Josholas

I actually shot *an email* to one of the professors at VCU, but never got a response. I'm sure they're probably too overloaded with similar requests to respond to everyone. This isn't the case everywhere though, as I sent an email to West Virginia U. and received a very prompt and helpful response from one of the painting professors. Herron has also been incredibly helpful ever since I began my application, and without me even initiating any communication! Programs like that will get extra brownie points when/if I have to decide between offers.

Is VCU (Virginia Commonwealth) for painting/drawing worth an application? Perhaps this is a personal question regarding my own work, since it's obviously worthwhile for some applicants. But looking on their website it looks like they have about 7 or 8 new grad students (for Painting/Drawing) out of around 220 applicants. That's about a 3.5% acceptance rate. I initially thought it was higher, because I based it on their overall department acceptance rate of about 17%. I'm leaning on the side of applying, because I still like the quality of the program (especially the lower overall cost), but now I'm starting to feel like I'll just be paying $50 for a rejection letter. Any thoughts? Feel free to be honest.

Thanks! I'm primarily looking for feedback regarding the likelihood of grad school acceptances, but I'm always interested in knowing what's working and what isn't, on a conceptual and technical level with my work. I'm applying to: UC Davis U Oregon WashU West Virginia U Arizona State U Iowa Virginia Commonwealth U Georgia Herron (Indiana/Purdue) Southern Illinois Looking especially for programs that value interdepartmental collaboration, teaching opportunities (instructor of record), and positive social change or environmental interests. Oh, and FUNDING, haha!

Check out the acceptance rates and you'll probably be less envious. But you're right, it is certainly an advantage.

I posted my website on here awhile ago, but thought I might repost it now that the forum is starting to pick up. I would very much appreciate any feedback on my work and/or any painting/drawing programs that would seem to be a good match. Thanks! http://www.joshuahaleart.com

http://www.petersons.com suggests the following: U. South Florida - 28% Acceptance Tyler Dept. of Graphic Arts & Design (and Printmaking?) - 7% Tyler Dept. of Painting, Drawing, & Sculpture - 4% Tyler School of Art (overall) - 11% Hope that helps!

So, if a program requests 15-20 images for the portfolio submission, do you think the reviewers generally look down on those that only submit 15? Is there an unspoken assumption that "serious" applicants would have enough quality work to submit the maximum number of images? Just curious.

That really stinks. Michigan was one of my top choices for its "plus" component. Does anyone know of other similar programs that require (or highly encourage) involvement with another department in the University?

I appreciate both of your posts (losemygrip and OutWest).. I'm working on a few pieces to supplement my portfolio right now, so I welcome any feedback as I push out the last few works. And thanks, OutWest for your concern, I appreciate it (and welcome your feedback as well). And on a side note, I'm considering embracing (to a certain degree) the "illustration" tension in my work. It comes down to this...I am an artist and I want to have my own voice supply the content of my work...so I'm not interested in illustration if it means losing that. However, I'm also not willing to strip down my work to the point where it gets so vague as to lose my voice altogether. Either way, it's something to think about, and a balance I will continue to work through. I think my current works are finding themselves in either one category or the other, so I'm currently exploring the grey areas between those extremes in my supplemental work.

So, my *current* list is: UC Davis West Virginia University VCU (Virginia) University of Iowa Arizona State U.Michigan SMFA/Tufts Herron (Indiana) Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) U.Georgia Some of you will notice that my list has almost completely changed from a few weeks ago, haha! I've been researching schools with 1)high rankings that ALSO have 2)decent acceptance rates AND 3)good funding AND 4)faculty with work I am interested in. Most of the schools in the list have at least two of these. I would love any feedback on any of the programs, but especially if you know that a certain one is known to have BAD FUNDING (and/or insanely expensive with little funding)...and I will gladly remove it from my list. Also...if anyone knows of schools that let you teach as instructor of record...please let me know. Most places don't seem to want to put that sort of thing on their website. Thanks!

Just a heads up - the online MICA portfolio pre-review deadline is tomorrow (Friday). Its only $10 and I found it super helpful last year. Have a great weekend everyone!

Thanks for your feedback, TheStranger! And thanks for the heads-up about Jenny Saville, especially regarding the purposeful use of the physicality of the paint. My next paintings will likely explore ways of combining the positives of my earlier work (like "Protection") with the positives of the more recent nature/technology paintings (like "Apple Tree"). Once again, thanks for your feedback!

My website is: http://www.joshuahaleart.com All feedback (positive and negative) is definitely accepted. If, as many of you have suggested, I should consider applying to some more "prestigious" programs (in order have any hope of attaining a future teaching job with the degree), I would especially love any feedback regarding which schools/programs I should consider applying to. Thanks for any feedback you can give! @DrawMinimal - Great work! We both seem to get our inspiration from the natural world. You might want to look at U. New Mexico or West Virginia University, as both seem to emphasize and encourage environmental (but not necessarily "environmentalist") approaches and discourses. Not sure about their emphasis on drawing, specifically. Either way, I LOVE your work, and I love that you have such a passion for drawing and mark-making techniques, keep it up! It makes your work feel very fresh and original.

