susanbanthony69

A little off-topic but, if you are awarded scholarships, fellowships, etc but not going to the school's program, is this something that you cannot ethically add to your resume? My initial guess would be that you have to be in the program to really have 'received' the award. Just curious...

I declined my offer for MassArt's 2d program, good luck for anyone on the waitlist...

From what I know, the Hunter people have been notified. The rest I'm unsure...

Recieved admission to MassArt via e-mail about an hour ago - with funding that is virtually non-existant. I'm kind of kicking myself for applying to these schools in Boston, BU and MassArt aren't helping at all when it comes to funding. If anyone is waitlisted for these I'm definitely sure I'm not interested. I can see brown06's point to an extent about re-applying to a range of schools that may be better for her work for the next round (I don't see the point in re-applying to a program you are happy with and accepted in though). If you don't have a good gut feeling about something, give it a little while and then re-asses. Now all I'm waiting on is Tyler, and at best I think they waive tuition for one year.

Within some of the same realm, I've been into this person lately: http://www.flickr.com/photos/josebaeskubi/page12/

I'm familiar with the work of another one of her peers from Toronto, from the looks of it they have an excellent BFA program there.

It's kind of a strange coincidence because I stumbled upon this same person's work within the past week and I'm from the midwest. I really like her work.

This is their snake-like way of striking fear into their herd of applicants, I'm sure they're working from a loop-hole as this "deposit" goes towards your studies. Just the beginning of their ritual of milking you financially if you ask me. On a side but similar note, did any other BU acceptances get little to no funding? brown06, you were so right. I was under the impression that they had some decent funding packages and teaching positions to cover tuition. They even want me to reserve my position by April 1 with a $200 down payment similar to the likes of PAFA and NYAA. What a low blow, I'm officailly turned off.

What you said in one sentence precisely explains my position on these schools, '...a niche market of traditional representational painting, but no so well respected in the mainstream art world'. Thanks losemygrip.

First off sorry to offend whoisit, it's not my intention. I decided to bring up the issue because I was in a similar situation. Last year I applied to three schools, one of them being PAFA (which I was in love with at the time). I flew out there two different times, once to initially visit and the other to attend the open house. The first time I visited, I was blown away with seeing Kanevsky's work in person, being led around the enormous facilities, and talking with other graduate students and faculty members I felt that I had a lot in common with (and idolized throughout my undergrad). It was my dream school, and as it turned out PAFA ended up being my only acceptance, and was offered a merit scholarship of something like $7k a year I think. I was convinced that I was going to accept and go there and make something of myself, and the debt wouldn't matter because I would have an MFA from PAFA and that could open doors in the art world. I then attended the open house to make sure it was something I really wanted. This time around I was able to see the school without being blinded by infatuation. They bring in 50 new hopefuls a year(and by hopefuls I mean people that were like me looking for a kickass Figurative school with a capital 'F'), they charge them out the ass, and then you are sent packing. A face among the many in the crowd, and before anyone retorts saying that, "You have to SHINE out of the crowd!" give me a break, no shit. This is a very crude way of stating it, but it is still my conclusion. Check the place out on your own, but don't be blinded by infatuation. When I turned down PAFA's offer in early April, I immediately started doing research on several schools, writing, and painting non-stop because I was determined to find a program that would be the right fit. Again, I have no intention in offending, I just think it's wise to think about it, really THINK about what that kind of debt can do to a person in economic times like these. There are programs out there flying under the radar that most don't even know about (UCSB for instance, we all read that thread). Best of luck and attend the open house, I would like to know what you think.

Well said, Leetimko. I have the same issues I have with the NYAA as I do with PAFA. I've known a handful of people who have gone to both places, overall they're positive about the programs. Although, they've never explained "why" they like it other than mentioning the "famous" people they "study" with. They lure you in with the promise of studying with people like Assael, Kanevsky, Ann Gale, etc. So you do actually meet with them a few times a year, that's fine I guess. I'd rather not put myself in 100k of debt (after tuition and living in the city) just so I could say that I had 4 critiques with Vincent Desiderio. If you're figurative, and you think that NYAA is the best choice for you because you had an unsatisfactory undergraduate education at a foundational level (which I think is why most people are attracted to these places) then you could just as easily take the year off, set up some still-lives or work from the model or mirror, learn sight-to-size method, watch demonstrations on youtube, and support other professional artists by buying some of their painting and drawing dvds.

They mentioned a $5k scholarship, no word on anything else. Once they send us the official letter it'll be more clear. It's got me a little worried for my fate at BU as my other offers will give me little to no debt.

Heads up, I just received an acceptance to BU's MFA painting program via e-mail earlier this afternoon. They said they'll be sending a letter with more detailed information soon. Best of luck.

I was contacted a couple weeks ago via e-mail that I was accepted into their mfa painting department, not sure about any others. I'm only assuming that we've made it past the first cut if they've sent out some rejections already. I'd like to know soon too. I had my interview at MassArt a couple of weeks ago with no news since, and I'm still waiting to hear a final decision from Tyler (supposedly contacted later March early April)...

If you're asking opinions - develop your work, research all the schools you're interested in (if you don't know where to start, check some threads on these forums for places people have applied to), and apply to schools next year that are a balance of excellent funding and good for your work. If you really want to spend the amount of money that PAFA wants from you, you might as well spend it in a more prestigous institution.