john2dc

It is obvious that a few on this forum have strongly negative feelings about SFAI. But it is difficult to know why this is the case given the high level of generality of the criticism. SFAI is only in the top ten for one program – photo, in the top 15 for another – painting, but still this is pretty good out of a total of 220 schools rated by US News and hardly justifies the extreme negativity. A Google search for SFAI MFAs reveals many recent grads who seem to be doing and showing very well. Ryan Hackett, for example, a 2007 MFA has been showing around the country and internationally and was a finalist last year for the Sondheim prize in the mid Atlantic area. FYI, I am not an admissions counselor or otherwise affiliated with SFAI, but I am likely to apply next year. Let's try to be more reasonable. thanks

I completely agree with your analysis from the perspective of someone considering an MFA program. A candidate in his or her 40s or older needs to consider carefully why to get an MFA. But, if someone older has resolved that issue decided to apply then the issue is what barriers if any would he or she would face with school faculty/admissions officers because of age. I don’t think it is insurmountable, and extensive life experience could be a plus if reflected in the artwork, but I think candidates in their 40s and older are not likely to be readily embraced. I have heard of instances where older candidates with otherwise good portfolios were considered too accomplished to benefit from an MFA program. But this is difficult to evaluate. Younger persons submitting the same mature portfolio might justifiably be considered outstanding given their young age. On other other hand, I have known of candidates in their 50's attending very good MFA programs. I am in my 50s and considering an MFA for the critical feedback – after a successful career in a different field entirely. This will be an interesting adventure if nothing else. Congratulations on MICA. great program.

Interesting point about age. What do yo think the cut off age is and do you know which schools have them? I thought that officially anyway age discrimination was illegal, so it may be something like that faculty will not usually be attracted to mentoring someone older in comparison to younger applicants.

The San Francisco Police Dept. has a cool site that lets you see all reported crimes within a specified radius of an address or intersection. In the last 90 days within a radius of ¼ mile of 3rd and 22d street (the SFAI grad center) there were a number of crimes against property – 7 thefts, 1 vehicle theft, and 4 acts of vandalism – but no assaults or robberies. Within ¼ mile of the fancy Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill, supposedly a better area, there were 7 assaults, 22 thefts, 7 vehicle thefts, and 10 acts of vandalism within the last 90 days. (Counting all the dots on the maps is not easy so these numbers may not be 100% accurate.) Perhaps this reflects more tourists in the hotel area, or that maybe the last 90 days is not representative. Everyone in a major city has experienced or has heard of crimes against those they know or know of, but I am not sure that the area around the SFAI grad center is unsafe or particularly or more unsafe than any other area of the city. I agree that you need to be careful, especially late at night, anywhere in any major city. According to the Rand McNally driving distance calculator the distance between the SFAI grad center and the Chestnut street campus is 4 miles with 12 minutes driving time, but that is the long way around via the Embarcadero. I would imagine it would be something like 3-3.5 miles on a more direct route using Grant Ave., for example, which would also avoid the big hills. However, I will defer to others on how long this walk would take.

C’mon guys – let’s try to be more balanced in our statements about SFAI and CCA. SFAI did not experience a “financial collapse.” It is operating in the black. It awarded some $8.6 M in scholarships in 2008, according to its most recent IRS Form 990. SFAI owns publicly traded securities of nearly $10M. If SFAI had experienced a financial collapse five years ago it would not now be rated #7 for photo or #14 for painting, or even #30 overall. The difficulties caused by the financial meltdown in the Fall of 2008 affected most schools including for example, MICA, which at one point announced a freeze on salaries and RISD, which laid off staff. However, markets have recovered and schools are doing better now. It is not the case that most or even many faculty ever transferred to CCA. There has always been some movement in both directions. However, adjunct faculty frequently teach at several schools. SFAI has fantastic, famous grad faculty including George Kuchar, the filmmaker, Renee Green, artist and author, Hou Hanru, who has curated many international biennials , and many others. SFAI would not he so highly rated if most faculty had left. The SFAI graduate center is not all that distant from the undergraduate Chestnut St. campus. In addition to public transportation, it is about a 45 minute walk, or a very doable bike ride around the hills --- when you would need to go to Chestnut St. All the graduate tutorials and seminars are at the grad center. This criticism makes no sense as a comparison to CCA, if that was the point, since the CCA undergraduate campus is in Oakland. The Chestnut St. building is awesome with the rooftop café with an unbelievable view of SF Bay, among other features. The Russian Hill neighborhood is great, though most grads will be spending most of their time at the grad center. The claim that the SFAI grad center is unsafe late at night, even if true, is not saying much. The grad center area is no more unsafe late at night than most areas of any major city. The grad building is relatively new, and the studios are fine. The neighborhood is clean. What struck me when I visited was only that there was an absence of street life and café’s etc. that you might find in other trendy parts of San Francisco. SFAI is a leading art school, very highly rated among 220 schools. It has an impressive visiting artist program. CCA is also fine.

I have not heard anything from SAIC painting. Didn't someone else say that they knew of someone getting interviews at SAIC painting?

Racauerex: I am considering applying to SFAI for painting. Any thoughts on that program or on SFAI grad generally would be appreciated. What is the reputation of SFAI? Is the Summer program worthwhile? thx

I noticed in some of the earlier posts that MICA may provide notification on March 30. MICA's website says that it will provide notice on April 1. Does anyone have any further information on when MICA will provide notice? Thanks much.