts Yale Mica (I' not sure about these, the programs sound amazing, but I don't know if I want to live on the east coast)\ Cranbrook (Campus looks pretty, but I couldn't find any apartments that were less than 5 blocks away and it looks so gloomy?) It's also hard because I wont be living in dorms (because of my dog) so I will be driving to school everyday and want to live as close as possible so I don't want to worry about the traffic or neighborhood I live in. I'll be graduating from MCAD with Drawing/Painting. I'm originally from Alaska and I've always lived with the ocean by my side, so california sounds very appealing. What I'm wondering is if I'm interested in these schools? What should I be doing to prepare in terms of my work? Here is my work. Should I have more shows on my resume? It's been hard trying to find places to exhibit here for some reason. Also can anyone reccomend any other schools they feel like I'd be suited for? I was also considering University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota, but I'm not quite sure if I want my resume to show that I never left the midwest.

Does anyone have any more info about their program and their studio situation, Do graduate students get their own and what are they like? It seems very interdisciplinary which I prefer. Here is a link to my portfolio- www.forbirds-studio.net I want a program that is open-minded and that wont focus on mediums, but concepts. I want to be able to teach afterwards so a 3 year program would be nice. I appreciate any advice =)