RKSim

I just got off the waiting list at Portland State University for their Social Practice program. They would like to know in a week if I will take the spot.. no financial aid, but TAs and GAs. And I still have an interview to do at a school in Europe.. hmmmm.

A friend of mine is graduating from University of Washington medical school this June, one of the top med schools in the country, and coming out of school after 8 YEARS (with a medical degree..!) with around $100k in debt, and he lives very, very comfortably off his loans. As soon as he graduates he will be moving to do a residency for 4 years, making $45k a year (or so) off the get go. In 5-10 years money won't matter for him anymore. He laughed when I said that SFAI without funding would cost around $100k (living + tuition).

I just got rejected as well.. I'm not sure if the email is generic or not.. Probably just sent from different review committees? I like that it doesn't even say the part about 'strong work' or applying next year. Considering they had over 2000 applicants that means they brought in $90K from apps alone. And the acceptance rate was 3.25 %.. Oh well. On to the next.

I've gotta say my opinion on this has changed rather drastically after being faced directly with the option of going into substantial debt for my degree. I've only been accepted by SFAI so far, though I am on three wait-lists and I'm submitting late apps to 1 or 2 more schools. This board has definitely changed my opinion about art schools and what program might be best for me.. though everything here is arguable. A mentor of mine brought up some very valid points that I hadn't considered in great detail. He feels that larger urban centers can be prohibitive of productivity for space and financial reasons, and he also mentioned to think about how productive I would be if I was anxious and nervous about a looming debt. He also mentioned to consider the stigma and reputation that ivy league and private schools have, which are often associated with your MFA. On varying scales this only contributes to the commercialization of the art industry, when the work becomes good because the MFA is from Yale (though this is a valid precursor to an extent), rather than the work being good because it's good. Personally, I've noticed how conversational my work can be, and one of the things that I would like to develop during my education is my unique and personal voice. Being in a hyper-influencing urban center may or may not be detrimental toward developing this voice. This ties in to the stigma that an MFA lends in that I would rather have an objective association with my MFA/school, rather than my degree painting a picture in one way or another. Granted, a lot of this has come from thinking about the reputation that I feel SFAI has. I have heard negative things from countless people in the art community about their finances, administration, 'shock art,' trust fund kids, etc.. to the point that I almost withdrew my application. Now how ironic is it that the school I invested the least interest in has been the only one to accept me? Anyway, where this has brought me is what will people think when they see SFAI on my CV? Is this going to be productive to my personal goals as an artist? Anyway, a lot of my opinion has also changed with the reality of doing an MFA for free becoming much more apparent. I'm a resident in Montana, and I could do an MFA there for $3500 per semester, the living is cheap, and the studios are great. I also have citizenship in the EU, where school seems much more affordable, with much more assistance. I am also already around $45k in debt, so adding to the stack has become much less appealing the closer I get to enrolling at a school. With all the research I've done it seems like doing an MFA for free is very probable if I play my cards right. At this point unless I get a substantial financial aid package from a school, It's much more likely that I will take another year and reapply with a completely new strategy. Now granted, this is all completely subjective to my work and my goals, which are very non-commercial. Ultimately, the same mentor I mentioned above told me to "follow my work" before anything else. So if there is anything to be learned from all of the rambling I did above, it's that another year is only an opportunity, and that if you want to get an MFA for free, you probably can.

I was just re-reading this post.. does this mean you got rejected or you haven't heard anything?

Though this may be unlikely, before you just give up on them, see how much you can haggle out of the financial aid department. If you've got nothing to lose than call them and say "well, I really can't attend unless I get full funding." Worst case scenario leaves you in the same position as you are currently..

summer. It was a rather quick response too. I sent in my application maybe 2 weeks ago.

Just got a rejection from OX-Bow today via email.

From my understanding of the British degree system, an MA is in fact a lesser and different degree than an MFA. MAs are typically one year degrees, where as MFA are more intensive 2 year degrees that are offered at fewer schools. The only school in the UK that I can think of off the top of my head that offers the MFA is Goldsmiths, though I'm sure there are a few other schools as well.

Hey Guys, I'm not sure if it will be this easy at every school, but I just called SFAI to ask for an extension for my intent to enroll. She put me on hold for a few seconds, and then told me if I get it in by MAY 1st it should be fine. This makes my situation 200000% more stress free, as I am wait-listed for three schools, and I'm submitting a late app to one or two more as well. So.. if any of you are stressing about this, as I was, call and ask! Best of luck to everyone! First person to make a decision on where they are going should start that thread! :mrgreen:

My final count is killing me. Here is the list in order of preference: CCA: Waitlisted PNCA: Waitlisted Portland State: Waitlisted SFAI: Accepted No rejections though, right?! :mrgreen: It's all a poker game from here I suppose.

You guys have it easy! I am on the waiting list at my top three schools, and my 4th pick accepted me. hahaha. Though, on the bright side, I haven't been rejected yet. I sent letters to each school letting them know that I am still interested and would like to remain on the waitlist. I also had another reference call in to one of the schools.

http://sfaistudentaction.pbwiki.com/ http://www.sfai.edu/Publication/Dialogue.aspx Is anyone going to risk SFAI?

Update: Just got accepted to SFAI, for the sculpture program, though I applied to New Genres.. :| I recently moved and my mail is being forwarded from my old address. This letter was mailed from SF on the 12th. Now I have a week from Monday to make my decision. I've got to call CCA on Monday to see if they sent a letter as well. This is a pickle because SFAI is at the bottom of my list... I'd much rather go to PNCA or CCA, and PSU would be cheaper... After all the anxiety the situation only thickens!

