Babar_Suleman

Once I get my answer from RISD, I will be able to weigh in on your portfolio. And don't worry about not having a design background. I have 2 years of freelance experience in design and I got accepted to Carnegie Mellon's School of Design even though I have an undergrad in Business. The programs at CMU and Pratt, as well as the 3-year programs at most schools (including RISD), admit students from all areas of undergrad study.

Carnegie Mellon's Communication Planning and Information Design. US News ranked it #1 for Visual communications and #4 for Graphic Design (pick whatever is relevant to you).

^ That's worrying! I do think it's terribly unprofessional of Pratt to only have compiled and submitted my application to my department last week even though I submitted it fully complete January 5! Even if I get accepted, I won't be able to do anything about it after March 30.

Even though I already have an acceptance at my dream school/program, I still wish Pratt, RISD and SCAD would hurry up just so I could know all my options in time. I need to make an acceptance deposit by March 30!

I really am under a lot of stress. What sucks about the whole situation is that I got into my dream program/school (and I understand how elusive that can be for so many people) and yet have so many other pressing issues to deal with. Don't MFAs usually pursue teaching jobs at college level? I will be getting a Masters in Design from CMU and will probably need to look at jobs at agencies and companies. Exactly. It's people like us that are not from the UK and US that have less stellar career prospects back home.

^ The thing that's worrying me right now is that even if we manage to pay for good schools (CalArts for you, Carnegie Mellon for me), would we be able to find decent jobs straight away? If I paid nearly $70000 in tuition alone and had to return to my home country after I graduate (either coz of failing to get a good job or/and get a work visa), I would be devastated as that would have been the same fate as with the Fulbright scholarship and I wouldn't have had to pay a dime. Also, its important for me that I'm able to bring my mother to the US after I graduate as she will need me to take care of her by then. Would I be able to do that with the job I get after I graduate? Does anyone have thoughts on this particular issue? So many considerations and decisions...

^ That's what I'm gonna do but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. Fulbright grantees have to return to their own countries right after they graduate and they can't go back to the States for the same amount of time as they stayed in the US. So for masters candidates, that would typically be two years. Such a break would make resuming a career in the US terribly difficult. Anyone has any insights/opinions/comments on this? It will probably be helpful to people in similar situations as myself and the thread starter.

I got into my dream school/program without funding (except for an assistantship that only knocks off $8000 off the $70000 tuition for the 2 years). And I'm supposed to accept or decline by March 30. I am still waiting for two schools at which I have a good chance of getting better funding. But those two schools aren't as highly rated as my dream one. This is all so confusing and overwhelming. But what I'm doing is emailing my POI asking for possibly more funding. If they respond in the negative, I will ask for an extension. If they decline that request as well, I'd probably accept even if I don't hear from the other two schools by then. ARGH.

^ That's terrible and awfully irresponsible of RISD. They should have apologized to each and everyone of you, refunded your money and/or allowed you to attend.

^ And nothing beats NYC/Manhattan!

Not a single thing since they informed me that my application was complete. This late in March, do me and you have a chance? I'm more optimistic about my chances for Pratt since I sent them my GRE score. I don't have a background in design and my GRE score probably made up for my possibly weak portfolio for Carnegie Mellon. Since RISD doesn't consider GRE scores, I have a VERY low chance with them. Congrats! I didn't know of this program before your post. But since we are both interested in communication design (and God knows thats a rare and endangered graduate species), I looked it up. I think Pratt's program sounds better but what are you personally leaning towards now that you can choose between MassArt and Pratt?

If I got funding from Pratt, I'd prefer it too. Living in NYC definitely has benefits over living in Pittsburgh. But you know- it's Carnegie Mellon and I also love the CPID program. So I would infinitely prefer CMU if they gave me funding but they're explicit about their lack of financial support for international students. In addition to CMU and Pratt, I've also applied to RISD and SCAD.

Thank you! I saw it on the website. According to the letter, a detailed acceptance package will be emailed to me within the week. Aww I'm sorry. On the bright side, you're already accepted to Pratt so congrats! I also applied to Pratt but they emailed me barely TWO days ago that my application was NOW ready for review even though I submitted it January 5. It's like what were you doing with my app for the past two months?! By the way, did Pratt offer you financial aid? Since I will probably not be able to attend CMU coz of funding issues, I'm still interested in an acceptance that comes WITH funding.

I love my mom and she's been perfectly ecstatic and amazing during the whole process. But I found one thing she said particularly funny. After jumping around excitedly for some time after I told her about my acceptance letter from CMU, she asked me "Are you sure it's not a ruse?" I live outside the US and she's always believed that invitations from far away places are hoaxes to lure you in a trap, mug you and leave you broke or dead.

Maybe you were doing too much? You already seem pretty accomplished but I can't even imagine juggling a job and grad applications (and scholarships/fellowships too!) alongside JOB and internship applications in the same go. Focusing on just grad school apps is hectic and time consuming enough. Just relax and try to take things one step at a time. It will be okay. Best of luck!

Thanks! congrats to you too. You seem to have tons of acceptances! Made a decision yet?

^ Carnegie Mellon and Pratt do make a distinction though. The CMU program is a joint offering from the school of design and department of English. And Pratt has a Design Writing course that's fundamental to the program. Both these programs are a great fit for people like me who are both designers and writers. It's exactly what attracted me to their programs over traditional graphic design programs which would cover only one of my interests. People who aren't interested in the writing/verbal part of communication would be better served by a thorough study in just the visual aspect: graphic design.

Thanks guys! Starting tomorrow, I will have to think about how I'm going to pay for it.

I feel like I'm spamming but I got accepted to Carnegie Mellon today! The school is #1 in visual communications according to US News. <3 http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-fine-arts-schools/multimedia-visual-communications-rankings kekbattler have you heard from them yet? They posted my acceptance letter this morning.

I got accepted to Carnegie Mellon today and I can't pay for it. My plan of action: I won't think of it today.

Got accepted to Carnegie Mellon today!! lol hey everyone! I've been lurking for some time now but my acceptance letter made me create an account and tell everyone in this thread to NOT LOSE HOPE. I was losing hope too (considering how everyone was getting acceptances and it was so late in March) but clearly schools are still sending out acceptances! I got into the Masters program in Communication Design and Information Planning at CMU's school of design. It's a visual communications program and Carnegie Mellon is ranked #1 for it. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-fine-arts-schools/multimedia-visual-communications-rankings I won't be able to attend without funding but this acceptance raises my chances of winning a scholarship that will give me a full ride. Uber excited anyway!