Studiohound

I too live in SF and I pay $800/month for a 2- bedroom shared apartment. SF is expensive as far as rent goes, but I agree with Poppy's post. One does not need a car and it is easy to keep costs low in terms of food and fun. SFAI has definitely lost the luster of its heyday in the 70-80's and it suffered quite a bit when CCA expanded. Most Bay Area artists don't think that highly of SFAI these days.

Jacinto, Did you apply to Stanford (fully funded program) to study with Enrique Chagoya? If not, this might be a great option for you. Palo Alto is not far from SF.

@ caus: I too am now able to access UCSD's portfolio site. Congrats on finishing your submittals! Because of the glitch UCSD extended the deadline to 1/19. @ ihec: It took a few days to receive the UCSD password after submitting the UCSD main grad school application.

What's up with UC San Diego's Visual Arts Department? I have not been able to access their portal for submitting the portfolio. I submitted my app to UCSD's main grad school and received the access password to the art department's application a few weeks ago. I wrote to BJ inquiring why their site is down but I have yet to hear back. Has anyone heard back from them? They have been quite disorganized throughout this whole process, and I am starting to worry what their actual program will be like!

Each school handles this differently. Best to check.

Author of the article Zak Smith (AKA Zak Sabbath) also works in the porn industry. I wonder if that is more lucrative than his art career?

Great MFA in photography: Joel Leivick is phenomenal. The rest of the program is really quite mediocre, and completely rests on the laurels of the Stanford name

Were you admitted to other programs when you accepted the offer to attend ISU? If so, I wonder if you could re-contact the program(s) (where you were already accepted) and explain how -- after being immersed in ISU's program this semester -- you realize that the approach of one of these other schools is a better fit for you. If you are to go through the whole application process again, you are going to have to very clear about why ISU's program is not working for you, so as not to appear like you are jumping ship when the going gets tough.

I think you are wise to spread it out and apply early! I wish I were as organized as you. How long was your statement of purpose for UCLA? I can't seem to find a word count requirement. I know most art statements are around 300-500 words, but since UCLA requires both a SOP and an art statement, I was wondering if they spell out the word counts and I am just missing where to look.