miyamoto81

I'm not 100% yet . . . I have a few more days of laying all the cards out on the table yet. However, I'm happy with my options, I think I'll be in good hands no matter where I go!

Tysonr2, I appreciate the kind words! Definitely let us know where you end up - it seems that regardless of where you end up, you'll be in the NYC area still! And I am SOOO ready to no longer be stressed over this . . . I think this summer is going to require some definite living-it-up before hunkering down for the next 2 years. Woot!

That's awesome Song, congratulations!

Welcome!

Congrats to everyone who has made deicions - and just to jump in on the reputation debate, it's interesting that a thread from last year was (assumedly by accident) commented on and therefore brought up to date. If you look at it, the person outlines artists showing at major galleries and which schools they went to. A lot of them come from top schools. However, Cal Arts graduates 524 people each year in all of their programs. How many of those people become stars in their chosen field? I'm not convinced that going to a name school ensures anything other than a lot of debt. Name schools have the luxury of being able to choose people with talent, and those talented people may have become well known regardless. LaToya Ruby Fraizer, who is in this years Whitney Biennial, went to Syracuse - and coincidentally, teaches at Rutgers. Tam Tran, a 2010 biennial artist, graduated from Tennessee. Furthermore, I agree with OutWest, that we all should be learning Portuguese and Mandarin - though I would also add Arabic to that list. The Middle Eastern Art Market is set to boom. New York and L.A. will always be staples in contemporary art. But the notion of the outsider is continuing to establish itself from a movement into a mainstay. My point/rant being: that yes, going to a name school can help you. But when everything is said and done, it will be up to you to make your own career happen. And it's arguable that it might be easier to do so without $100,000 worth of debt.

That would be amazing if that came to be - is the TAship the package that comes with a tuition waiver and a $25k stipend? Sorry you won't be joining, jjr8888 - though I think Wisconsin will treat you just fine!

Thanks! I'm somewhat narrowed down . . . if I had a spare $100k, I'd go to Cal Arts in a heartbeat . . . but I think it's coming down to the two programs in which I received great funding versus Rutgers . . . I have another few days to deliberate. You know, someone on last year's forum said that everyone thinks that the application process is the hardest part, but in reality it's choosing between programs. I'm finding that statement very accurate.

I myself am undecided still, but I just wanted to say congratulations to you! An awesome program!

Hey Zecchi, I'm going to PM you! Tysonr2, to echo Zecchi, since RU has an early deadline I hope that you will find out something also. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! You've been a great voice on this forum, I think any school that you go to would be lucky to have you!

I as well . . . nothing like leaving us hanging on until the very last second.

Congrats ltsem! (I concur with Mr. Mercury.)

I sat in on a photo/media class and it was really great. The work I saw was really compelling and the instructor, Gary Schneider, was great as well. The studio sizes are nice and the location is great for being able to get into NYC when you need to, but also being able to leave when you need to as well. From what I could tell, there were very few people operating solely in one concentration. Like most New York programs, it's seems highly interdisciplinary. All in all, a thumbs up on my end.

I wasn't accepted at NYU (fuckers!), but congratulations to you! NYU is notorious for being insanely expensive, unless they offer their MFAs some kind of funding that I don't know about. Plus, there is the cost of living in New York. Here's a link to Steinhardt's tuition page: http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/graduate_admissions/tuition Even if I had gotten in, I'm not sure I would have been able to afford to attend (much the conundrum I am having with Cal Arts). Though it's a prestigious program, I think they only take 10 students a year? So regardless of what you decide, you should feel good that you got in!

Zecchi, how did you like it? When I was there, I sat in on a class and was really impressed. I'd love to hear more about what you thought!

Ahahahahahaha! I literally almost spit out my coffee.

Ha, what a coincidence! Like, the exact same name?! Weird. I have used this handle for years whenever I want to retain some kind of anonymity . . . it's from this fantastically awful B-grade Japanese action movie combined with my year of birth. Very high level security, I know.

Good lord, that's highway robbery! To be totally honest though, I've heard that about SVA . . . that they tend to nickel and dime their students. Not trying to dissuade, just sharing info.

Lol, at first I was like, "hmmm, I wish I was a con-artist, this MFA decision would be a whole lot easier!" Alas, I'm assuming you mean the gallery in NYC? I am not . . . though they look like they have interesting projects. Why do you ask?

I am still deliberating . . . At this point it's a 3way tie between RU, Iowa and Buffalo. I really don't think I will make a final decision until the very last second when I've had as much possible time to gather info, advice and think really long and hard about it. Congratulations on Wisconsin though, that's exciting! Plus really great funding! Awesome!

Rejection from RISD today. Curses!

*raises hand!*

Didn't you get an awesome financial package from Rutgers though??

Well, it's going to come down to Rutgers versus two other programs that I received really great funding for. Rutgers is a great program and fairly cheap for the level of education. Plus I'd really like to stay closer to New York. But I've gotten two fantastic offers from other schools, however I'm not as excited about the programs themselves and they are in a more remote location. As jjr8888 mentioned, Rutgers won't give us a definite on answer on funding until after we accept admission, so it's making it hard. I have a week to decide, but I've literally been awake at night wondering if I take the money and run or if I go to a program that I think will be better for my work and my career in the long run. I don't know. And this isn't to say that the other programs are bad, because they aren't. The faculty that I've been in touch with there have been fantastic. At this point though, I just think that RU is producing grad work that is more along the lines of what I do and where I see myself going. It's going to be an extremely difficult decision.

I did apply to UCLA. And was rejected. *Whomp, whomp.* I was a little disappointed, I really like their program and they have a lot of great people out there.

Snail mail rejection from Cornell today. Man, I'm 0 for 3 this week.