brown06

I'll see what these next couple of weeks hold but I am seriously considering at this point holding out until next year and going for my top choice with a much stronger portfolio. I haven't been rejected from it yet (fingers crossed), but I feel so conflicted about the accepted schools IDK.

"Graduates of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are also ineligible for their college’s post-bac program. “They should already be prepared to compete at the M.F.A. level,” says André S. van de Putte, director of graduate admissions there. The institute also prefers graduates of liberal arts colleges over graduates of professional art schools. “Our program is meant for someone who has not been immersed in an art school environment,” he says. Three-quarters of its post-bac students eventually enter its M.F.A. program." If you want to spend the money sounds like a good back door entrance to the school. IDK your background but FWIW I am doing a post-bacc at Brandeis but I chose it partly bc it was half the cost of others out there and we are the schools entire focus so we get all the attention, studios, visiting artists visits, etc. I also did it bc i didnt have a background in art during my time at college. Warning: I am biased against SAIC, seems to me its very industry and $$$$ oriented. just my 2 cents

Hmm so even with a great exhibition record my choice of a lesser known school could limit my teaching profession? I am looking for an education, the best one for me. The question is would that be lots of attention in a tiny unknown program in the middle of nowhere while I get to teach upper level courses, or at a busier and larger well known school with high standards? the plot thickens..

Good points, would you say you were right about SAIC being into brown-nosing like you thought it might? Potential for grants and residencies and gallery representation is a big concern for me, 2nd only to swallowing insane debt. I guess its hard for me to grasp the full differences in opportunities, focus, instruction, and culture looking from the outside in.

Aww thanks Mick that was so nice and very helpful. I am definitely torn on location, I love faculty at both, im not sure about $$$ yet. I am getting very enthralled with the idea of being sought after for who i currently am as an artist but is that the best thing for my work and my future? idk....

When given the choice between being top pick at a smaller unknown school with tons of personal attention and $$$, or being 1 of the many at a larger top ranked school, what are thoughts on this?

anyone hear anything from ucla painting yet?

cady do you mean ucsb or ucla? I havent heard from ucla ( I WISH). I joke every day that UCLA is spamming my phone and begging me to come...the phone is eerily silent... I heard from ucsb a couple weeks ago, informal rejection from a professor, no letter or anything, I dont think theyve sent out the formal rejections yet.

r mutt my interview at Yale is the same day as yours but we are diff departments so prob wont run into one another, good luck tho!

sorry not lololauren but lamouchemorte i was replying to.

MassArt has a great department, I worked with Roger tibbets who heads up the place last semester, he is AWESOME. To answer lololauren, no we have a much better chance of getting rejected after the interview than getting in. I think the odds of acceptance for us now linger around 30%. Ive spoken with countless people in my program (professors and previous students) who have gotten interviews and been rejected. Hard part isn't over.

Totally giving way to stress, Joy please return and take away impending panic attack

Got an interview at Yale!! I was taken by surprise how excited I was. I also thought I definitely didnt get in since I only received an email prompting me to check my status.

ah i can see that, it was quite a big investment for such crummy acceptance rates and an even more "dismal" job outlook after. thank god I dont care if I die penniless.

TheZane did they say why?? THinking this economy being as bad as it is most i thought would rush into graduate school...

Updated my website and my work, bummed that some of these pieces werent around when my dec/Jan deadlines happened. Comments appreciated! www.Doraeliaruiz.com

where is your interview at Lovelypainter?

Kazoo you don't sleep

Thanks Kazoo! Good luck on your end as well. Outwest I agree with you, I was looking at the recipients of the Joan Mitchell Foundation award and most were not from top ranked schools. In the end what matters is the work and your own personal drive. Like Michael Webster said, some schools probably do by virtue of who they attract to teach and be taught have more to offer but going to BFE isn't saying "Im not a serious artist and I have no ambition" it just means your path will be probably more self-guided. I still think each one on my list has unique qualities that would help me grow as an artist regardless of their rankings.

He doesnt like the location of some of them (he believes I should stay up east due to its museums, collections, and "culture") and strongly thinks I should only look into the top 10 and that looking further than that is lacking ambition and that i shouldn't fuss about funding situations either and go to the best ranked school regardless. we argue. often. but he's a gem and has helped my work immensely so I take his advice and listen

thanks, thats actually hilarious bc my advisor HATES my range choices, it's been an uphill battle selecting these but I'm happy with it and I'm the one who has to live with it, so...

to quote 30rock. Jack --" We may not be the best people" Tina Fey--"But we're not the worst" Unison "Grad students are the worst"

Jesus Berto what did they do?

well stated outwest and hopedreampaint, about the dismal comment, my friend and I (who are both applying this year) thought it was extremely unprofessional and inconsiderate esp when he's a part of the review process.

Heard back (somewhat) from a school, they just wanted me to finish up my rec providers so they could tell me their decision. Their deadline isn't for a bit but I guess they already reviewed my portfolio. They said they were very interested in my application and that I showed a lot potential and they enjoyed viewing my work. So fingers crossed! I know ppl will ask but I'd prefer not to say what school just yet. good to hear back actual feedback from a school esp after UCSB rejection.