minderbinder22

What did everyone decide? I decided on Parsons.

is the 800 more including if you get the work study or assistantship? It sounds like SVA is pretty professionally minded and the fact that the professors are all professionals means you would develop some very relevant relationships.

I don't know anything about either program, but I did my undergrad at UMD (in English, so again don't know much about the art department), but I can answer general questions about UMD. One thing I can tell you is that Hunter has a much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much better location. College Park is a dump. I took a drawing course my freshman year and remember thinking that many art students at my high school had better work than what was on display in the UMD Art/Sociology building (they share). Maybe it was really beginner stuff though. Again, I'm no judge. That was just my impression as an outsider. I did go to a graduate open studio day but I can't remember what I thought about the art (it was 4 years ago). Definitely better than what was on display in the building though.

Pretty sure it's 8500 out of the 20500 that can be subsidized. Not in addition to.

I've visited ITP and Parsons DT, but I don't know much about Pratt. There are pretty important differences between ITP and DT. Feel free to send me a PM.

Genius!!! That's a perfect thing for me to always have as a backup. Don't know why I didn't think about that.

Madison is an awesome place. My girlfriend went to undergrad there so I visited it like 8 times.

Did anyone else (who doesn't live near Boston) get invited to the Parsons admitted grad student reception in Boston? Since they're having one in DC too I thought it was weird that I got that.

Another thing about Parsons is that they have the India China Institute & the Open Society Fellowships. That could possibly get you a funded trip home and chance to do some fieldwork in your country. Or if you're interested in somewhere else, you could do fieldwork anywhere really. I think the Open Society Fellowship is an awesome opportunity.

I wouldn't bring her. I'm 21 though so maybe I'm even more worried about looking young and unprofessional.

For law school my sister deferred Columbia, then applied to Harvard the following year. She got in and accepted, and Columbia found out and threatened to tell Harvard what she did and Harvard was like, "who cares.....sucks for you." So yeah I think it's frowned upon but it might not matter that much?

Cool!! What part of india are you from. I don't really know anything about Mass Arts, but I have visited Parsons and I love it. I will probably end up going there despite the cost. One thing I really love about Parsons is their commitment to social justice and public engagement. I haven't seen that anywhere else. I don't know much about Mass Arts, but I have been to both boston and new york plenty of times so feel free to ask me any questions about the cities. Especially since you can't visit, I would recommend e-mailing the Director of the Parsons program (David Carroll) to set up a phone call or skype call. I did that and he answered a lot of my questions.

I responded to you on the freakout thread before i saw this. I will probably be attending the Parsons program. I'm really attracted to the focus on social justice/public engagement that the new school seems to apply to every program. Normally I'd say go with the money since both are great programs, but the fact that you say "much more" makes me think you might regret going to Parsons if it's that clear to you that SVA is a better fit. Maybe tell SVA that Parsons gave you money and that you really want to attend SVA but you're not sure if you can make that decision financially. This depends on your financial situation obviously, but I probably wouldn't worry *too* much about the money. Unlike other MFA programs, you probably won't have too much trouble finding a job in your field after this one. Where are you from? Can you visit NYC easily? After reading this longer post I'm even more inclined to go with SVA for you. Years from now after you pay off that 30k difference, do you think you'll regret choosing SVA? It doesn't sound like it. I would just ask their admissions people about getting financial aid, and also visit both schools again to be sure.

I will probably be attending the Parsons program. I'm really attracted to the focus on social justice/public engagement that the new school seems to apply to every program. Normally I'd say go with the money since both are great programs, but the fact that you say "much more" makes me think you might regret going to Parsons if it's that clear to you that SVA is a better fit. Maybe tell SVA that Parsons gave you money and that you really want to attend SVA but you're not sure if you can make that decision financially. This depends on your financial situation obviously, but I probably wouldn't worry *too* much about the money. Unlike other MFA programs, you probably won't have too much trouble finding a job in your field after this one. Where are you from? Can you visit NYC easily?\ As a 21 year old (will be 22 by the fall) I will probably be one of the youngest persons at Parsons. Not completely sure how I feel about that.

From the results search it seems that they primarily give them to international students. Just search for Parsons. There were a couple americans in this thread who got them though.