Sguid - Looks like we're in the same boat, as I also applied last year. I'm trying to do more research this time around. I already have a HUGE spreadsheet that I'm slowly entering data into. And just a heads up...http://www.petersons.com has some great resources on program acceptance rates. Apparently, acceptance rates aren't necessarily correlated with the ranking or "prestige" of the program. I think that was part of my problem last year...I applied to several mid-lower ranked programs that seemed like they would have better acceptance rates, when in reality...they were the same (or worse) than many of the top-ranked schools. Do you have a website? I'd love to see your work.

Okay, so I've finally finished my website! (Mostly...haha) http://www.joshuahaleart.com All feedback (positive and negative) is definitely accepted. If, as many of you have suggested, I should consider applying to some more "prestigious" programs (in order have any hope of attaining a future teaching job with the degree), I would especially love any feedback regarding which schools/programs I should consider applying to. Thanks for any feedback you can give!

Thanks for the feedback. To be honest, location and intensity of the program are as equally important to me as reputation. I have a wife and daughter and don't want to move them to a big city and get so wrapped up in some big intensive program that I never have time or energy for my family. But if I were single and had undivided focus...I would totally apply to those programs. So I guess what I'm trying to do is find a program with a good enough reputation to make the degree worthwhile, while also avoiding a program that is too intensive for my current life situation and located in a place that isn't ideal for a family. A difficult balance to achieve...I fully realize. Any suggestions, especially regarding programs, are still very much appreciated.

My list is currently: (in no order, for MFA Painting) UC Davis UT Austin U. North Texas University of Oregon U. Colorado-Boulder West Virginia University San Jose State Feel free to let me know if you have any opinions on the quality of these programs! I'm especially interested in the reputation of West Virginia, San Jose State, and U. Colorado-Boulder. I will be seeking teaching opportunities after getting the MFA, and it seems like school reputation is a big part of getting a teaching position. Thanks for any feedback!

Does anyone know of schools that are particularly receptive to students who are interested in getting an MFA with the primary intention of teaching college level art? Not that being a working artist isn't important...as it certainly is, but I have an equal or greater interest in teaching art at the college level. For me, teaching is just as much of a passion as the art itself. Most of the "Art Education" degrees seem to focus on primary or secondary school, but this is not something I'm interested in. It seems like most of the MFA programs seem to look down on those who are more interested in teaching college level art than becoming famous working/traveling artists. I have a family...I want to settle down somewhere and teach college level art (with an occasional art show from time to time). Is that an unreasonable request? Thanks for your help.

@michaelwebster - When you say "ask if your interests fit with theirs", I am assuming you mean the interests of that particular professor (not the "interests" of the program), correct? I think I'll have to trust you on this one. I guess it makes sense, since they will likely be my mentor if I get accepted, so I might as well make sure we don't clash before wasting my money on an application fee. I'll go ahead and get my website up first, so I can send them the website link as well as maybe a few attachments? I'll post back to let y'all know how it goes! (Yes, I'm Texan) Thanks so much for the advice!

I think I might contact them and ask them about the type of work that is most likely to get accepted. If they offer to take a look at my work, then that's great, but I don't think I'll push it on them. Perhaps I'll try it with a few of the programs that I'm a little less interested in first, then if it backfires, I haven't lost much. I know MICA has a great (inexpensive) online feedback program in the fall, so I will probably do that again, as I found it helpful last year (even though I didn't ultimately end up applying there.)

I'm trying to start early too. Not sure where I'm applying yet this time. I've got a really long list, but the top contenders are: (for painting/drawing, and in no particular order) UC Davis San Jose State UT Austin U. North Texas University of Oregon U. Colorado-Boulder I'll place a link to my website when I get it finished.

If it is a professor that I am contacting via email or phone, what is the best way to prevent a bad impression? (not of my work, but of my character) My primary fear is that contacting them with a request for them to view my work will come off as "pushy" or insensitive regarding their time. The last thing I want to do is to shoot myself in the foot by leaving a bad taste in their mouth before ever sending an application. I guess what I'm asking is...what would be the most appropriate manner to ask for their feedback? How would you word the email? Thanks!

I was wondering if it would be considered bad etiquette or perhaps simply "unwise" to contact specific professors in the programs we are considering applying to. To push it further, has anyone ever heard of someone asking for advice in such a manner, perhaps even showing examples of work? None of the places I am applying to are very close to where I live, so any contact would have to be in the realm of phone or email. I'm just trying to think of ways of ensuring that I don't apply to places that would instanly reject me for something that I remain hopelessly unaware of. What do you think? Any suggestions? (I plan on applying to places with a leaning toward slightly abstracted representational painting with a strong emphasis on content/meaning...if that helps any.)

For those that applied to U. Washington, I received a rejection email from them on Monday. Still hoping for Tyler or Houston, but it's looking like I'll be joining those of you who will be reapplying next year. I'm actually pretty okay with that. Gives me another year to actually save up some money, haha!

How did you find out? My online application hasn't changed...