They're torturing me now. PNCA: Waitlisted (find out by the end of April) PSU: Waitlisted (indefinitely) SFAI: 'packet' still in the mail CCA: no word. AHH! :roll:

Maybe ask for more time to decide and simply explain your situation? It might just work...

For what it's worth: SFAI, New Genres: I received an email today that said they sent my admissions decision packet yesterday. I am crossing my fingers that the term packet might imply acceptance, vs the standard form letter that they send to rejects. (Though I was never contacted to interview, so who knows..) PSU, Social Practices; Waiting List update: I received a letter in the mail yesterday (3/12) that was written on March 3rd, but only sent on the 10th. It basically said the same thing as an email I received on February 22nd, that I was on the waiting list. It mentioned that they typically accept several people from the waiting list, and to contact them if I was still interested. I have been busy this morning writing my response. CCA, Social Practices: For what it's worth, I did some internet sleuthing and saw that someone from the architecture department at CCA was looking at my personal website as recent as Tuesday, 3/10. It was an adjunct professor that has an independent architecture firm in SF. Perhaps he is on the review board. And for any of you that haven't heard back, I have managed to convince myself that the schools I haven't heard back from yet are taking extra time because they are deliberating an awesome financial aid package. Stay optimistic!

I haven't heard anything from Skowhegan yet, I got rejected from the Guandu Sculpture Festival a few days back.. that would have been fun.. It said on the Skowhegan app that they let you know in April. Obviously the residencies that offer funding are more competitive, but I applied to a residency in France through Artistay.org and got accepted, though I have to find funding for it if I choose to go. Other than that there are bunch of rolling deadlines like CLUI, ElsewhereElsewhere, Art Center South Florida, Art Croft, and the Exploratorium in SF. Ox-bow's deadline is coming up on the 20th, and Art Farm is on the 15th.. I didn't apply to VSU because I want to do a three month program..

Short answer: YES! Long: A friend/advisor told me at the beginning of the application process that he typically advises students to apply to more schools than necessary in order to try and line up a good financial aid package to use as leverage at the school they really want to go to. It's all a bargaining process. Don't forget how much money you are going to pay to go to school. Along with the fact that the school wants your money! Make THEM beg for it.

Either way.. congrats on Ohio w/full funding! I am doing a show in 2010 with 2 grads from Ohio that are currently doing some very interesting work.

How have you guys been hearing back from CCA? I'm frakin anxious.. they're my number one pick right now..

I view funding a career no worse or different than funding a house with a mortgage. One of my undergrad degrees was a Business Management degree though, so I might have a different perspective of financing things in general. The rules of thumb that were reinforced, especially in finance classes, were 'more risk more return,' and also that to fund an entrepreneurial idea (such as becoming a professional artist), you can either finance it and work full time towards your career, or you can work on the side for much much longer and have less opportunity for success. As funny as it is to say in these troubling economic times,, the American dream is built on debt. Obama's Bailout philosophy is to spend more money now to create greater earnings later.. transfers over to the two basic principals mentioned above. And especially with us 'creative' folk, start doing some 'creative' financing..! Or you can be like one of my good friends, and run away from $100K + of debt by moving to South Korea to teach English. Also, don't forget the intangible benefits/costs of the MFA. Personally, I would much rather be broke and happy, pursuing something that I'm incredibly passionate about, rather than making a lot of money and being miserable. After grad school I worked full time (at an art museum nonetheless!) and was completely miserable. After 8-9 hours of work every day, and a few more hours at band practice, I had no energy/time to do anything else. I Quit my job, lived off savings and credit (still am) and pursued an art career and MFA programs.. I have a crazy goal of never working a 'day-job' again. :mrgreen:

I veered on safety and wore my nicest suit : D So far I've had two interviews; CCA and Portland State University. CCA turned into much more of a conversation/discussion than an interview, which I think was a good thing. My interviewer wasn't reading questions off of any kind of list, and as a matter of fact, I asked the first question..! PSU didn't go as well.. Sunday Morning/middle of moving out of my house/mind was definitely not in articulate art talk mode.. showed up and interviewed in front of two faculty members along with the 12-15 students in the program! (Very intimidating) The two questions that I wasn't prepared for were: How will you contribute to this program? What do you do for fun? (I stopped in my tracks, like a deer in headlights. Told them that I hadn't been doing ANYTHING except working on my MFA apps for the past two months.. and then told them about my plans for the following month as an example)

Hi All, I thought I'd join the club.. the anxiety is killing me.. Here are my schools, programs, and status: CCA: Social Practice: Interviewed last month and waiting! (I flew down to interview in person and also to visit the program.. the interview went very well) Portland State University: Social Practice: Interviewed at the end of February. WAITLISTED! Somewhat confused though.. I got an email the evening after my interview which said I was waitlisted for the program and that they would notify me within 1-3 weeks if there was room, as they only accept 6 applicants (I made the top 12). Do they expect their top 6 candidates to notify them by mid March if they are going to attend the program? Seems quick.. Pacific Northwest College of Art: Visual Arts/flexible mentor based program) no word yet.. the app deadline was only on February 15th though. SFAI: New Genres: Nothing yet I chose to apply only to schools in the Pacific Northwest as I feel that the region and environment is paramount to my current practice.. most recent work here: www.rksim.com